In previous posts you may have noticed a geometric rosette I make for my instruments.
I thought Id show you how I make these through photos.
All photography © Jay Rosenblatt 2012
ebony and maple rosette
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- laying out geometric JR Rosette
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- 2 Cutting Ebony rectangles
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- Cutting cocobolo trapezoid pieces
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- A dry fit is made to check allignment
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- Pieces are arranged but not glued in yet
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- Ebony rectangles pieces are alligned square and glued in
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- the remaining rectangles are glued and fit
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- At this step two pieces if fibre ar cut that will create a separatioin line between the ebony and Cocobolo 32 pieces required
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- Dry test fit of all parts. Minor adjustments to the 45 and 90 degree pieces are done here with a level sanding block and a square
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- All pieces are laid out in the order they will be installed.
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- The small fibers and the Cocobolo pieces are glued with epoxy
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- The painters tape is usede to keep the pieces from moving during epoxy curing
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- Epoxy mixed with cocobolo dust is used to fill any gaps that may have appeared during the gluing process
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- The rosette once again is sanded and the circle outlined are drawn
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- A router base with circle cutter attachment is used to cut the rosette out. This is done with many passes till the paper is reached. Don’t cut through the paper. On the outside of the circle move the cutter clockwiset. On the inside of the circle rotate the cutter counterclockwise.
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- After first sanding the is what it looks like
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- Two srtips of fiber binding to match the pieces between the cocobolo and ebony are glued around the inside. This is decorative and also helps to keep the rosette together. The strips are held in place with tape and Exacto blades while drying.
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- same process is repeated after the glue on the inside dries creating a double line around the rosette
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- After all is dry the rosette is then sent slowly, with light pressure, through the drum sander to remove excess glue and smoothing
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- The paper is sanded off the rosette. Final thickness about .070
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- The finished rosette. This will be inlaid to the guitar top. Additional binding strips will be added at installation.
Categories: guitar building, Hand-built acoustic guitars, Lutherie, tonewoods
Great little tutorial on rosette design and making! An interesting little saw you use to cut out the major pieces – I wonder what it is?
The saw is a miniature cut off saw from Harbor Freight or Micro Mark. The saw has been modified with a wood base.