sseamen
Member
Over the past year or so I have bought several Laser Inlay pen kits, some of them online and some from Woodcraft (where I can actualy see the pieces before I begin). Some of them have been a bit tough, because of the tiny pieces and my big fumbly fingers, but with a sore tongue from biting and a sore back from bending over to find the *%&^#$ little pieces that just took wings, I made it thru. I've done an eagle, a space shuttle, and some simpler pieces.
Last weekend I tackled some more kits I've had for a while. I did another space shuttle, a musical notes (first time) and some pink cancer ribbon kits, all from Woodcraft and, man! if this had happened the first time I'd never have made anymore laser inlay kits.
In the past, the pieces have been a tight fit. I've had to break them (as shown in the instructions) and I've had to roll the blank on the table to get the pieces to crunch down into the cutout, but it has always worked.
This time it's not been fun.
The space shuttle pieces did NOT fit. I ended up having to use an Exacto knife on the cut outs to get the first pieces (fuel tanks and shuttle body) to fit 'up' towards the top of the blank to fit into the cutout for their tips so they leave room for the later pieces (flame and tail fin). Some of the smaller pieces (black outline around the body, orange smoke or flames) just crumbled and had to be glued into place in small bits.
When I did the musical notes kit, several of the smaller pieces crumbled, and when I tried to 'roll' the blank to get the G clef into the cutout, the body itself crumbled where the stave lines had been cut to represent the staff. I think there is almost more CA holding tiny pieces of that blank together than there is on it for a finish.
Even the cancer ribbons seemed too big for the cutouts. I was able to roll them into the cutouts but every single one popped out when I tried to turn them on the lathe. Looking at the blanks after the popout, I was able to see that the glue on the tube had never touched the inner surface of the ribbons. Apparently they were not 'down' enough. I was able to CA them back in, I was eventually able to turn everything and it all looks good, but *&#%$@, what a pain.
I'm wondering what caused the problems. As I say, I've had good inlay kits from Woodcraft before. I guess Woodcraft might have changed their source of supply for laser inlay kits and not gotten the same quality, I hope not though.
I've had the kits in my workshop for several weeks, some even longer. Alabama has been suffering from high humidity for a while now. My workshop is in the house central air and I also have a dehum, set for 50%, (that runs almost constantly lately) in the workshop. Still, I wonder if the kit pieces could have absorbed humidity and swollen enough to cause the problems?
Do I need to stay away from Woodcraft kits, put any laser inlay kits in the dehydrator for a couple of days before I start them, or just stay away from laser inlay kits?
Last weekend I tackled some more kits I've had for a while. I did another space shuttle, a musical notes (first time) and some pink cancer ribbon kits, all from Woodcraft and, man! if this had happened the first time I'd never have made anymore laser inlay kits.
In the past, the pieces have been a tight fit. I've had to break them (as shown in the instructions) and I've had to roll the blank on the table to get the pieces to crunch down into the cutout, but it has always worked.
This time it's not been fun.
The space shuttle pieces did NOT fit. I ended up having to use an Exacto knife on the cut outs to get the first pieces (fuel tanks and shuttle body) to fit 'up' towards the top of the blank to fit into the cutout for their tips so they leave room for the later pieces (flame and tail fin). Some of the smaller pieces (black outline around the body, orange smoke or flames) just crumbled and had to be glued into place in small bits.
When I did the musical notes kit, several of the smaller pieces crumbled, and when I tried to 'roll' the blank to get the G clef into the cutout, the body itself crumbled where the stave lines had been cut to represent the staff. I think there is almost more CA holding tiny pieces of that blank together than there is on it for a finish.
Even the cancer ribbons seemed too big for the cutouts. I was able to roll them into the cutouts but every single one popped out when I tried to turn them on the lathe. Looking at the blanks after the popout, I was able to see that the glue on the tube had never touched the inner surface of the ribbons. Apparently they were not 'down' enough. I was able to CA them back in, I was eventually able to turn everything and it all looks good, but *&#%$@, what a pain.
I'm wondering what caused the problems. As I say, I've had good inlay kits from Woodcraft before. I guess Woodcraft might have changed their source of supply for laser inlay kits and not gotten the same quality, I hope not though.
I've had the kits in my workshop for several weeks, some even longer. Alabama has been suffering from high humidity for a while now. My workshop is in the house central air and I also have a dehum, set for 50%, (that runs almost constantly lately) in the workshop. Still, I wonder if the kit pieces could have absorbed humidity and swollen enough to cause the problems?
Do I need to stay away from Woodcraft kits, put any laser inlay kits in the dehydrator for a couple of days before I start them, or just stay away from laser inlay kits?