New to intarsia, need help.

[Pat Carroll]

After looking at the fall issue of ScrollSaw Magazine, intarsia has really gotten me anxious to make some dust fly.Where can I can find details on the basic steps for doing intarsia. I have done scrollsawing, have blades, have a selection of hardwoods, maple, birch, oak and walnut. Are the pieces cut individually ,shaped and then fit together? Possibly some dumb questions, but I want to get started out with the right steps. Rarin to go.

Have a good one
Pat Carroll

[Janette]

Check out Bruce Worthington's site www.intarsia.net He has a free pattern and step by step tutorial as well as a demo slide show. Also you may want to check out Judy Gayle Roberts books


ps, I moved your thread to the intarsia section.

[lucky788scroller]

Follow Janettes lead, you cant go wrong there!!!

[greatdane2]

I would suggest you try segmentation first. You only use one piece of wood and stain the pices to get the look you want. By using pine or any of the cheap woods you get to practice your cutting and more important your shaping skills.
Take any Intarsia pattern and have at it. And if you make a mistake cutting along a line it does not matter so much because the wood will still fit together.
My 1/2 cent worth.
Alan.

[groverd]

I would suggest starting with a very simple pattern, there are several teddy bear patterns available that make great starter pieces. Wish someone had given me that advice!! I stated with a huge eagle, , , still have it. .. workmanship is dog dodo though!!!! 15 plus years of intarsia has made me a little better!!

[f250]

I wouldn't start with segmentation, it is something totally different than intarisa. Sure they have things similar. I started simple, here my first piece:

Intasia Killer Whale - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Photo Gallery

This just happened to be a great start for me!

Tom

[Pat Carroll]

I appreciate the replies. I went to Bruce Worthington's site which really gave the information that I desperately needed. Thanks to all of you, now I have my work cut out for me. This type of woodworking is quite a challenge and must be very rewarding !!!

Have a good one
Pat Carroll

[Bruce]

I'm glad you found my site useful Pat, just a fair warning, this can be very addicting.

[jim_mex]

Thanks to all of you, now I have my work cut out for me

After seeing some of the fantastic work on this board that's the way I should go !! Sorry Pat - I have a twisted sense of humour and see double meanings in most things!

My half peso for what it's worth -

Despite the apparent conflict in views between Alan (greatdane2) and Tom (f250) and with no disrespect to Tom I'd follow Alan's suggestion for the following reason:

I started scrolling a few weeks back making a couple of simple Segmentation projects with an aim to eventually learning Intarsia

At the onset I found that I had plenty of things to learn including, more than anything else, how to use my saw!

Having read a couple of decent books basic its seemed to me that starting with a simple cut 1/4" ply segmentation project was a relatively easy intro into scrolling. Having gained some confidence and learnt a lot my next project aimed at using wood from thicker 1" stock which allowed me to get a feel for scrolling natural wood and apply a bit of shaping to the piece.

Having tackled these 2 projects with reasonable results I am now working on a new project which starts to use some relief work to get a more sculptured look but I'm still cutting from one piece of board .

If this works out well I reckon I can then jump into selecting differing woods and make my first real intarsia piece.

I appreciate, and so I think will you, that everyone has their own way of working and as the end justifies the means it can be argued that there is no definitive path to take. In my case, when tackling something new I like to set out a plan of attack which will eventually (hopefully) lead me to my goal in a fairly logical disciplined progression.

- having said this. I then look on this forum and see something attractive and challenging and have the urge to fly off in a different direction!

Whichever direction you take don't be afraid of showing your work and asking questions, and above all - have fun!!

[Pat Carroll]

I have done some scroll sawing and woodworking, and needless to say, after getting the advice from all of you, I certainly have a better understanding of what intarsia has to offer. Surprisingly, I started to go thru some of my old stuff!!!, and found what I might use for shims and back ups, so now I'll be constantly looking for various pieces of wood. Hopefully, my wife can keep me under control. Haven't deciced on my first project, but leaning towards something a little involved, but I'm not going to go overboard. I am really enthused, and all of your contributions make it that much better.

Have a good one
Pat Carroll