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My latest inlay- butterfly garden
http://www-.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10102&t=6818		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  clavin [ Mon May 22, 2006 1:48 pm ]
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Finally something new to post!
I can't let Paul have ALL the fun...
This is the entire scene that goes with the Auriga butterfly headstock I posted a while back. This one took a while- Lots of various stones, etc.. all inset in reverse to make sure they are thick enough to withstand cracking. Plus pearls, silver, woods, corian, and a lot of engraving.
It's basically a fantasy of butterfly fish meeting butterfly insects. The upper reef area turns into a hidden hanging garden. Thanks for looking!
Craig Lavin
www.handcraftinlay.com






Author:  old man [ Mon May 22, 2006 1:55 pm ]
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WOWWWWWW!! Is that impressive. Beautiful work Craig.

Ron
Author:  peterm [ Mon May 22, 2006 1:59 pm ]
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WOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

what else can I say??
Author:  Jeff Doty [ Mon May 22, 2006 2:26 pm ]
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Craig,

Beautiful work. Both types of butterflys are very life-like, and stunning. I really like the brain coral too!

Jeff
Author:  Robbie O'Brien [ Mon May 22, 2006 2:49 pm ]
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a true artist!
Author:  Jim Watts [ Mon May 22, 2006 2:59 pm ]
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Wow, beautiful work Craig!
Author:  Serge Poirier [ Mon May 22, 2006 3:04 pm ]
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Master piece Craig ! Bravissimo my friend!

I would have a question please. How long did it take you to perform such outstanding work? Let's say how long for the headstock only and then how long for the neck? TIA

Serge
Author:  Dave Anderson [ Mon May 22, 2006 4:12 pm ]
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Super work Craig.Just gorgeous!
Author:  SniderMike [ Mon May 22, 2006 5:11 pm ]
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Craig, that is so beautiful. Very inspiring.

What do you mean by "inset in reverse"?

Mike
Author:  Bobc [ Mon May 22, 2006 6:20 pm ]
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Crag
Your work never ceases to amaze me. Absoulutly beautiful.
Author:  LanceK [ Mon May 22, 2006 10:24 pm ]
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Author:  clavin [ Mon May 22, 2006 11:18 pm ]
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I wish I could remember how long this one took. I am sorry to say I was working on it in spare time and dedicated time between other things so I didn't really count hours. It took at least 40-60 for everything, art and research included.

What I mean by inlaying in reverse is I used the recon stone at about double to triple the thickness of the shells, glue it face down, then routed to the thickest depth, back filled with glue, and inset them that way.
Any time I use a big piece of recon stone I get worried now about it cracking after it's in. Not that it happens that often, but I did have it happen once with green gaspeit and it was really frustrating. I inset the yellow corian deep as well, because as it gets thinner against ebony it starts to loose it's color.

I have some regular general pattern type stuff up next, if anything different or cool comes along I'll post it.
Thanks.
Craig L clavin38860.366087963
Author:  1bordeaux [ Tue May 23, 2006 12:28 am ]
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Very nice,Craig.

[QUOTE=clavin] What I mean by inlaying in reverse is I used the recon stone at about double to triple the thickness of the shells, glue it face down, then routed to the thickest depth, back filled with glue, and inset them that way.
[/QUOTE]

Ahhh... The virtues of recon! I have been sanding down recon blanks between .060 - .085 with mostly good results. Different types tend to load up the sander, but it eliminates some of the trouble working it at full thickness.
For those who haven't purchased it:
Most suppliers will not cut recon slabs under .125 inches. Some types of stone I've received has been .250 .
I'm told by Bill at masecraft it's because it is so brittle.

Craig, I've got a humpback whale inlay in the shop. Wait until you see the color! (Yes, I did the research, but yeilded to customer demands again)

Also finishing up a conversion inlay on a Breedlove with the factory mermaid/ dolphin scene. My customer loves the guitar but felt the bare breasted mermaid was a bit out of place in his church.
I'll post some photos when it's complete.
Author:  SniderMike [ Tue May 23, 2006 1:37 am ]
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[QUOTE=clavin]
What I mean by inlaying in reverse is I used the recon stone at about double to triple the thickness of the shells, glue it face down, then routed to the thickest depth, back filled with glue, and inset them that way.
Craig L [/QUOTE]

Thanks Craig. I'll have to give that a try next time.

Also, i notice you didn't leave slots for the frets, so obviously this gets done later. Just wondering your procedure for fretting it? I recently did my first fretboard inlay, but I divided it where the frets would go first, then inlaid it. I was really nervous when fretting it though, so I widened the slots around the inlay so I wouldn't have to pound on it, and planned to press the frets in around there, but I widened too much. Anyway, it sucked! I'm confident I can get everything to be ok, but I'd love to know a better way!   

Mike
Author:  Andy Zimmerman [ Tue May 23, 2006 1:43 am ]
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You 2 are unbelievable....Craig and Paul
Stunning
Author:  ctholden [ Tue May 23, 2006 1:45 am ]
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Hey Craig,

I had to login when I saw your work just to tell you that it never ceases to amaze me what you can do.
Creative and beautiful. You are a very talented guy.

The other Craig
Author:  Steve Kinnaird [ Tue May 23, 2006 4:13 am ]
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That's great, Craig.
Up to your usual high standards.

Steve
Author:  John K [ Tue May 23, 2006 6:15 am ]
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Great work Craig. I never cease to be impressed.
   

John
Author:  JBreault [ Tue May 23, 2006 6:18 am ]
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Craig, beautiful work as always. We are very lucky on this forum to have you and Paul posting here.
Author:  CarltonM [ Tue May 23, 2006 7:52 am ]
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As you say, original and one-of-a-kind! Very cool!
Author:  Sprockett [ Tue May 23, 2006 9:44 am ]
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[QUOTE=SniderMike]
Also, i notice you didn't leave slots for the frets, so obviously this gets done later. Just wondering your procedure for fretting it?
Mike[/QUOTE]

I have the same question, I have been told to use a dremel but that makes me nervous. I'd really like to see how it's done...

-Paul-
Author:  Dennis Leahy [ Tue May 23, 2006 9:55 am ]
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Craig,

Absolutely gorgeous work! Thanks for posting it!

Dennis
Author:  Lacey [ Tue May 23, 2006 10:15 am ]
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Beautiful!!!
Author:  Anthony Z [ Tue May 23, 2006 5:27 pm ]
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Excellent Craig....I look forward to your posts (especially the ones with pictures)
Author:  PaddyD [ Tue May 23, 2006 11:35 pm ]
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awesome stuff,

love the brain coral!!

paddy
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