Thread: Timber sizes for Intarsia

Hi Coldamus

Get a copy of Steve Bundred's book "Intarsia Down Under" ... you may find it in your local library, or mail order from Mik International or Australian Woodworker ... or buy direct from Steve (check out the website)
http://www.fantasticwoodworking.com/...790d95dc239dfb
It is truly an Intarsia Bible! ... everything you need to know and patterns too!

You can use whatever thickness timbers you like, and no a thicknesser is not absolutely necessary if you are happy to spend time gathering what you require for a project ... I have one and find it invaluable, but I'm too lazy to shop around. Check the yellow pages in your area for specialist timber suppliers and have a look at what they stock ... alternatively have a scrounge around in a recycled timber depot ... lots of goodies there! One guy in our club only uses what he can get for free, keeps an eye out for trees being cut down in his area, slabs it on the bandsaw and microwave dries it. Without going back to Steve's website, I think he even sells kits for intarsia (timber, pattern and instructions).

Good luck and enjoy!

Cheers
Tikki

I buy rough 1 1/4 thick plane down but use what you can get your hands on old boards from any where skids any thing.

Thanks for the answers. I will start collecting. The "Working with Wood" show is on in Sydney in 2 weeks time so I will keep an eye out for anything interesting.

regards
Coldamus

Hi Colldamus.
Over on this side of the world the generally accepted starting point is 3/4 inch or 20 mm. Mainly because that is the standard nominal thickness.
But you can use almost any thickness you want or need. However if it is too thin you will not get the depth and it will appear more like marquettry.
With the "Bison" here I started with 20mm thickness' for the body, grass and background. the beast's shoulders were 40mm and the head 60 mm.

Head and shoulders were laminated to build them up. This does not always work as the seam might show but in the Bison'e case the roughness/curliness of the fur masks the seams.
The sky over the mountains was lowered by 10 mm. And the frame stayed at 20mm.
Many intarsia projects freely raise or lower the various thicknesses in order to achieve depth/contours/perspective. And if laminating is required in lieu of actual thicker material, it is not a problem if....the surrounding material is of sufficient hieght to hide the join.
None of the materials I used on this project was scrap or salvaged. I am fortunate in that I have a supplier who deals in exotic wood. Which allows me to use a greater range of colours.
I hope this helps.
Bob






Bison also called a Buffalo

SO if its from a skid its no good ???reuse is a good thing right??


jim:confused:

Originally Posted by jim p

SO if its from a skid its no good ???reuse is a good thing right??


jim:confused:

SO unless there's been a post deleted here, I don't see anyone disagreeing with you :confused: :confused:

I don't care where I get my wood from...Wood is wood. Some of the best character pieces I have came across were from dumpster diving....Better in my hand than the burn pile....
Lin

me to Lin