Silver Wire Inlay

[kbaknife]

Dirk, the obvious materials are the pipes that I scrounged here and there and used some that fit closely together without much slop.
Inside is simply two bars of steel running lengthwise - 1 stationary, the bottom one tack-welded - and then the top one free-floating. Both covered with leather. The top one has two nuts welded to it for the locating bolts to sit in.
AS you weld it together, just think ahead about how much room you will need here and there and where things go and where you don't want them to go.
I can't give you any kind of dimensions because my parts were simply picked out of a scrap pile and I'm sure yours won't match.

[tippit]

Karl,  Very nice explanation.  I've got the tools and bowling ball vise, just haven't jumped in yet.  Thanks for the help...Jeff

What stain are you using to bring out the curly maple?

[kbaknife]

I just used some Feibing's dark Brown.

[bluedirk]

Thank you Karl, I would have had to play with the one I'm going to build before I'd have realized the bottom piece should be tacked in.  Real neat idea thanks for sharing.  Dirk

[Lin Rhea]

Karl,
       After I emailed you, I found this source for the Magic Maple Stain. I figured folks here would want to see it too. Lin
  web page

[kbaknife]

Thanks, Lin. I couldn't find it on Al's site.
I think Dunlap's is where I got my maple!

[Lin Rhea]

Karl,
      This stain is a water based stain, unless I'm mixed up. I'm finding that there is a learning curve to go along with every new type of product.
      This stain sometimes requires heat to set the color. If you direct heat from a heat gun, you can see the colors darken. The stain reacts with sugars in the maple and the heat allows you to play with a range of color shades , from a yellow, then to brown, then to almost black.
        Of course, you would want to apply it after all sanding is done and your ready for the finish or sealer, which is separate from this type of stain. I have had to touch up my sanding and restain the touch up areas and blend it, which works well. It's pretty forgiving right up to the time you seal it. Lin

[kbaknife]

That's starting to sound a whole lot like muriatic acid, which reacts to maple the exact same way!

[Lin Rhea]

It dont have the smell or fumes, but I dont know. The good thing is its cheap and you control the color shade. Lin

[kbaknife]

Thanks, Lin.
Here's how this one turned out:
 

[Lin Rhea]

Turned out nice.

[James Oertel]

very nice ! thanks for sharing

[Scott Roush]

Great inspiration....

Anybody ever do this with brass wire???

[LONGBOWKID]

Thats NICE