White/black sanding

[Eric Gourieux]

I'm planning on turning a large vase with piano keys inlayed around the circumference as a tribute to a musician friend who was killed, along with his 17 year old daughter and his mother, by a drunk driver. My dilemma is how to sand the piano keys after they are inlayed without darkening the white piano keys. I plan on using African Blackwood for the black keys and holly for the white keys. How do I keep the holly keys from collecting the black sanding dust? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[John Terefenko]

I have seen others do it so we know it is possible. From what I remember they sealed the wood before sanding. Some used CA and some a sanding sealer. They kept adding as the sanded down. Do not take my word on this but that was my recollection. Now I know this probably will not help because your project is alot bigger. But I make segmented pens and I did this one a few years ago. It was Gabon ebony and Holly. all I did was did my final turning with a sharp skew and then went right to my finishing which was CA. No sanding involved so I skipped that dreaded cross contamination.Also did some birdhouse ornaments using the same combination of woods and the same technique. But again the project was small enough. Good luck and show us the final project.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/JTTHECLOCKMAN/IMGP0881.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/JTTHECLOCKMAN/media/IMGP0881.jpg.html)

[Eric Gourieux]

Thanks, John. That's a magnificent pen, BTW

[John Terefenko]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/JTTHECLOCKMAN/IMGP0089_zpsrxmrkgob.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/JTTHECLOCKMAN/media/IMGP0089_zpsrxmrkgob.jpg.html)

[Randall Mack]

John, your ornament is wonderful. Do you mind telling us where the bird was sourced from? All I have found are the mushroom birds like at Hobby Lobby.

[John Terefenko]

John, your ornament is wonderful. Do you mind telling us where the bird was sourced from? All I have found are the mushroom birds like at Hobby Lobby.


http://www.floraltrims.com/artificial-birds.html

[Eric Gourieux]

John, did you go from skew to finish without sanding on your birdhouse, too?

[John Terefenko]

John, did you go from skew to finish without sanding on your birdhouse, too?

On the ornament I used various scrapers but no sandpaper. had to use sandpaper on the finial. Top coated with Deft lacquer, rattle cans.

[Eric Gourieux]

On the ornament I used various scrapers but no sandpaper. had to use sandpaper on the finial. Top coated with Deft lacquer, rattle cans.

Thanks, John. I like the black on white birdhouse