I've got another tenor uke I'm putting together with some scrimshaw inlay. Took some photo's of the steps for those following on Facebook and the Ukulele Underground, so thought some here might find it interesting.
The design is drawn up in CAD and files output for my CNC and Laser.
Starts out with the headstock veneer at the final desired thickness and a 14 degree bevel cut on the nut end. Double sided tape to the jig and set up in the CNC. I usually do inlay in stages. First up is the stem which is tacked in place with a drop of CA. Then the next area is machined.
Trial fitting of the inlay material.
Then epoxy that with a few drops of black aniline dye. I put the assembly into a vacuum chamber to make sure all the air and potential bubbles are removed.
After an overnight cure the epoxy is leveled, the rebates for the purflings are cut and installed and the peg head is cut to shape.
Then there are hours and hours of work doing the scrimshaw shading.
It's difficult to decide when to stop with this type of work. Second guessing if a little more here or there would improve it, or sometimes wreck it. For now I'm happy with this and will look at it with fresh eyes after the body is put together.
