Beacon of Light Lighthouse

[Zoot Fenster]

I enjoy looking at the intarsia posted by you experts, but I am looking for advice and guidance on how to make these projects better.  I bought a scroll saw several months ago and practiced on letters for 30-40 hours. Bought the Kathy Wise book, Intarsia for Beginners and began working my way through the beginner projects.  I had just finished the last 20 piece beginner project when LOML requested a 89 piece Lighthouse as a Christmas present.  And, having no fear or common sense, I agreed. It turned out better than I expected for my experience and skill level.  After completing the piece, I have some questions:

- How does one decide the work order?  Which pieces get cut first?  Which last?  Same question with how to assemble and glue it together. I am sure there is a logical thought process, but it eludes me.

- The KW workbook basically cuts up several patterns, glues them to different woods and assumes that one accurately cuts each pattern to the lines.  I tried to split the line and did better than I expected.  But it was obvious after glue-up that several pieces were too large.  They threw off the adjoining pieces which impacted the next pieces, etc.  If I was to do it again, I would segmentation cut the ring of poplar "rocks" at the bottom, glue them up, them trace and cut the internal pieces.  How would you cut this piece?

- I glued the bottom row of rocks to the frame and worked up the pattern.  Which left the light house slightly offcenter.  Luckily, I assembled the dove, clouds and intersecting rays and then cut the outer frame to fit.  Would you work from the center out?  Or vice versa?

- Other suggestions?

Many thanks.

[smayne]

Looks great. I start from the center out

[new2woodwrk]

Intarsia is above my pay grade, but yours looks great!

Thanks for sharing it

[jvbscroller]

Superbly done.  As you say, the lighthouse is slightly off center, but I think that makes the piece more appealing.  The piece is balanced, that is, there seems to be as much to the left of center as there is to the right of center.  You have the bird on the upper right and the small house is also on the right.  If the lighthouse were perfectly centered, I believe the piece would look a little unbalanced.  You did a great job.   

[wombatie]

That looks awesome.  The only thing I have ever done is a dolphin.

Marg

[Tomanydogs]

Wow that’s beautiful.  Well done. 

[daveww1]

terrific job

[Zoot Fenster]

Many thanks. The remaining bandsaw boxes are almost complete, so it is back to KW Beginners book.  Next up, HORSE.

Intarsia may be easier than scroll sawing.  It is way easier to hide cutting errors behind sanded curves.  You folks would notice, but the general public never sees the flaws. I am more intimidated by cutting letters than making random sized rocks and clouds.

[spirithorse]

Looks great!
Each intarsia pattern has it's own unique intricacy so, it's hard to say how to start
in general terms.
On this lighthouse, I would start with the lighthouse itself since it is the focal point of the
entire project.
Great wood choices and well contoured!
Thanks for sharing and God Bless! Spirithorse

[ben2008]

I have done over 20 Intarsia projects. Not as many as I would like. I always try to start in the middle and do the smallest pieces first. To me, they are the hardest to make. The larger pieces are easier and a little more forgiving in my opinion. In your case starting with the lighthouse and working outward would have been my plan of attact. 

I tried to follow Judy Gale Roberts way of doing it and finishing, but honestly, I believe everyone will find the best and easiest for themselves. I personally think there is really no best way. It's just what yiou are comfortable with and how the end results look. You did fantastic for your first attempt. I really like Lighthouses and anything nautical. Welcome to the wonderful world of Intarsia. It's been my favorite for years. 1988 to be exact. That's when I saw my very first Intarsia in Wood Magazine. They did a story about Judy Gale Roberts and her husband and how she got started through her dad. I was hooked.

Edited December 18, 2020 by ben2008

[amazingkevin]

Your very professional in everyway!!!

[ScollSaw Slasher]

I think it turned out great. One aspect of intarsia besides accurately cutting on the lines, is to doing the cutting without any side way pressure on the blade which can lead to a poor fit. My right hand can at times overpower my left hand. Different woods of course cut differently, so I try to cut each species at the same time so I probably differ from the others in that regard. But in assembly, I do try to work from the center out or the main focal point.

[Pictures in wood]

When cutting I always start in the middle and work out, or the eyes , if it is an animal!! when shaping I start with the piece the would appear to be closest to you!

 

[Gonzo]

I can’t say where to start. But I do agree it looks good with the lighthouse off center. 
Nice piece!