New to Intarsia

[Savannah Scroller]

Hey yall,

 

I am trying my First Intarsia piece. Its a Snowman. One question - How do you get the edges so smooth and rounded?

Getting everything to fit is a real pain in the Grrrr. I found it this takes more patient than scroll work .

Well back to the shop. Keep on Scrolling!!

 

[amazingkevin]

Squeeze the two pieces that need fitting together and  cut in between them finishes it off perfectly. Sometimes 1 or 2 passes fixes it right up.On the edges use a drill press with a drum sander for quick wood removal and shaping. I got the complete set fro harbor freight at a very low pricealso you can use a router with the half round bit to trim the sides ,one piece at a time but be carefull to have the said piece ancored good

Edited November 22, 2014 by amazingkevin

[heppnerguy]

Intarsia is something that requires one to cut very slowly, at first, because it is very important that all the pieces are cut 'right on the line'. Because it is important to have all the pieces make as close a fit as possible. the truer your cut the less sanding is required. I cut my first piece on a bandsaw and then held up the two pieces I  was fitting together, to the light and sanded them until no light shown through. I would love to see a photo of the pattern you are doing. I may be able to help you some if I knew what pattern you are working on.Using a somewhat soft wood, like cedar and maybe poplar makes the job way easier than a hard wood like maple or walnut. Do you have any sanding tools ? What woods are you using ? It would be helpful to know as much about your project as possible. I may be able to help you better if I do

 

Dick

heppnerguy

[spirithorse]

Hi, Thomas,

On most projects the rounded edge doesn't really have to be that much. The

effect of the rounded edges is actually increased visually because the two

adjoining pieces are both rounded.

I rely mostly on a 1" belt sander, a palm sander,  and then hand sand to the smooth finish.

As already pointed out, there are a lot of possible tools to choose from such as

the large belt sanders, a smaller belt sander, the pneumatic or drum sanders, palm sander,

router, and on an on.

Just use a course grit for lots of wood removal and work your way to the finest grit

sand-paper you want to use.

Looking forward to seeing your finished project.

God Bless! Spirithorse

[lawson56]

You have been given some Great Advice.I have tried Intarsia.It is time consuming.Mine turned out OK They sold.But it's not something I do on a regular basis.Good Luck with yours.

[heppnerguy]

Lots of good tips here. Just don't get discouraged. It does take more time to do an intarsia piece but it is worth the time and effort. Take you time and even if it is not perfect, you will amaze yourself that you have accomplished a fun piece once you are finished with it. Remember, 'everything we do for the first time, is a learning experience"  Great artists never started that way but rather with continuing to try it again and each time you learn something new and before long, you have learned a few tricks and your confidence builds."

 

Dick

heppnerguy

[Savannah Scroller]

Thanks for all the great advice! Dick I liked everything that you said. I will try to post a picture of the pattern that I am using. I am Trying to use Panduk,Aspen,Walnut,Red oak on this piece.

[heppnerguy]

the woods you are using will look really nice but you are going to be paying the price, labor wise, because sanding will take a fair amount of time with these hardwoods. That is why you are feeling a little frustrated. It takes patience. I would have suggested other woods to do the first intarsia. but if you do have any power sander for your drill press of a disk or belt sander but be very careful and use them cautiously if you do. A little touch here and check and then another light touch to the power sanders and check. Do this until your reach your satisfactory goal.

 

Dick

heppnerguy

[jscottj]

I find the flex drum sander from Seyco to be my most used tool to shape. It makes rounding and contouring much easier. I also use a variety of homemade sanding sticks made from craft sticks (whole and split), paint stirring sticks, dowels etc. with sandpaper spray glued to them. The others are correct. Scrolling carefully and on the line saves alot of sanding time

 

I watched any videos I could find on intarsia and looked at alot of pictures to figure out how to shape. Just keep creating. I learn from every project. I've only done a few projects as I'm pretty new to intarsia also. I love doing it alot and find that the projects I cut now fit better and shaping is easier to see in my mind's eye as I work. So keep at it Hopefully you will find it as enjoyable as I do.

 

Scott

[trailfndr]

The "KEY" to Intarsia is the cutting.  Your cuts need to be right on the line in order to get the fit correct.  Any waver will show.  Don't be discouraged if you end up with some gaps on your first pieces, because I can just about guarantee that you will.  Its a learning process.  Even after more than 70 pieces made over the past 2 years, I still find that I must slow down my cutting speed with certain woods and patterns.  I still correct pieces to get a better fit.  Shaping is something that takes more time to learn, and a careful study of the subject so you can see it in your minds eye.  Once you can see it, you can sand to the shape you want.  Don't try to emulate anyone.  YOU are the artist, and if you are happy with your result, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

 

Here is a sample of the learning curve.  the Snow Couple, was my 5th or 6th piece.  Customer LOVED it, but the Lab, was done just last month, and you can see the difference. Just keep at it, and you will improve with each piece made.

Edited December 4, 2014 by trailfndr

[Scrolling Steve]

Someday when i grow up i am going to try Intarsia.....I am paying attention to all the information these guys are giving you!....Just one more reason to visit the Village!

[heppnerguy]

You should indeed bend your ear and take in what Lee (trailfndr), suggests as he has a real knack for doing great intarsia pieces. Lee continually turns out some of the best intarsia pieces you will ever see. I am anxious to see your results with the snowman, even if it turns out to be not very satisfying to you, I hope you post it. No one is here to criticize anyone's efforts. ( just look at some of my pieces). I post what I consider, 'some of my closet art' , because it is good to know that every piece one scrolls is not perfect. There is no one that has cut a lot of pieces that does not  come upon an erred item once in awhile. My first Eiffel Tower is a good example of failure. Keep at it and relax and have fun.. 

 

Dick

heppnerguy

[Clayton717]

just take your time and don't get in a rush. The cut is the key as Lee said. I use a oscillating spindle sander to do a lot of shaping, and now the flex drum sander. I just purchased this a few months ago and boy does it work wonders.

There is no right or wrong way to shape it all in the eye of the artist. I do shape and contour a lot more now than when I first started. I just try to picture how it would look in real life and try to accomplish it.