Tropical Fish

[Bob H]

This is the second time I have done this pattern ( picture of the 1st follows)
Interesting pattern in that it allows for all sorts of colours. 102 pieces and measures 17" X 18.5".

http://users.vianet.ca/~rhelman/Intarsia/fish05.jpg

Woods I have used are:
Aspen & Basswood (whites), Black Walnut, Pau Amorella (yellow), Lacewood, Cherry, Poplar, Box Elder ( pink/red/ivory), Ebony, Pine, & Western Red Cedar.

I had mentioned in another earlier post about how I cut the backer after the glue-up is complete, (rather than trace the pattern onto the backer then cut and fit the pieces as they are glued.)
I glued this up onto a rough cut backer, then tilted my saw table 2-3 degrees left and cut all around the pattern. Easier to hide cutting/sanding mistakes where they might not fit a pre-cut backer.

Finally:

Here is my first effort from 14 months ago.
http://users.vianet.ca/~rhelman/Intarsia/fishies.jpg
You probably noticed, I take better pictures now too.

[starr]

Nice effort (from a displaced Canuck). I'm surprised you get fish like that up in Elliot Lake to model for you.

[Bob H]

What? Don't tell me you don't recognize Pike,Walleye, Bass & Sunfish? (With lots of imagination thrown in.)
Did last week's snow have you homesick?

[junkboy999]

Man that would look nice above my fish tank. Do you have any Paduak? and how much would you Charge. :) I know I could probly go it my self if I finish the tun of projects I have started and still need to finish :)

I did some playing with your photo and photo of some Paduak I have in the shop :) The detail of the fins got lost but color is nice :)

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/PbTerry/Thumbnails/pfish01.jpg

[Bob H]

Man that would look nice above my fish tank. Do you have any Paduak? and how much would you Charge. :) I know I could probly go it my self if I finish the tun of projects I have started and still need to finish :)

I did some playing with your photo and photo of some Paduak I have in the shop :) The detail of the fins got lost but color is nice :)

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/PbTerry/Thumbnails/pfish01.jpg
Yes I have a good supply of paduak. However it is a deeper, redder shade. Less orange, than yours.
Charge? Not sure what you mean. Charge for doing one with paduak or for the existing one?
Using paduak would significantly increase the cost.
The stack cutting required for a good fit would be that much more time consuming on these 4 fish. 3/4 inch basswood or aspen plus 3/4 inch paduak= sloooow cutting and greater chance or error.
I do sell my bits but don't post them with the intent to make sales. More just to share and encourage.
I would be interested to see your project if you decide to go-for-it.
If you want to follow up the selling bit maybe send me a private message?

[junkboy999]

Do you have any Pics of how you do your stack cutting or any pic of this work inprogress. I would love to get some more info befor I try one. I have only shaped a few small peices and edge guled them together them glued them to a top of a box for a lid lift. I did this with small files.

[Bob H]

Do you have any Pics of how you do your stack cutting or any pic of this work inprogress. I would love to get some more info befor I try one. I have only shaped a few small peices and edge guled them together them glued them to a top of a box for a lid lift. I did this with small files.

Actually no need for a picture of stack cutting.
Process is simply to attach one colour of wood on top of a contrasting colour then cut the two together.
In the case of the fish ( the black and white ones are a good example)
I used double faced tape a attached a 1/4 inch thick piece of ebony on top of a 1/4 in thick bit of Aspen. Total thickness 1/2 inch. Attached the fish pattern to the aspen then cut it all out. What I ended up with were one ach of the proper coloured fish and a second set of reversed colours. Then I reassembled in the proper order of colours, sanded, shaped, edge glued, sanded, shaped some more and when ready assembled each complete fish withthe the remainder of the pattern onto the backer.

Had I wantd to I could have incorporated the second (inaccurate set with the reversed coulors) into another project. The 4 white/brown fish were done the same way except I used 3/4 inch Basswood and 3/4 inch Western red Cedar.

[junkboy999]

Sorry more Question.

When you place two peices together to cut them, what would be better. The harder or softer wood on top. Just trying to keep down blade twist. Is the patern you used available some where for free download ?? :)

[Bob H]

Sorry more Question.

When you place two pieces together to cut them, what would be better. The harder or softer wood on top. Just trying to keep down blade twist. Is the patern you used available some where for free download ?? :)

I suggest the harder wood on top. It is the one which would govern speed of cutting with the softer wood following happily along. However I think feed rate and no sideways pressure are the more important considerations. Frankly I have not yet tried two extremes in hardness, eg. Bloodwood and cedar, and the thickness is also a factor. In this pattern the Ebony and Aspen were relatively thin, the Basswood and Cedar relatively soft so neither pairings presented a problem. In the case of the bottom left "Angle" fish both the Black wallnut and the Pau Amorella were of a similar density.

The pattern is a Judy Gail Roberts' copyright. I paid, shipping included, somewhere in the vicinity of $20 CDN. Sorry.

I would ask if you are experienced in Intarsia?
If not, this particular design would not be a suggested starter project.

[oges]

Very nice effort on both of them, but I think I prefer the second attempt, it has a bit more colour to it.

[junkboy999]

I would ask if you are experienced in Intarsia?
If not, this particular design would not be a suggested starter project.


Not very experienced. I have allways bit off more them I can chew. Humm maybe that is way lot of my projest are not finished :) hehehe

I'm gonna try just one fish out of some cheap soft wood first. I uasly like doing a mock-up first


Alos noticed that your old post pics are not there :( have you thought about posting them to a hoasting sight like Photobucke . com, or do you have a gallery for you works :)