Burning on Marquetry

Lindy · #1 10-09-2007, 12:57 PM

Hi everyone!

Has anyone tried combing marquetry with woodburning? If you have what kind of results have you gotten? Other than the glue issue, if there anything else I should be aware of?

I took a marquetry course this past weekend and it got me thinking about combining pyrography with marquetry. In my mind, since all the glue is on the back of the laminate it should be the similiar to burning on an unfinished laminate? I think I would need to be careful of the joins but is there anything else I should be considering?

Thanks!

Lindy

Pyrographer · #2 10-09-2007, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lindy

Hi everyone!

Has anyone tried combing marquetry with woodburning? If you have what kind of results have you gotten? Other than the glue issue, if there anything else I should be aware of?

I took a marquetry course this past weekend and it got me thinking about combining pyrography with marquetry. In my mind, since all the glue is on the back of the laminate it should be the similiar to burning on an unfinished laminate? I think I would need to be careful of the joins but is there anything else I should be considering?

Thanks!

Lindy

I have no idea what marquetry is but if it's something manufactured then you need to talk to an expert about the safety of burning on it. If it is synthetic material than a BIG NO unless you have an MSDS sheet on it and it says there's no chemicals in it and it would be safe to burn.

Nedra

Lindy · #3 10-09-2007, 10:28 PM

Hi Nedra,

Marquetry is where you cut thin pieces of wood (laminate) to MDF to create a design. The wood laminates are real wood, they are just very thin, like what you get when you buy Birch Ply. The difference is that there are several pieces of laminate cut to intricately match up creating the design. The instructor told me she has seen some pieces that have been burned as well but since she doesn't do pyrography she didn't know how they were treating it, etc.

I have burned on straight laminate before and it works quite well, I just have done it on a glue up.

Thanks!

Lindy

WOODIE13 · #4 10-10-2007, 05:01 AM

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

up a pic of the WIP, be interested in seeing it.

Good luck.

brian bailey · #5 10-10-2007, 08:28 AM

I did a rose marquetry on a jewelry cabinet that I made.

I cut the veneers 1/16" thick on my bandsaw out of cherry, tulip, walnut and white oak.

I used a fretsaw to cut the individual pieces using the double bevel method.

I used hot sand for the shading.

I then inlaid the whole piece into the lid.

It was a fun project and easy to do. I plan on doing more.

Lindy,

I'm not sure if I'm following your train of thought by using pyrography on marquetry. To me, marquetry is using the grain of the wood and wood color to paint a picture.

woodspiritslover · #6 10-10-2007, 09:16 AM

Hi Lindy, I will give you a hint on marquetry I know since child as I was watching my uncle creating magnificent things with that technic. He used to give a burning look on the pieces of wood he was cutting but burning them in sand. He was using an old frying pan where he was putting a thick layer of sand which he was heating on the stove. To use it he was removing it from the stove and was half deeping in the sand (still in the frying pan) the parts of woodleaf piece to which he wanted to give that burned look. I wish I had a photo of his creations to post here for you. It's a magnificent art and a real artist (like my uncle was) can create a whole paitning just with that. Good luck. Mary

Pyrographer · #7 10-10-2007, 11:57 AM

Seeing that the laminate is only 1/16" thick and many laminates already have a finish on them I'd still suggest checking further...I'd suggest the company that makes it since they would have more expertise as to what is in or on the wood. Also be VERY careful burning on such thin laminate. It's hard to burn on 1/8" plywood without hitting glue so I'd be extra careful on such thin wood.

Nedra

brian bailey · #8 10-10-2007, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pyrographer

Seeing that the laminate is only 1/16" thick and many laminates already have a finish on them I'd still suggest checking further...I'd suggest the company that makes it since they would have more expertise as to what is in or on the wood. Also be VERY careful burning on such thin laminate. It's hard to burn on 1/8" plywood without hitting glue so I'd be extra careful on such thin wood.

Nedra

Nedra,

I make my own veneer. It's a solid sheet of wood approx. 1/16" thick, not a laminate.

Most marquetry is done using wood veneer which is a solid sheet of wood either rotary cut or sliced on a veneer mill. The sheets are 1/28" or 1/40" thick and again not a laminate.

Most folks use a PVA (polyvinyl acetate) glue when doing marquetry. I don't know what the risks of breathing the smoke from this glue are. But caution would certainly be in order.

I'm curious in what Lindy means by combining pyrography with marquetry?

Pyrographer · #9 10-10-2007, 01:50 PM

Hi Brian, what your doing sounds interesting. Lindy had said she uses veneer and cuts it to 1/16" and her first post mentioned laminate so that's what my comment was referring to. I would definately recommend checking the MSDS sheet on the PVA...I suspect it's not safe to breathe when burned

Nedra

Lindy · #10 10-10-2007, 03:32 PM

Let me start out by thanking everyone.

For what I am planning on doing or a project ill combine marquetry with pyrography. The background will be done as marquetry using the sand shading techniques to create a landscape. The animal will be a white piece of wood veneer that I will burn the fur, eye, and other details on using standard pyrography techniques. The glue I will be using for my "glue-up" process will be a wood glue which will then be vacuum pressed to 1/2" MDF to set up the veneer onto the board. Once it was "cured" for 48 hours is when I will be starting the burning porcess after sanding it carefully to take the ridges out of the veneer.

I apologize for my lackof knowledge of the terms when trying to explain marquetry and Brian I really appreciate it you helping out in the explanation of marqetry termonolgy.

My "Vision" is using the grains of the wood to create a background which will look textured which will should enhance the overall looking of the pyrographic piece. I plan on starting this piece in the next couple of weeks and I promise I'll post it as I progress so you can see the different steps.

Thanks again everyone for all your help in explaining the marquetry.

Linda