How I make and install a wood rosette.

[Kevin Sjostrand]

I am using a Dremel with a dremel circle cutting jig....a $12 accessory. There is only one drawback with it and that is you are not able to see what you are cutting at the bit, but I always start at the top and do a short test cut to sneak up on a line.

Dave, I take by conventional you mean make a rosette; cut out to the size you want, then measure and cut the channel for the rosette to fit in. That works and I did my first one that way. However, it does make it hard to get the dimensions perfect on your channel to match the rosette, especially I found if you are taking a wood ring, and then adding purflings around it. This is not impossible to do of course, but more difficult to get right right in my opinion.
I am taking a bit that cuts a perfect fit channel for my BWB purfling. I'm making a rosette that has an inside and outside purfling the same width. It doesn't matter what size my final width of rosette ends up, this routine gives you a perfect fit. Have the thickness of your wood blank close at your final thickness desired. Mark off the wood ring size on your wood blank, drill your center hole. Have your top next to you, and drill that center hole. Make your first cut around, inside or outside, does not matter, then without changing the jig set, make your first cut in your top. Alternate back and forth going deeper until you just cut through on the rosette blank. Then start your other cut on the wood blank, and do the same thing until you've cut just through on the rosette blank, and make your final cut on the top. Separate the rosette ring carefully from the wood blank. You have now cut out the rosette, and cut the inside and outside dimensions of the cavity you will need to inlay the rosette, to the exact depth of your rosette blank. Now just excavate the rest of the inside area between your rings on your top, to the same depth. When you install the wood ring with the purfling on either side it should be a perfect fit because you used the exact same set up to cut both. This will only work this way if you use a cutter sized correctly for your purfling. I am using the the .060" BWB stuff that really measures about .058". I first bought a .063" bit, and that makes for a sloppy fit, so now I use a .055" bit and it is perfect. Chamfer the bottom, leading edge of the purfling going into the slot, and you will get a nice tight clean fit.

That's what I do...probably repeated some of the original post, but hopefully it is more clear and hope this makes sense how it works better.
The drawing just gives me a glimpes of what it might look like and starting points for dimensions. This technique makes it so if you aren't not exactly on your dimensions, it doesn't matter, it will still work out.

With those breaks, you could probably superglue the joints as you laid them in and couldn't see the breaks, but going really narrow like that probably created a hard to handle situation.
Kevin

[deadedith]

Ah so....I see it now - great process Kevin! Thanks again for sharing that.

[tippie53]

rosettes are a great way to make a guitar individual to your taste. Nice addition and thanks for posting.

[johnnparchem]

Kevin,

It took me awhile and about and three reads but I finally got the concept that the cut for the purfling on the top is the same as edges of the wood ring rosette. An aha moment.

Thanks,
John

[Kevin Sjostrand]

John, YES. That is what makes it work so well, but you have to use the right size bit.
I'm sorry I could not explain it more simply!

Kevin

[Tim R]

Very clever Kevin. I will try it.

Tim

[BEJ]

Kevin, Thanks for this, another way to do something, will file away. Had some cocobolo small pieces that I cut into 1/16" slices using my 12" chop saw just to see if I could cut decent pieces for a rosette. Got enough good slices to make a 8 piece set up.
Not real easy cutting 22 1/2 degs with a 12' chop saw but it did a fair job, got to be careful with such little sh*t! After I had to recut it finally dawned on me to put them in a stack and cut all 8 at once, duh! a stack but still alittle one. After a few retrims got everything to line out on the layout sheet I did using a compass I haven't used for 20+ yrs, had to remember how to bisect an angle. Will glue up to paper and a board and see if it will sand down. Don't have thickness sander so might use my belt sanders with a light touch, don't think this thing will make it through the planner.
Right now try to do a few things to see what tools I have might work and what doesn't, until doing something for real. Will use this method to cut/install rosette, it's too slick not to use.

Bruce,

[Tim R]

Hi Kevin,

You mentioned .055" and .063" router bits. Where do you buy them in these increments? Are they down spiral cut, which as I understand it is preferred? Soon I will be trying your rosette technique.

Thanks, Tim

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Hi Tim,
I got them from LMI, they are endmills. I use the same in 1/8" size for my saddle slots. They cut very clean

Kevin