Tom Fischer
12-09-2011, 4:21 PM
Hi all,
Looking for advice. Last year the DW wanted new hardwood floors (which I don't do), so we hired a local fella to install them. Being a junkie for wood details, I went out on a limb, and decided to spice it up a bit. So I made some inlays out of stuff laying around in the basement. Only problem is that I don't have any experience with floor inlays. :eek:
Cutting to the chase, the larger inlay (ellipse ~ 39" X 18") cracked last winter, in a very cold evening (below 10 degrees F). The garage is below this floor, so the temperature changes were too violent.
Thinking about it, this ellipse has 20 slices @ 18degrees each. The center of the ellipse has zero cross grain expansion, and the circumference has almost 8 feet of cross grain expansion. Really asking the wood to super-behave.
I do not believe that the ellipse can be repaired.
All four 90 degree fans are fine, as is the walnut pin-striping.
All these inlays (the quarter fans and the ellipse) I made from 3/4" solid black cherry. No laminations. All these inlays were glued in liquid-nails-type stuff to the subfloor, standard 5/8" or 3/4" subfloor sheathing.
Here's the cherry ellipse (before it cracked):
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7161/6483443057_d881d9c26f_b.jpg
Here's some other pics for perspective
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7004/6483443163_bf7d4defed_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7026/6483443269_692142c0d1_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7151/6483442953_6bfbde02c4_b.jpg
And here is the scheme, the four corner 90 degree fans plus the center ellipse were supposed to match the clock. The clock was hand made by a gent in western NY state.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7002/6483443561_007814cb1d_b.jpg
So, now that the ellipse has failed, I am thinking maybe try it again, but glue (titebond) all 20 slices to a 1/2 (or (7/16" ??) high grade plywood back. When sanded flush the veneer will be maybe 5/16", but I am hearing that is how these things are made commercially.
Also, I am thinking of making the ellipse out of black walnut (if I do remake it). Walnut being less splintery than cherry.
Any thoughts?
thanks , and happy holidays to all!
tom
PS. when I purchased that clock, the elderly fella told me the design was based on a famous clock. I found it a few years later ...
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7008/6483598369_6aabe47cfe_z.jpg
Looking for advice. Last year the DW wanted new hardwood floors (which I don't do), so we hired a local fella to install them. Being a junkie for wood details, I went out on a limb, and decided to spice it up a bit. So I made some inlays out of stuff laying around in the basement. Only problem is that I don't have any experience with floor inlays. :eek:
Cutting to the chase, the larger inlay (ellipse ~ 39" X 18") cracked last winter, in a very cold evening (below 10 degrees F). The garage is below this floor, so the temperature changes were too violent.
Thinking about it, this ellipse has 20 slices @ 18degrees each. The center of the ellipse has zero cross grain expansion, and the circumference has almost 8 feet of cross grain expansion. Really asking the wood to super-behave.
I do not believe that the ellipse can be repaired.
All four 90 degree fans are fine, as is the walnut pin-striping.
All these inlays (the quarter fans and the ellipse) I made from 3/4" solid black cherry. No laminations. All these inlays were glued in liquid-nails-type stuff to the subfloor, standard 5/8" or 3/4" subfloor sheathing.
Here's the cherry ellipse (before it cracked):
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7161/6483443057_d881d9c26f_b.jpg
Here's some other pics for perspective
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7004/6483443163_bf7d4defed_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7026/6483443269_692142c0d1_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7151/6483442953_6bfbde02c4_b.jpg
And here is the scheme, the four corner 90 degree fans plus the center ellipse were supposed to match the clock. The clock was hand made by a gent in western NY state.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7002/6483443561_007814cb1d_b.jpg
So, now that the ellipse has failed, I am thinking maybe try it again, but glue (titebond) all 20 slices to a 1/2 (or (7/16" ??) high grade plywood back. When sanded flush the veneer will be maybe 5/16", but I am hearing that is how these things are made commercially.
Also, I am thinking of making the ellipse out of black walnut (if I do remake it). Walnut being less splintery than cherry.
Any thoughts?
thanks , and happy holidays to all!
tom
PS. when I purchased that clock, the elderly fella told me the design was based on a famous clock. I found it a few years later ...
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7008/6483598369_6aabe47cfe_z.jpg