Thread: Real Leaf inlay

Linden

You may find an answer by asking those experienced in Decoupage?

Tony,
Decoupage is where a very thin paper or cloth is glue to the top of a box and then a build up of lacquer bridges the levels so that they appear smooth.
I am talking about a real leaf that has been prepared and let into the wood (i.e. with router ).
If this would work then box makers could inlay a leaf from a tree that the wood came from to build the box.

Linden,

I've never seen this done, or heard of it before. Why don't you give it a go and let us know? Could be a fantastic idea here...
cheers
Wendy

Maybe cast it in a thin slab of clear resin, trim it to the leaf shape and let that into the box? Would be more durable...

Like Skew suggested. I have seen a leaf set in a circle of resin with a black background (to give it depth), then inset into a lid.

Linden,
As before, set the leaf in a hole routered out anduse a potting resin. This can be sanded back and then polished. Good for filling Knot holes and doughey bits in a coffee table top etc.
Have encapsulated beatles,moths etc like this. Great talking point. As regards your leaf, just the leaf skeleton (ribs and veins) picked up from the rainforest floor after it has been cleaned up by the various bugs, and gilded looks great too.

Cheers
Bruce C

Originally Posted by Linden Hardy

Tony,
Decoupage is where a very thin paper or cloth is glue to the top of a box and then a build up of lacquer bridges the levels so that they appear smooth.
I am talking about a real leaf that has been prepared and let into the wood (i.e. with router ).
If this would work then box makers could inlay a leaf from a tree that the wood came from to build the box.

Linden

I've seen Decoupage work which included real leaves, mind you it wasn't very well done and not attractive.

Originally Posted by bumnut

... just the leaf skeleton (ribs and veins) picked up from the rainforest floor after it has been cleaned up by the various bugs, and gilded looks great too.

Cheers
Bruce C

Any idea how to gild it? I reckon that would look pretty good.

Is this the same as gilding the lily?

Thanks Guys & Girls for the advice so far.

My intention was to find a leaf, press it flat, spray it with photo gloss, and lay it into the woodwork after taking the most minute layer out of the wood. I was thinking of putting a finish on the wood before before the inlay. After the leaf was glued in place, building up with coats of lacquer (that would not discolour in time ) to smooth out the surface. Leaves could be done at various stages ...... green, just pulled off tree and pressed for short time ........... as found on ground and pressed ------- long time pressed to see if colours fade or improve.
I would experiment to see if photo glossing would be better before or after pressing.

i think sawdustsniffer inlaid a feather...it would follow the same principle.

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...hlight=feather
found the thread. hope it helps.

cheers

Originally Posted by AlexS

Any idea how to gild it? I reckon that would look pretty good.

Is this the same as gilding the lily?

Don't think so, nor gelding the larry....
Just use one of the many gold lacs available in a spray can.

Bruce C

For some reason I recall an article in either the Aust Wood Review or The Aust Woodworker a number of years ago. The article was about inlaying a leaf into the top of a panel or box lid. I can't remember if it described how it was actually done in great detail or it was more "this is what we've done" and pictures. I will give it some thought and see if I can remember which one it was and try to find the article. I suspect it was in the Aust Wood Review as it seems more that calibre of woodworking.

A couple of years ago as an experiment I embedded a branched twig in a routed slot in a small sample of wood, using expoxy. The twig was proud of the wood by about half of its diameter. Once the epoxy had cured I sanded all flush and polished the surface. It turned out quite attractive. This was an experiment but the twig was a little green so it contracted when it dried. I have since thrown out the sample but I do intend to one day finish a box lid with a similar feature, but using a dry and stable twig.

All said though, simply give anything a go. If unsure of the outcome, try it out on a small test piece.

Regards