Tiger Top - Japanese Kodansu / Suzuribako

This is a really spectacular creation with amazing attention to detail. Never seen a box like it before. What is your process for doing the mother of pearl inlay?

-- Allen, Colorado (Instagram @bobasaurus_woodworking)

WOW Such a splendid post. Incredible box, and the orderliness, if that is a word, of everything is crazy wonderful.

Thanks for the post, and to Brian if he motivated you to make it.

-- Think safe, be safe

Another miniature masterpiece! The inlays and decoration are quite superb.

Jim

-- It always looks better when it's finished!

Thanks Jim – you are on the ball!

Allen – An answer to your question What is your process for doing the mother of pearl inlay?

The shell inlays were purchased from De Paul Inlays in Vietnam though they are based in the USA – check them out here https://www.luthiersupply.com/ At the price they charge I wouldn’t dream of trying to make them myself. The shell strips are cut from a laminated sheet (.7mm) purchased from http://www.mopsupplies.com/ The ‘picture’ inlays are let in once everything is finished. That way when the inlays are sanded down to the finished surface the shell dust doesn’t fill any open grain. I then apply more finish – always polyurethane, and build the finish back up. The inlays are held down with my fingers and then drawn round with a pin fixed in the end of a piece of dowel – it scratches the finished surface. I then use a scalpel to cut into the wood or veneer and then use a small bent ‘chisel’ or a mini hand held router plan to dig out the waste. Some people use a dremel with a router bit – risky!! The small bent chisel is actually a bent nail, that is ground at the end to produce a flat bottom and then a cutting edge on top. The inlays are glued in with superglue. I put a bit of polythene sheet on top, then a clamping block and clamp – super glue doesn’t stick to plastic! If my hole isn’t such a good fit then I mix the appropriate sawdust with superglue to fill in any gaps.

The straight inlays are cut in with a scalpel and ruler and dug out with the ‘nail’ chisel as above. I’ve have a few nail ‘chisel’ or different widths for inlaying straight strings! Hope this helps.

-- Madburg WA

Such a detailed project writeup of a wonderful project! And then the writeup of the MOP inlay process in the comments as an addition. Thank you!

-- Dave - Santa Fe

As running piece of art.

I’m speechless – what an astonishing piece. Thanks for sharing it with us.
PS – I’m not rendered speechless very often, I almost alway have something to say!

I am totally in awe of the work you do!
Thank you for your inspirations…

-- Mike, A Yooper with a drawl, http://www.artcentergraphics.com

You need one of these Japanese inlay “clamping” frames. I have seen the same technique used (on a larger scale) for boat building.

Thank you for including the note about Sanada Himo to placate those of us with fiber obsessions.

-- Elliott C. "Eeyore" Evans

Yes, that is quite inspiring. Beautiful!

-- Steven.......Random Orbital Nailer

Phenomenal. What an amazing piece of craftsmanship. Thank you for all the pictures.

-- -Todd

This is an absolutely incredible box. Such detail! This makes the transition from wood work to artistry.

-- We all make mistakes, the trick is to fix it in a way that says "I meant to do that".

Okay, besides being just fantastic, it makes me dizzy thinking of all the intricate detail you had to deal with. I am very humbled.

-- The smell of wood, coffee in the cup, the wife let's me do my thing, the lake is peaceful.

I’m speechless.
Its not enough to say how fantastic it is.
All the details are incredible.
Masterful.

WOW is not adequate but WOW !

-- Dick, Malvern Ohio - my biggest fear is that when I die, my wife sells my toys for what I told her I paid for them