Looking for a good Inlay instruction Manual

[F5G WIZ]

What would be the best resource for learning the art of Inlay. The art work involved facinates me. I'm sure there are many books out there but was wondering which would be the best.

[sunburst]

I believe Larry Robinson's book is called The Art of Inlay.
I've only looked through it a couple of times, I'm not sure how much it is an instruction book, or how much it is a picture book.

There was an old manual called Working With Mother of Pearl. It might be still around. I had a copy of it, and as I remember, it had a good bit of practical information.

I recently watched Larry Robinson's inlay videos. I picked up some good tips from the advanced sections. He starts at a pretty basic level and goes way beyond any techniques that I aspire to. I'd rather be building than cutting all the pearl it would take for me to get that good, if I even could get that good. I'll farm it out, if I want all that!

[PaulD]

Here (http://www.inlay.com/inlay/pearl/pearl.htm) is an online tutorial that might help... all text, no pics. It was recommended in this thread (http://www.mimf.com/cgi-bin/WebX?7@231.naGCaRqmrLg.21@.1dcf635d/8) on MIMF, which has a short tutorial with pics itself.

pd

[kyblue]

Wow, that last post lead me to this site with some amazing headstock inlay work. Thanks!

inlays (http://www.threetguitars.com/inlays.html)

[PaulD]

Yeah... Judy Threet uses a peghead like a painter's pallet... very tastefully. Her Website has great photo galleries (http://www.threetguitars.com/photoindex.html) of the build process too. I assume most folks are familiar with Grit Laskin's (http://www.williamlaskin.com/gallery2.html) work, since he's been around awhile and has published a book. It's amazing, but a lot of people find it over the top... too busy.

Paul Doubek

[sunburst]

Yep. I know Grit and Judy both, and their work is amazing.
There's another Canadian named Sheldon Shwartz (http://www.schwartzguitars.com/inlay.html). I was set up beside him at a show several years ago. I went to a siminar that he and Grit Laskin did, and learned some useful stuff that helped me a lot with custom inlay work.

[otterly2k]

Threet and Laskin...IMHO, their work goes beyond the ornamentation of an instrument and becomes an artform in and of itself!
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

[Antlurz]

Some great examples of inlay, but for my personal tastes, most of it is over the top. Murals are for rec room walls. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Ron

[kyblue]

I agree the other two are over the top, but to me Threat's work is tasteful although somewhat elaborate. That's impressive.

[F5G WIZ]

Thanks for all the suggestions and links. Lots for me to take in!

[Michael Lewis]

The book John Hamlett mentioned is "Working With Mother-of-Pearl" by J.E.Patterson. Jim Patterson is a long time luthier from Santa Cruz CA. Very thorough book by the way.