block inlay

[Martian]

when i started this project, I inventoried everything i had, and ordered my supplies from stew mac hopping not to get slapped on shipping., but i see i only have small bits. is a block do- able with small bits, as opposed to large ones, or should I just order some big ones? ( Plus I am sure as I go, I will need something else,lol

[Bernie Daniel]

when i started this project, I inventoried everything i had, and ordered my supplies from stew mac hopping not to get slapped on shipping., but i see i only have small bits. is a block do- able with small bits, as opposed to large ones, or should I just order some big ones? ( Plus I am sure as I go, I will need something else,lol

What project?, what order?, what kit? What are you trying to do install block inlays on a mandolin?, mandola?, mandocello? something else? What kind of fretboard? radiused or not? etc

[Jim Garber]

Shipping to Mars must be exhorbitant!

Bernie: he must be assuming we know what he is talking about. I don't either.

[Marty Jacobson]

You can do blocks with smaller pieces:

(Don't knock the inlay work, it's the first I ever did, haha)

There's also a pretty common pattern where you use two smaller pieces of mother o pearl, with a third triangular piece of abalone in the middle. Together they make a block of MOP/Abalone/MOP, and small bits and pieces could be used without having to have large blocks.

[Martian]

What project?, what order?, what kit? What are you trying to do install block inlays on a mandolin?, mandola?, mandocello? something else? What kind of fretboard? radiused or not? etc

The Project is this is my 4th mando, and have not done one in a while. I am making an f model with Adrians prints. So , O I needed to make an order of stuff from stew mac. have no idea about what kit you are talking about. I have small inlay bits, I was wondering, if it makes any sense to cut out a mando block set with a small bit. flat fretboard

[Bernie Daniel]

The Project is this is my 4th mando, and have not done one in a while. I am making an f model with Adrians prints. So , O I needed to make an order of stuff from stew mac. have no idea about what kit you are talking about. I have small inlay bits, I was wondering, if it makes any sense to cut out a mando block set with a small bit. flat fretboard

So your main question is do you need some larger router bits to cut the patterns in the fret board wood for the block inlays?

Personally I find larger bits handy if I want to hog out larger sections of wood so I would say yes larger (1/8"?) bits for the centers and small bits for the edges and corners. Also I would cut some nice deep slots on all four sides to mark the edges of my block holes with an Exacto knife before routing out the centers. Others might have better advice. Good luck.

I mentioned kit only because in your first post you gave no indication of what you were working on?

[Martian]

So your main question is do you need some larger router bits to cut the patterns in the fret board wood for the block inlays?

Personally I find larger bits handy if I want to hog out larger sections of wood so I would say yes larger (1/8"?) bits for the centers and small bits for the edges and corners. Also I would cut some nice deep slots on all four sides to mark the edges of my block holes with an Exacto knife before routing out the centers. Others might have better advice. Good luck.

I mentioned kit only because in your first post you gave no indication of what you were working on?

thanks Bernie, yes that is exactly what I mean was using a larger bit for the hog out part. i have a dozen or so small bits, but was wondering if this was like rowing a boat in the ocean,lol, and I did think of profiling the blocks with an exacto. also, i seen , but have not watched, on Rescue pearl, they have 2 vids on inlaying a block pattern. this is my first block, thanks again

[Martian]

that looks great