Jesus intarsia

Ok here we go, as promised I told Travis I would post this once I started another. I just started a Jesus intarsia tonight. I didn't get to far, but here is what I've done. I got all the pieces traced onto the wood. When the direction of the grain goes the same way for several pieces I cut them out as one piece, then cut into the seperate pieces. It makes it go together a little easier, but sometimes doesn't always work. It also depends on the width of wood I have on hand. Once I got that done I started cutting. but had to stop. When cutting I keep a box next to my scroll saw to put all the pieces in. This way they are all together and I don't misplace any or confuse them with the scrap pieces. I got 10 pieces cut out only 112 left to go. I will post more in this thread as I get farther along, should be a little each night (providing we don't get any more snow)

Thats really cool Clayton, I can't wait to see more.

Linda

That is awesome. Thank you for the pictures. I can't wait to see more. What is the typical thickness of wood you start with? Do you number your pieces as you cut them? I'm surprised you transfer the drawing to wood rather than spray mounting a pattern. Is there an advantage to this method, or is it just the way you've always done it? I look forward to the next step! Great job!

That is awesome. Thank you for the pictures. I can't wait to see more. What is the typical thickness of wood you start with? Do you number your pieces as you cut them? I'm surprised you transfer the drawing to wood rather than spray mounting a pattern. Is there an advantage to this method, or is it just the way you've always done it? I look forward to the next step! Great job!

Thanks Linda & Travis. I usually start with 3/4 then raise or lower according to the plan. on this one the walnut (hair) is 1" thick. No I don't number the pieces. I have a smaller version of the pattern glued to posterboard I use as a reference. On the larger projects I apply the pattern to posterboard then cut it out and use that as my pattern. It keeps me from having to continueously print out the pattern and cut it apart. This way just works better for me. I can get the best layout on the wood this way, I can move the pieces around to get the most use out of the wood as possible. Hopefully I will have more done tomorrow.

Progress update. I got a little more cut out. This is just about half the pieces cut. Still have more of the hair to cut then the robe pieces. Then the fun begins. More to come later.

really neat posts. i've never seen intarsia done before. can't wait to see more. keep up the good work!

update 2. Its been a few days since I've done any work, but I got a little done tonight. All the pieces are cut except the eyes. I save them for last. and I've started fitting the pieces together. This and sandind/shaping takes the most time.

That's alot of pieces Clayton. Can't wait to see more. Thanks for showing us.

Linda

Update 3, After spending most of last week behind the wheel of a snow plow I finally got a couple hours of shop time tonight. I got everything fit together ready to start sanding and shaping. All except the eyes. Those are the last things I cut and shape, since there is 7 pieces to each eye. I get the exact shape of each then cut into the pieces.

Wow. That is so cool. Even if you stopped right now, you'd have a great looking piece! But don't stop, I wanna see it shaped. Thanks for the pictures!

I agree with Travis. That is beautiful already.

Linda

Thanks Travis and Linda.

Update # 4. I ve started the shaping and sanding process. The pieces picture is about 2 1/2 hours work. After I got them shaped I glued together small sections. Once I get the rest shaped I will finish putting it all together. I still have a little touch up sanding to do on these yet, but once I get the rest shaped I will hit everything with the final (touch up) sanding. to remove any scratches/grooves that I missed. Or to contour it better to the adjoining piece. Can't really tell by the picture but, the hair is raised(thicker) than the skin (lips), and the robe.

That's great, Clayton! What was the process you used for the shaping? Which tools did you use? Do you use regular yellow wood glue to glue up your pieces? I must say, watching you go through the process is a huge help for me! Plus it makes it a little less intimidating. Keep up the good work!

That's great, Clayton! What was the process you used for the shaping? Which tools did you use? Do you use regular yellow wood glue to glue up your pieces? I must say, watching you go through the process is a huge help for me! Plus it makes it a little less intimidating. Keep up the good work!

I finished a little more tonight but forgot to take pictures.

I just round over and shape the pieces according to the look I'm shooting for. I just keep taking more off until I'm happy with the shape. Once I get them to where I like them I will check them with an adjoining piece to see if more needs to be sanding off or not. My main tool I use is an oscilating spindle sander, this helps to square up the edges for a close fit too, in case the cuts were a little off. I also use my dremel with a sanding drum and of course hand sanding. I use regular wood glue most of the time. i try to get glue that dries clear in case I get sloppy with it. On this piece I tried something new to me. I checked out a book at the library by Kathy Wise, it had some patterns in it and some very helpful tips. She uses silcone(for window & doors it comes in a small tube) to join pieces together. I am trying this, the pics in the last post were glued together with silicone and it worked.

Then once all the pieces are together you can trace the shape of the backer and cut out, then glue project to the backer with wood glue. I am hoping to have all the shaping and sanding done tomorrow night and glued together. Then to apply the finish saturday. If this goes according to plan I will have more pics tomorrow night.

Once you do your first project I think you'll love it Travis. It took me a while to get up the nerve, I kept seeing all the great patterns and finished works and kept putting it off, but now I love it (intarsia), its my favorite thing to do now. To me it is just an awesome feeling to go from boards, to all the pieces, and then to the finished work of art. And all are different, this is the eighth Christ I have done and if you put them all side by side there will never be two alike. Don't be intimidated just jump in.

Update 5

Tonight I finished shaping all the pieces. They were all glued up into small sections, then glue all of them together. I like using the silicone as mentioned in the last post, because if something doesn't fit right the pieces will come back apart easily, unlike wood glue. The picture of the whole project has a string tied around it to keep the pieces tight together while the silicone sets. Tommorrow when its dry I will cut out the backer and glue it to the piece. Then I will start work on the eyes, hopefully by tommorrow night it will be completed with a coat of finish on it.

LAST UPDATE. The project is completed. I will give it to the customer tomorrow. I got the eyes cut out and shaped and sanded yesterday and a coat of semi gloss poly on it. This morning I went over it will very fine steel wool and put a second coat on it. The pictures are taken after the first coat. I tried to get a close up of the eyes but the picture got a little fuzzy. There are seven pieces to each eye.

I really like that design. I'm kicking around the idea of trying that as my first intarsia piece. I wish it would warm up a bit so I can get started.

Do you use a wipe-on poly? Or do you use a spray. You did a really nice job on that. I'm sure the client will be pretty excited to see it.

I use wipe on poly. I use a foam brush to apply it, and can push down on the brush to squeeze some poly down into the cracks.

That is really beautiful Clayton. You did an excellent job.

Linda

thanks for the series. i really liked reading through it. it turned out great. thanks

Very nice. Your tutorial is well done also. It looks real nice. Great all the way around! Perhaps this will help those that have been a little afraid of trying intarsia/segmentation to give it a try. I know I for one call it my favorite art to do when it comes to wood working. Great job!I LOVE it! Thanks for sharing, and thanks Travis for asking him too. We all can learn from this.

Allison of Wood Alley

Beautiful work! The attention to detail is fantastic!

thanks for all the comments, they mean a lot. I have just been asked for another one, so I 'll be starting it in the next day or to. So my to cut list has been pushed aside again, but thats ok this Jesus is sold so I'll have a little money for more wood and maybe a new toy.

Nothing wrong with new tools! Grats on the new commission! They're getting a beautiful piece.

that is one beautiful project thanks for sharing...brian