This "tweener" (not a nooby but certainly not polished jet!) is trying some inlay cork work for the first time using JJ jig. I have cut matching wedges of dark Andy burl and wedges of regular cork. The 8 pieces when put together will make a full cork ring. What is the easiest method for gluing those 8 pieces into a near symetrical ring? I plan to use a slow drying 2 part epoxy but I can't decide on how to attach the pieces in the most efficient manner. Hope I made enough sense with the question that someone can help. Thanks Steve

Best thing I have seen for this is using wire ties. Glue up the pieces and then tighten the wire tie around them.

Steve,

I use the cable ties also. For glueing, I use Rod Bond or Titebond until recently. I was doing up some EVA, cork ssamples last week and was using Contact Cement with the EVA and tried it with the cork and was surprised at how great it worked. Cut off the brush that is attached to the lid , per a Rodmaker article and use the cheap, disposable brushes from a craft store (24/$2). The key is to completely coat each side of the cork (it doesn't have to be thick) and let them dry for about 15 minutes. When dry, push them together and use a cable tie to tightly secure. Another 15 minutes and they are ready for sanding. Give it a try on a test ring!!!
P.S. I always lay out a sheet of wax paper when working with adhesives to contain any mess and the stuff won't stck to it.

Let us know how it works!! [www.rodbuilding.org]

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

I have good luck forming them around a 1/4 inch piece of rod or dowel inserted perpendicular into a flat surface. This helps keep the spacing and alignment. I prefer rod bond as the epoxy and use rubber bands to hold the pieces firmly in place.

Stan Grace
Helena, MT
"Our best is none too good"

I stayed pretty frustrated with checkerboards. If the outside edge of every piece is not exactly the same, then when you sand them, their width will change relative to the piece you may placing on top to get the alternating colors (I hope this is clear). Stan's comments about using rod or dowel helps. Similiarly, I went to the hardware store and bought 1.5" sheet metal bolts (the ones without the lip at the head) in diameter sizes equal to the ID of the bore sizes I most often use to fit the grip. I also bought 1.25" flat washers and wing nuts in the correct sizes. I use rod bond. After apply a thin layer and removing it from both sides of a piece, I assemble the pieces. I do it on the correct sized bolt that has been waxed and on top of a waxed washer. When the outside circumference is exactly the same for all pieces I place a waxed washer on top and tighten the wing nut to the point that it holds the pieces, but I can still move them slightly. I then wrap a tight-wide rubber band to "clamp" the pieces together (a pull tie works too, but the rubber band provides continuous contact). Then I snug the wing nut down a little tighter.

It's a lot easier to do than to describe.

You guys are unbelievable. So many good hints and tips. I ought to be able to come up with something now. Thanks so much. I'm heading to the hardware store. Steve

i use Stan's method, using a rod to place the cork pieces around, it helps alot. One thing i found is that it makes it a whole lot easier if you bore the standard 1/4" hole in the cork ring a little larger before you cut the pie shapes. The point ends of the pie slices sometimes were longer than others and it got in the way of making a perfect ring around the dowel or rod.

Carrington Tate
Durango, CO

Weldwood Contact cement is teh way to go. Coat both surfaces, wait 10 minutes, press them together.

Steve - cutting and glueing checkerboards is tough. I have done a few EVA Checkerboards, only a couple with cork. You MUST start with pieces which have the same ID (OD doesnt' matter). When you glue them up, you match up teh cork from teh inside. Once it sands down, everything wil line up, provided you cut teh pieces evenly.

Weldwood contact cement works really well on eva but it isn't as durable as Rod Bond or Titebond III for cork.

Stan Grace
Helena, MT
"Our best is none too good"