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Swirl Inlay Using Table Saw Jig

Blog entry by Kerux posted 589 days ago 1561 reads 23 times favorited 22 comments Add to Favorites Watch

Here is a tutorial on the “Swirl” inlay that I use, but with a twist, this time I made a little jig for the table saw.

As you can see it is a small simple sled. I then took the sled and marked a line of what I thought would be a good angle for most pen blanks. I don’t know what the exact angle is… I just eye balled it. It is more than 45 degree’s of that I’m sure of.

I measure up the blank as seen here so that a little less than half the blank is covered for the cutting. (The blank is pre-cut for length for the pen kit I’m using. In this case and Atlas/Polaris/Patriot.)

I then use a couple of clamps. One for a stop block so that I get the same cut on all sides of the blank and the other to hold the blank in place while being cut.

I use my fence for pushing the sled up against. All I need to do is line up my original cut on the sled. Now just push forward until the blank is cut all the way through. Pull back, rotate the blank and repeat. And this is done until the blank has the cut on all four sides.

Normally I cut a piece of constrasting wood for the inlay and then plane it down. This time I just took some stir sticks, they fit just fine so I went for it. (The only problem was the Paduak faded into the inlay when sanded.)

To glue the inlay in place I used Thick CA then spritzed on some accelerator. And I got this little creature afterwards.

This is what the final blank looks like after cutting off the extra’s and sanding down on the disc sander.

Now, just treat it as you would any other blank that you’ve prepped for a pen. Like I mentioned previously, I used an Atlas/Polaris/Patriot kit. And here it is as it was getting rounded on the lathe.

After shaping, sanding and putting on a CA finish. This is my final product:

-- http://inhisgrip1.blogspot.com/


22 comments so far

View SPalm's profile

SPalm

949 posts in 777 days


posted 589 days ago

That is darn right clever. Thanks for showing.

-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon

View Scott Bryan's profile

Scott Bryan

20686 posts in 717 days


posted 589 days ago

Kerux,

So that is how you make an inlay pen!!! I have seen you post these but never really understood the process. Thanks for the tutorial. I have learned something new today.

Your instructions were concise and to the point and the photos added clarity to the process.

Thank you. I really appreciate it.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

View Steelmum's profile

Steelmum

347 posts in 858 days


posted 589 days ago

Wow! It is so simple when there are pictures to explain it. Thanks, that really helps.

-- Berta in NC

View kenn's profile

kenn

217 posts in 615 days


posted 589 days ago

Thanks for posting this. I’ve got a Laguna lathe that I’m anxiously awaiting for delivery on and this looks like a great project to try it out on.

-- Every cloud has a silver lining

View SteveKorz's profile

SteveKorz

2030 posts in 609 days


posted 589 days ago

That is really cool…

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †

View scottb's profile

scottb

3402 posts in 1222 days


posted 589 days ago

you saved me a lot of beating my head against the wall. – and I just got some atlas kits too!
Thanks for this how-to!

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/

View brunob's profile

brunob

1472 posts in 1065 days


posted 589 days ago

Thanks. I’m going to put that in my favorites.

-- Bruce from Central New York

View pappyjohn's profile

pappyjohn

138 posts in 608 days


posted 589 days ago

Kerux, Simply amazing, and what a great idea. I’m wondering how that technique would work for End Stand Table Legs. Whats your thoughts on it. Very impressive how you’ve utilized the Sled, your saw blade looks familiar. It wouldn’t be a Diablo would it? I look forward for some more of your teaching, I’m one person that agree’s, Never too old to learn, John

-- Your Brother in WoodWorking John, Pittsburgh , PA.

View Kerux's profile

Kerux

512 posts in 779 days


posted 589 days ago

Pappy,

On trying it on something else, never know until you try. I’m going to try it out on a ‘french Rolling pen’ and one of the coffee mug insulator thingys.

-- http://inhisgrip1.blogspot.com/

View RusticElements's profile

RusticElements

166 posts in 621 days


posted 589 days ago

The education on this site never ends. This is another one for the favorites list.

-- Michael R. Harvey - Brewster, NY - RusticElementArt.com - SpaceAware.org - AnConn.com

View John Gray's profile

John Gray

1753 posts in 781 days


posted 589 days ago

COOL!!!!!!

-- Only the Shadow knows....................

View romansfivefive's profile

romansfivefive

258 posts in 668 days


posted 589 days ago

That is so cool. Thanks. I am going to try that

-- www.robneves.com

View Kerux's profile

Kerux

512 posts in 779 days


posted 587 days ago

Thanks again everyone. I’m going to attempt to work this inlay into a French rollling pen tomorrow. Cherry with a Maple Swirl.

-- http://inhisgrip1.blogspot.com/

View Blake's profile

Blake

2757 posts in 770 days


posted 586 days ago

Craaaaaaazy cool, man.

-- Check out my new website! http://www.blakeweberwoodworking.com

View TedM's profile

TedM

1844 posts in 628 days


posted 571 days ago

Cool! Thanks for sharing! Added to my Favorites.

-- I'm a wood magician... I can turn fine lumber into firewood before your very eyes! - http://www.woodworkersguide.com

View ryno101's profile

ryno101

248 posts in 560 days


posted 514 days ago

Kerux,

Once again, excellent technique.

I’ve favorited this, as well as your tutorial on applying decals…

Keep these ideas coming! Brilliant!

-- Ryno

View DaveConry's profile

DaveConry

39 posts in 593 days


posted 504 days ago

I wondered how you did that. Kewwwl!!!....and thanks for the tutorial!

-- Evil can only thrive when good men do nothing.......E. Burke

View itsme_timd's profile

itsme_timd

676 posts in 726 days


posted 253 days ago

WOW! Saw this used on Lew’s bottle stopper and now I have to try it. Thanks for the instructions.

-- Tim D. - Woodstock, GA

View Edward E Nock II's profile

Edward E Nock II

42 posts in 1039 days


posted 253 days ago

I saw Lew’s Wine Stopper & he sent me over here. What an ingeneious idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I like !!!!!!!!!! I’m going to try when I get achance. It blew my mind. Thanks for sharing.

ED

-- ED NOCK

View GaryBuck's profile

GaryBuck

125 posts in 121 days


posted 25 days ago

Totally cool, Thanks for sharing, I was amazed and wondered how you do that.

View tamboti's profile

tamboti

38 posts in 37 days


posted 25 days ago

Hi Well done To stop darker wood bleeding into light wood apply sanding sealer, when dry sand and keep apply sealer till final sand. Sealer celulose and thinners based.

Kind Regards Roger SA

-- Always give it your best shot

View a1Jim's profile

a1Jim

16851 posts in 472 days


posted 24 days ago

I like it very cool great job and a blog well done

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

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