Spalted maple rosettes are kind of my signature feature on most of my tenors. I spent the majority of the afternoon in the workshop making rosettes for the next three tenors. Here is how it is done.
The raw material is tiger striped maple that has spalted (begun to decay). It gets these wonderful designs and colorations. If you get it quick enough before the decay has gone too far, it is wonderfully decorative wood.
I cut strips of this interesting wood as the first step. I will show you some more to illustrate the amazing variety that salting creates.
I cut strips of this interesting wood as the first step. I will show you some more to illustrate the amazing variety that salting creates.
Now those strips that I cut on the bandsaw are passed through this little sawing device and I cut them into little beveled pieces. I separate the pieces with really interesting features so I can distribute them evenly through the rosette.
Now the individual pieces are set in place around a previously drawn circle on a piece of scrap spruce. They are glued down with super glue. Each piece is selected for its role in the circle. The best side is placed down, because it will ultimately be what shows on the ukulele.
So here is the result of an afternoons work. Three rosettes in crude form. Tune in tomorrow and I will show you the rest of the story, or at least some of the rest of the story.
And of course, this is the goal, A rosette that has interest and beauty and that blends with the wood tones of the rest of the instrument. I typically frame the rosette with Black/white/black purfling. It is a great use for this "almost wasted wood".
