Questions To You Intarsians

[Dave Monk]

I've only done one intarsia project to date.  I'm known to be kind of crazy at times.  Received a last supper pattern today.  Hoping maybe you guys can answer questions as I tackle this project.

How thick of wood would you use?

The designer says he started with the frame.  He also said he used 1/4" plywood for the backer.  Where would you start if you were tackling this project?  My idea would be to make the frame last.  I have some  1/4 oak OSB plywood.........what do you think of using that for the backer?

I appreciate any help or comments. 

[rjweb]

Dave, can’t give any advise on intarsia, never done one, but anxious to see your project develop, keep us updated, RJ 

[jollyred]

I generally use 3/4" wood for intarsia, since it is readily available in a lot of species.  This gives a good variety of colors to use.  

Any material can be used for the backer, 1/4" plywood would be quite good.  If the edge of the plywood is going to be visible, use a black marker or paint to cover the edge of the plywood, just for appearance's sake.

Good luck with that pattern, it looks quite ambitious for a second attempt at this.  Just don't rush the process and you should do well.

Tom

[planeur]

Hello Dave

Another in the intarsia  club !

I did only 2 myself and I am still learning tricks , and  an expert of the village did that with a lot of details, and that help me a lot.

this one

And this one

Good luck with your project, a lot of work. Will you use color wood or you will put dyeing ?

 

planeur

[dgman]

Hey Dave, that is an ambitious project for sure! I might start with 3/4” for the border. Because everything else is contained within the border you can use shims to elevate pieces and plane down pieces as needed. Also 1/4” plywood for the backer would be fine. Good luck!

[Dave Monk]

8 hours ago, planeur said:

Hello Dave

Another in the intarsia  club !

I did only 2 myself and I am still learning tricks , and  an expert of the village did that with a lot of details, and that help me a lot.

this one

And this one

Good luck with your project, a lot of work. Will you use color wood or you will put dyeing ?

 

planeur

Thanks so much for sharing.

[meflick]

I believe that is a Bruce Worthington pattern isn't it?  I love it and have seen it done a couple of times.  I haven't attempted it myself yet.  Definitely an ambitious project but I have no doubt having seen photos of your inlay and other projects that you will be up to the task and look forward to seeing it.

In regards to thickness of woods, I have taken Judy Gale Roberts 3 levels of classes.  Generally, she recommends using 3/4" wood as it allows you to take things down as needed.  If you need to raise something up, you can use "shims" under the piece (if it is not an outside piece that would show the "shim" being there.  You can of course choose to use other thicknesses, whatever you have on hand but I would try to stay with 3/4" or thicker as it is easier to take wood away then try to add back.   With Intarsia - the depth and dimension to the project is done primarily with the sanding and the shaping you  do.  The more you do, the better and more realistic it looks generally.

If you haven't, check out Judy's website for lots of tips/tricks, articles, and more about doing Intarsia work.  Her site is Intarsia.com (.com versus Bruce's which is .net)

https://intarsia.com here are some tips from her site: https://intarsia.com/blogs/news she has a great article on using "sanding shims" which is different from using the "shims" to permanently raise a piece in a project.  Sanding shims are used to temporarily sand multiple pieces at one time.  I didn't find anything about framed pieces and whether to do it before or after the rest, and I have not done one yet myself.  I had seen some comments from her on the Intarsia Nuts Facebook page and went back to check those but she just says its harder  to do a "framed" piece where everything has to fit precisely inside the frame. By starting with the frame, you are trying t take the puzzle pieces of the intarsia and make them fit into the frame.  doing the other way would mean possible more work in the end because you may find you are not "square" within the frame.  I would probably reach out to Bruce since it was his pattern and/or JGR and get some further insight from them before I decided to do frame first or after.  Good luck with it.

[Scrappile]

Dave I am very excited to see your project.  Anyone ever tell you to start simple and work up?  Seem like you never do simple, but, you always do superb.  Can't wait for this one.  Please give us some progress pictures.

