intarsia and lapidary similarities - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

Pat Carroll · 10-16-2008, 09:37 PM

Being a newbie, I was able to get some great information with Bruce Worthington's "getting started and the Intarsia patterns of Kathy Wise. Many years ago, I was involved with lapidary and I 'm seeing a lot of similar approaches, one with wood , the other with stones.
The approach with lapidary, a large stone was cut into slabs with a large diamond blade ,into 1/4 to 3/8 inch slabs, I would then use a template with various size cabochons and check each side of the slab for the most desired cabochon. I would then mark the best choice,take the slab to a small diamond saw and cut as close to the line that was marked. Then I would use 6 inch dowelto mount the slab using a heated wax. After curing, the cabachon was ready to go thru a series of normally 5 or 6 steps of shaping and finally the finished polishing. To separate the wooden dowel and finished cabachon, it would go into the freezer, and they would separate, with very little clean up required.
I see a lot of comments with people having their finger getting a lot of sanding problems. Has anyone tried the doweling approach, I would think there should be a way to try this approach.
Like a dummy, I jumped into an advanced project for my first project, and I haven't gotten into shaping and sanding yet, so time will tell.

Have a good one
Pat Carroll

greatdane2 · 10-16-2008, 10:18 PM

A hot glue gun and dowel works for me. It was my dads rock work that gave me the idea.

Alan.

Janette · 10-16-2008, 10:37 PM

my luck the piece would still fly off the dowel and travel even farther!

Pat Carroll · 10-17-2008, 12:36 AM

I'll be ready to do some shaping and sanding soon, will try a few things and get back with you. With our brains and ingenuity ,we will succeed.

Have a good one
Pat Carroll

jim_mex · 10-18-2008, 01:03 AM

Hi Pat - I also use the dowel and hot glue approach . something I learned years back preparing small ceramic samples for testing.

But when sanding the larger pieces on my improvised drum sander in my drill the essential item is a fine nylon mosqito net side shield. It helps catch the pieces that fly out of my fingers during lapses in concentration !!

Btw - dummies of the world unite - you and me both!

workin for wood · 10-19-2008, 03:33 PM

Most of the time I hold on to a piece using a clothespin clamp that has rubber tips on it.

Interesting the transition from rock to wood. If I could afford to, I'd move the opposite direction and choose the lapidary.

Pat Carroll · 10-20-2008, 11:40 PM

Lapidary here in California, was very popular about 25 years ago. It was surprising how common it was to get scenes in the stones. With wood , we create the scenes, in stones you might be lucky and get something special. Depending how the large stone was cut, luck of the draw.

Have a good one
Pat Carroll

10-16-2008, 09:37 PM	#1
Pat Carroll Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 85	intarsia and lapidary similarities Being a newbie, I was able to get some great information with Bruce Worthington's "getting started and the Intarsia patterns of Kathy Wise. Many years ago, I was involved with lapidary and I 'm seeing a lot of similar approaches, one with wood , the other with stones. The approach with lapidary, a large stone was cut into slabs with a large diamond blade ,into 1/4 to 3/8 inch slabs, I would then use a template with various size cabochons and check each side of the slab for the most desired cabochon. I would then mark the best choice,take the slab to a small diamond saw and cut as close to the line that was marked. Then I would use 6 inch dowelto mount the slab using a heated wax. After curing, the cabachon was ready to go thru a series of normally 5 or 6 steps of shaping and finally the finished polishing. To separate the wooden dowel and finished cabachon, it would go into the freezer, and they would separate, with very little clean up required. I see a lot of comments with people having their finger getting a lot of sanding problems. Has anyone tried the doweling approach, I would think there should be a way to try this approach. Like a dummy, I jumped into an advanced project for my first project, and I haven't gotten into shaping and sanding yet, so time will tell. Have a good one Pat Carroll

10-16-2008, 10:37 PM	#3
Janette Intarsia Moderator Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Eugene, Oregon Posts: 2,326 Blog Entries: 4	my luck the piece would still fly off the dowel and travel even farther! __________________ Janette www.square-designs.com

10-18-2008, 01:03 AM	#5
jim_mex 'Senior' member - no way! Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Pachuca, Mexico Posts: 2,394	Hi Pat - I also use the dowel and hot glue approach . something I learned years back preparing small ceramic samples for testing. But when sanding the larger pieces on my improvised drum sander in my drill the essential item is a fine nylon mosqito net side shield. It helps catch the pieces that fly out of my fingers during lapses in concentration !! Btw - dummies of the world unite - you and me both! __________________ Jim in Mexico “Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.” -Albert Einstein

10-19-2008, 03:33 PM	#6
workin for wood Master Scroller Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Eaton Rapids Michigan Posts: 2,447	Most of the time I hold on to a piece using a clothespin clamp that has rubber tips on it. Interesting the transition from rock to wood. If I could afford to, I'd move the opposite direction and choose the lapidary. __________________ Jeff Powell

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

10-16-2008, 10:18 PM	#2
greatdane2 Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Vancouver Island, BC. Canada Posts: 2,298	A hot glue gun and dowel works for me. It was my dads rock work that gave me the idea. Alan.

10-17-2008, 12:36 AM	#4
Pat Carroll Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 85	I'll be ready to do some shaping and sanding soon, will try a few things and get back with you. With our brains and ingenuity ,we will succeed. Have a good one Pat Carroll

10-20-2008, 11:40 PM	#7
Pat Carroll Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 85	Lapidary here in California, was very popular about 25 years ago. It was surprising how common it was to get scenes in the stones. With wood , we create the scenes, in stones you might be lucky and get something special. Depending how the large stone was cut, luck of the draw. Have a good one Pat Carroll