Kit v. DIY+book

[loghome]

I am wondering if it would be best to buy a intarsia kit, or to buy a book and the wood myself. I am trying to learn the intarsia game and would appreciate any help people can give.

 

Thanks!

[Clayton717]

That is entirerly up to you. Myself I got a couple books and dove in. the kit route will give you the pattern and material with it. This way if you decided intarsia wasn't for you, you're not out much. the price of the kit versus the cost of all the other woods and materials. If you decide to go the kit route contact Mike(wdkits1) he is a member here and sells some great kits. Here is a link to his website - http://www.midlothianwoodworks.com/

[amazingkevin]

I would try experimenting with cheap wood ,anything east to cut easy to sand would be a good choice. try a very small project to start.Maybe a 4 or 5 piece project.I'm finding that thinner blades leave less error when trying to put the pieces all together again.don't be discouraged as things can allways be modified so it'll look nice.I would do the sanding with a drum sander in a drill press with a 2" drum. start with #120 grit and go up or down in grits for slow or faster wood removal.A drill mounted securely on a table will work to if needed with the drum sander.A belt sander saves alot of time too but there's more control twisting and turning your pieces while sanding on the drum sander.The thicker the saw blade the more wood is removed and the more you have to work to get the pieces to fit snuggly.So use a thin blade if the hardness of the wood permits.I'm on a project now ,another lions head and used 3/4" oak,for the grain to show off nice.This is a big problem as i used 4 -4'x6"x3/4" pieces of wood.Only the thickest blade would cut the fastest and now i see the pieces are far from a snug fit,so there 's going to be alot of sanding. I'm so glad that i had a big variety of blades to chose from.The on that worked the best was called "the blade that could"it cuts thick and very hard wood easaly from flyingdutchman FD-HD in a 1 dozen pac.I never in a million years would have thought that i'd ever do an intarsia ,and now thats all i want to do .You get real satisfaction doing and finishing one.hopes helps .P.S.clayton 717"s work impressed me enough to get my feet wet in intarsia.

[Huntter2022]

I got the new book from Kathy Wise

Intarsia Woodworking for Beginners

I find it very easy to follow and filled with alot info

I just finished the 1st lesson I used pine for it as I didn't want to waste money on expensive wood untill I learn the ropes

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Goldfish

[Travis]

I went with a kit from Mike at http://www.midlothianwoodworks.com/ It was really cool. You get all of the wood, the pattern, instructions. I was really pleased with it and I thought the price was very reasonable. If you want to use exotic woods in your intarsia, it can get really expensive gathering the woods. Then you start second guessing yourself about which wood to use. It can get overwhelming. But with a kit, everything is layed out for you and you'll end with a great piece. Its a great way to test the intarsia waters without a huge investment.

[loghome]

Thanks Everybody!

 

I will consider the possibilities now in a better light.

[Brian]

I'm getting started in intarsia as well. What I did was, went to the library, checked out an intarsia book, found a basic pattern of a rose, and cut the oattern using red oak and poplar. Free book to use and wood that I already had around. That wood is cheap anyhow crom home depot or lowes

[amazingkevin]

Good morning Briain,That was great searching .I'm looking for a nice picture of an intarsia rose to do.Post your finish piece on the users gallery then it get's applied to our pattern library for everybody to find and use.Happy scrolling!

[Travis]

Just a reminder: Please don't post any patterns from copyrighted materials.

 

And now back to our regularly scheduled program.

[loghome]

Thanks Everbody!

 

After looking over the options I decided to go with the book from Kathy Wise,"Intarsia Woodworking for Beginners"

Since I have quite a few pieces of an odd assortment of oak, black walnut, ash, popular, pine and a few others that were acquired when we cut up slab wood for our wood stove.

 

Thanks Again!

[Clayton717]

Glad to hear it. Kathy Wise is a great designer, I have a couple of her patterns.