[spirithorse]

Hi, Dave,

Melanie gave you the same advice I was going to share with you.
I have done several intarsia projects and quite a few of them were framed.
To save myself head-aches of trying to keep the pattern pieces exact enough to
fill the frame exactly as drawn, I would start from the inside out.

How you go about what you want to cut first is probably totally up to who-ever cuts the
pattern. I would start with Jesus as the central figure and probably gradually work myself back and forth
from one figure on the right including the pieces that connect to Jesus, and then a figure on the left and
continue that process until I have Jesus, the deciples, and the table complete. After that, the background is the icing on the
cake.

I ordered that pattern quite some time ago and then after seeing what the faces looked like, did not like it. Quite a bit of money
for one pattern that I will probably never cut.

I'm looking forward to seeing yours. Your work is always superb.

God Bless! Spirithorse

[amazingkevin]

What ever way you choice to go about this task at hand your going to come out with flying colors!!!

[trailfndr]

The frame is something I always do LAST.  The reason, is once you start cutting and shaping pieces,  Any piece that is even a smidgen off, will change the overall size by even more as you add pieces.  I can always trip the overal piece once its assembled (prior to making the frame) in insure that it is straight, and square.

 

I always start with whatever is closest to the viewer, In this case,  the table. and work my way back from there.  I would use 3/4" wood for most of the pattern,  However I am not above using 1/2", or even 1/4" for background pieces in order to add depth.

 

best of luck,  This is a very challenging project.  It will take alot of time to complete.

[meflick]

11 hours ago, trailfndr said:

. . . 

I always start with whatever is closest to the viewer, In this case,  the table. and work my way back from there. . . . 

So, I want to point this out to Dave, Lee says he starts with what is closest to the viewer and works his way back. As I already noted, I have taken all of JGR’s classes and  in her work and what she teaches in her classes, she cuts out everything and then starts with the pieces the furthest away from the viewer and works her way forward in sanding and shaping. She says she does it this way because what is the furthest away is getting the most wood removed with the sanding and the shaping. So clearly Lee and Judy take totally different approaches. Both Lee and Judy do beautiful outstanding work which anyone would admire. So clearly, the main lesson here is that there is no “one way” to craft an Intarsia piece. Do what works and makes sense to you. Don’t stress about it, the hardest part on a large, intricate piece like this one is getting started. 

[Bpardue]

I've currently have this piece about 1/2 cut out. I normally make the Frame last, I find it easier fitting the frame to the finished piece than the piece to a finished frame. I normally take a few scrap 2x4's to create a straight edge and square corner. Don't get overwhelmed with the total number of pieces in the total project. Start in a corner and move across and up. Just remember 1 piece at a time and you will get through it. 

Far as wood thickness. My piece currently ranges from 1/4 for the back walls, people range from 3/4 to 1 1/4. Table 1 1/4 and the floor is 1 inch.

I'm doing my as a donation to the church and it had to go on the back burner for paying customers. I have everything cut out from the floor up through the people, still have all the back walls and all the food & drinks on the table to cut.

Hope this helps

Brian 

[Bpardue]

On 12/9/2019 at 10:34 PM, planeur said:

Hello Dave

Another in the intarsia  club !

I did only 2 myself and I am still learning tricks , and  an expert of the village did that with a lot of details, and that help me a lot.

this one

And this one

Good luck with your project, a lot of work. Will you use color wood or you will put dyeing ?

 

planeur

I hate to say this but I'm not an expert in intarsia. I just wing it all the time but thank you for the kind comment. I cant wait till i can start doing intarsia again.

Brian

[Jim Finn]

I have done part of this project.  I have done the table and figures and not the immense walls, floor, and ceiling.  I used 1/8" backing (Masonite) and 3/8" wood. I re-saw 3/4" wood.  In my continuing effort to mass produce most any project, I cut most of the pieces stacked 3 deep and made multiple scenes by alternating the colors. (except for the white faces and hands).  Made and  sold four or five of these.  Lots of work! (fun?)

Edited December 13, 2019 by Jim Finn