Official Luthiers Forum!

I'm getting ready to go on vacation at the end of the week. I wanted to study up on the process of in laying. What's the best resource?

Thanks everyone!


jimmy

Years ago I bought the book by Larry Robinson and it was helpful. The rest I learned from here (the archive here has all kinds of info on building dremel or other specialized inlay router holders) and other tricks.

Larry Robinson for me two. I bought the three VCR set. It was excellent

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

Robinson's book and a class at Custom Pearl Inlay

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

In my view inlay is more about the "doing" (practice) and having the proper tools and safety gear, it can be bad for you, I have had severe allergic reactions to the point I do not work with it any longer, I've read that the dust is toxic or poisonous. As indicated the Robinson publication is the standard guide. Tools required for cutting inlay are a minimal investment. And as I mention before John Hall's pearl installation videos are very good. In other words it will take about 30 minutes to read the book.

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Ken Cierp

http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/

I couldn't have said it better...

[quote="kencierp"]In my view inlay is more about the "doing" (practice) and having the proper tools and safety gear, the dust is poisonous. As indicated the Robinson publication is the standard guide. Tools required for cutting inlay are a minimal investment. And as I mention before John Hall's pearl installation videos are very good. In other words it will take about 30 minutes to read the book.[/quo

Re: Pearl Dust being poisonous http://www.knifehandles.com/mother-of-p ... recautions It is important to take the usual precautions with fine particulates in the air, such as a very good dust mask or hood.

If I recall correctly Larry Robinson's book illustrates his "birds beak" jig for cutting pearl that has a dust collection attachment that he hooks up to a Shop Vac. I did the same with mine and haven't had any dust issues. A mask or hood can be pretty uncomfortable or unwieldy to wear when doing fine shell cutting. (Mind you a loud shop vac whirring in the background can be pretty distracting as well).

Over and above Larry Robinson's book and videos as well as John Hall's there is plenty of info on the Web and in the archives here.

Always good to mention shop safety!!

Thanks guys! This helps a lot.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

There is a place where you can rent the three part Larry Robinson DVDs for $25. I can't remember the name of the outfit, search the web.
Watch them, take notes, send them back. You have a week to view them and you should be good to go.

Having said that I find that process for doing inlay work dull, boring and tedious and use a completely different method which I call the poor man's CNC. There should be info in the archives.

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Michael F Smith
Goat Rock Ukulele
http://goatrockukulele.com

Wouldn't waste the money on the book but invest it in the full set of DVDs -I'm assuming they are not video tapes now.
I use Larry's dust collection system and board design too but I also strech a piece of pantyhose over the vacuum hose to catch any small pieces that get away from you and suck in. I show it in my youtube on making a 8 point stars.