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Here's an idea I have for my next Rosette.
The tiles will be contrasting dark and light woods.
The border will be Paua Abalone with BWB purfling.
I want to scale it down a little and keep the widest part around 5/8

What do you think...too busy?

Scott

I think it looks nice. It will be a bold statement so only you can decide if that fits in your scheme. Choice of woods will be important.

Scott: Looks just as good here.
Tom

Thanks guys, I hope I can pull it off...

SA

Making some progress but I'm still unsure about the border...

I took some ZipFlex .047 Blue Paua Abalone, routed a channel the same shape as the Rosette in a piece UHMW
Dropped the ZipFlex in the channel and "froze" it into shape with CA. With the piece still in the UHMW and I was able to cut the end miters.
I just used the UHMW as a miter box, the CA did a nice job making the ZipFlex stiff enough to cut cleanly.

Now I just have to decide if I'm going to use it.

Thanks for looking

Cool looking rosette. I like it without binding the pieces in pearl, but that is really just my design taste. I used the zipflex before and found that I was able to cleanly cut it with a sharp chisel from above. The shell is thin and on the backing so I was able to treat it just like any other purfling. I used the back of the chisel to see my angle and pressed down.

nice workmanship.

If that is cocobolo (it looks like it is), the zipflex will help stop some seepage of the coco oils into your top during finishing. other rosewoods may have the same issue...

If you have not used zipflex before you should make sure it is installed at very, very close to the finish grade as there is not a lot (some) of shell for sanding. This was something I learned.

Thanks all, here's one more.
It looks okay... if you don't get too close. Moving on to the back inlays next.

SA

Here's one more (yes, I am fishing for comments)