Epoxy inlay advice

theslave · #1 07-20-2006, 06:14 PM

Hello all,

i wanted some advice and tips please... i have routed out an intricate design via knife and dremel and now want to proceed to try inlay with only tinted epoxy...

to my understanding once.. the design has been routed out all i do is mix the epoxy and then pour it in and wait till it dries than scrape/sand to a very high grit to get the polish of the epoxy back...

well... here is the problem... the epoxy seems to be depressed like a channel in the design and there is bleeding onto the wood...also removing the excess is VERY difficult

much appreciated in advance for the advice and tips from this informative forum...

thanks

Geoff St. Germaine · #2 07-20-2006, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theslave

Hello all,

i wanted some advice and tips please... i have routed out an intricate design via knife and dremel and now want to proceed to try inlay with only tinted epoxy...

to my understanding once.. the design has been routed out all i do is mix the epoxy and then pour it in and wait till it dries than scrape/sand to a very high grit to get the polish of the epoxy back...

well... here is the problem... the epoxy seems to be depressed like a channel in the design and there is bleeding onto the wood...also removing the excess is VERY difficult

much appreciated in advance for the advice and tips from this informative forum...

thanks

I would have expected it to bleed into the wood. Did you test it on some ebony scrap first?

Hambone · #3 07-20-2006, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theslave

Hello all,

i wanted some advice and tips please... i have routed out an intricate design via knife and dremel and now want to proceed to try inlay with only tinted epoxy...

to my understanding once.. the design has been routed out all i do is mix the epoxy and then pour it in and wait till it dries than scrape/sand to a very high grit to get the polish of the epoxy back...

well... here is the problem... the epoxy seems to be depressed like a channel in the design and there is bleeding onto the wood...also removing the excess is VERY difficult

much appreciated in advance for the advice and tips from this informative forum...

thanks

Um, well almost...The flaw in what you've done so far is to not have a well sealed mask over the parts of the neck that aren't to be filled. If you get tinted epoxy on woods, it will indeed stain it. It will require sanding down to remove the shadow. This piece you see below is done with tinted epoxy and utilized that detail...

**BurningSkies** · #4 07-20-2006, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hambone

Um, well almost...The flaw in what you've done so far is to not have a well sealed mask over the parts of the neck that aren't to be filled. If you get tinted epoxy on woods, it will indeed stain it. It will require sanding down to remove the shadow. This piece you see below is done with tinted epoxy and utilized that detail...

Hambone, that's a nice looking piece you've done.

Each time I see your work it gets better and better.

Dusty G · #5 07-21-2006, 11:16 PM

Now Hambone, you see what happens when you share a brilliant technique, but leave more to be desired! That was an excellent thread btw.
How bout a touch of shellac around the edges before filling?

Greenman · #6 07-22-2006, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dusty G

How bout a touch of shellac around the edges before filling?

That is what I thought. Seal the route and surrounding surface plus a good surface mask.

theslave · #7 07-22-2006, 02:09 PM

thanks for the advice....

are you suggesting that i basically seal the edges of the carving then proceed with filling with epoxy?

Hambone · #8 07-22-2006, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theslave

thanks for the advice....

are you suggesting that i basically seal the edges of the carving then proceed with filling with epoxy?

You can do that, or use some sort of adhesive backed whatever to serve as a mask. If your epoxy isn't really thin, it won't bleed into the end grain. I use a thick adhesive backed rubber and cut through that before I get to the fingerboard. Then when the epoxy is poured in, it just builds up the sides of the rubber. When it's cured, the rubber mask just pulls away form the edge of the infill.

Wolfehollow · #9 07-22-2006, 08:02 PM

nice inlay!

theslave · #10 07-23-2006, 06:38 PM

so just leave the carving exposed ? option one

option 2 --> seal the carving (with glue and water ??)

finally in order to finish the epoxy... after sanding with 400 automotive grit what shall i do? i used a gold tinted eopxy and the color is really greyish lookin...

thanks again for all the tips...