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I am going to do a solid ring wood rosette. The plate is currently about 3mm. I am wondering if it would be better to cut it to shape now, or after it gets thinned to inlay thickness (about 1.7mm). In either case, the circles will be scored (as deep as possible, about 0.5mm) with a circle cutter and the extras removed with a carving knife and files. My main concern is of course not to break the wood.

Thanks!

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I'd do it now.
Because if you thin it and a chip flies off you'll have a spot to fill.
It depends on the grain and brittleness of the wood.

Try a test piece -it will help you decide what to do with that
wood.

mike

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Mike Collins

I'd leave it full thickness. Cut ring, inlay, block plane most of it off, chisel for more accuracy as it gets close, and scrape mostly flush. Then router purfling lines and inlay those, chisel them down, and scrape fully flush.

Thanks guys! So far so good, I got a nice and healthy circle. After scribing (went nice and deep, this rosewood is extremely light and spongy), I drilled out the center and then knifed and filed the teeth away. The bulk of the outer part was sawed off with tangent cuts and then the edge planed on the shooting board, which resulted in a very nice and square edge. The ring can safely be further thinned on an upside down plane. Takes a sharp blade and lots of patience, but if pushing in the right way, no risk of cracking it.

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