Mandoborg wrote:Cliff, answers to all of the above !!! Actually, i'm really interested in how you did, and what you used for the painted reflection in the glasses and on the bouts of the violin. The border pieces as well, are they real stone ? That work is right up there with Robinson, Leach, Laskin etc.... Good to see the younger generation working at this art. Please tell me no CNC !! :O)
Inspiring work......Inlay work is FUN !
Jim
Well Jim ... sorry to disappoint you, but ... I use a CAM machine. I use to do all my inlay by hand for years (see the "Vine of Death" on my web-site), but I finally could afford a CAM and I have never looked back. My work was good before, but it was even better with the CAM. I use .005" tolerances which is about one quarter of the distance your hand moves when you heart beats. Plus I can charge my client less money. It's a win-win-win anyway you look at it.
The frame is made of recon-stone. I'm not sure you know what that is. Recon is made from the actual stone, but is lighter and easier to work with. That much real stone would change the balance point of the guitar and make it really tail heavy. Not good.
The detail in the reflection of the glasses and the shimmer on the violin is paint. I usually don't put paint on my inlays (I'm sort of opposed to the concept), but in this case there was no other way to make the blurred out effect necessary. On my web-site there is a pictorial of the piece being built and you can see all the steps involved. Check it out.
Good questions!!