Inlay patterns?

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Grumple
Posts: 108
Joined: Thu Jul 03, 2014 7:38 am
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia

Inlay patterns?

Post by Grumple »

Hello,

I was recently reading through some older forum posts, and came across a few canoes that had really neat wooden patterns embedded in the hull. I'm familiar with how to handle accent/feature strips, but I haven't seen much describing how the inlays would be handled.

As far as I can tell I'd just wait til the hull was pretty much fully stripped, then *gulp* cut a pattern out and fill it with a precisely cut inlay. Having said that, I suspect the devil is in the details... (i.e. fairing it to the hull inside and out).

For reference, here is an example from a post waaaaay back in this very forum:
http://s101.photobucket.com/user/tominc ... l.jpg.html
http://s101.photobucket.com/user/tominc ... 4.jpg.html

Here is the actual forum post that the image link was taken from:
http://www.bearmountainboats.com/phpBB3 ... lit=walnut

I don't have the link now, but there was another really beautiful one I saw a while back with an elaborate compass rose in the centre of the football.

Any recommendations or advice on best practices? So far I haven't found a good 'how to' guide anywhere.
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Jim Dodd
Posts: 1359
Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2006 11:08 pm
Location: Iowa

Re: Inlay patterns?

Post by Jim Dodd »

A Good friend did a really nice inlay by cutting veneer to shape and epoxied it on to the sanded deck of his kayak. He sanded the hull first, then coated the veneer, and taped it to the hull. Sanded lightly, and glassed over it.
The inlay could be put on the bare wood of the hull, but you could do it over a hull that was already glassed. Either way.

Looked great !

Jim
Keep your paddle wet and your seat dry!
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Grumple
Posts: 108
Joined: Thu Jul 03, 2014 7:38 am
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia

Re: Inlay patterns?

Post by Grumple »

Thanks Jim, that sounds like a much safer idea than cutting holes in the hull, at least for my skill level.

I suppose a brave soul could still mortise out the shape of the veneer to make it completely flush with the surrounding wood...
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