Official Luthiers Forum!

What is the preferred to you use to inlay a rosette? I'm interested in every thing from chisels to machine power. Just curious as to what people use and like.

Gerould,

I don't know if there's a preferred way, but here's how I do it. Some put the whole thing together on a workboard, then route and install it all in one piece.

The jig is shop-made, with a spiral down-cut bit.


Center fill is cut out with a bandsaw to roughly fit the channel.


Channels for the purfling are cut for a snug fit.




Pat

_________________
formerly known around here as burbank
_________________

http://www.patfosterguitars.com

I tried the last one I did with the 1/64" plywood and it really makes it go easier. Thanks Todd.

_________________
Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Schneider gramil and/or a very sharp small v-shaped gauge. Very quiet. very peaceful.

I've got a Stanley #71 router plane that I use to ground out after scribing the lines. A #271 would be even better.

I like to build the rosette in place, rather than plugging in an assembled unit. Somehow the pre-built ones never seem to be quite round or uniform.

I love this circlecutter


My router plane

[quote="Javaca"]I love this circlecutter


Javaca: may I ask where you purchased that circlecutter?

It pretty much depends on the type of rosette you are doing. But I too have been using the Karol jig to cut my my inlay ring channel.
Ovals are a another new method.
Just a side note. If you are going to make a Karol precision base I'd suggest using something other then UHMW because it really doesn't machine well. Delrin, Polycarbonate and even hardwood I believe would be a better choice.

It was made by my former teacher, the flemish luthier Geert Vermeiren.
He makes only small series of them for his students.

I am partly hijacking this thread as I am about to route my first rosette using the Stewart McDonald jig. I have done a test run on a piece of plywood and it seemd OK but getting the right width was trial and error - is the a recommended procedure for marking out and cutting. For example to I draw around the rosette shape on the top and work to (inside a ) a pencil line ?

John

Gerould,

I modified a Stewmac/Dremel setup to add digital accuracy. I posted it in a thread a while back HERE. Enjoy.

Cheers,
Dave F.

_________________
Cambrian Guitars

"There goes Mister Tic-Tac out the back with some bric-brac from the knick-knack rack"

That has given me something to think about, two fixed reference points on the hole cutter would also do the same job in allowing an accurate measurement to be taken.

Thanks

John

Here are the tools that I use. The Stanley 271 that Al mentioned and a circle cutter adapted from a stock tank cutter. The arm and head of the cutter is all laminated from Ebony. I also set it by using a digital caliper between the head and the central boss of the tank cutter - very useful if you want to make very slight adjustments to the channel width.

My preferred method of inlayng a rosette? Having my daughter do them for me! (next time, I'll tell her to tie her hair back when she uses a rotary tool... )

_________________
Rian Gitar og Mandolin

I'll show it to my 15 year old if I can get her of MSN

[quote="Arnt Rian"]My preferred method of inlayng a rosette? Having my daughter do them for me! (next time, I'll tell her to tie her hair back when she uses a rotary tool... )/quote]

Wow! I think this is the best tool to use too! Unforntunatly mine grew up, got married and moved away....
I have to say it's really nice that your daughter takes such an interest in this field. I can only hope that one day I get to teach my grandchildren if one of them so happens to take an interest.

I have to say that I like everything I have seen so far. I now have many Ideas to work with and keep that train of motivation going.

Wow!!

I love the stewmac router base and circle cutter for the dremel. Works like a champ, and when using a 1/16" bit, you can sneak up on the proper width for the rosette.

_________________
Brad Tucker

I use this Jasper jig and a PC310-with a range of miniature diameter bits, it will cut most any size-more than advertised. They give you the formulae for "wheel" and "hole" -simple, relatively cheap and nearly fool proofhttp://jaspertools.com/productsdetail.cfm?SKU=673046004006&prod=Model-400%20Circle%20Guide&cat=Circle%20Guide