I'm planning on marbling the open area of a split handle rod but before I do I want to put a weave on it then marble around the weave to frame it in. From what I've seen so far about marbling, the rod is usually painted a bright color or a light colored finish is used. My plan is to do the weave in white with black wrap and do the marbling using white with different shades of gray. Since this is my first marbling job does anybody have any simple suggestions or tips how to do this? I don't want to waste too much finish and marbling pigment to just practice.

Thanks,

Ray

Practice isn't "wasting" anything - it will save you money and time in the long haul. Epoxy is cheap. So are marbling pigments. What you don't want to happen is to go to all the work doing a nice weave and then lose it because you foul up something during the marbling process.

Having said that, my tip on the actual process would be apply one clear epoxy coat over the weave and surrounding thread, then return the next day and apply another clear epoxy coat over everything but use colored epoxy in the areas not covered by the weave. You could even marble a "box" or window around the actual weave this way.

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Marble first! Then weave.

After the weave is coated and dry maybe painters tape to mask off the area and marble. Then clear the whole thing ??

Try on scrap first like Tom said.

Bill - willierods.com

Thanks for the replies.

I have a dowel that I will practice on. I'll post pictures of the job when it is completed.

Ray,
Check out this short tutorial from Mudhole.
[www.youtube.com]

x2 on practice, I just did my first marbling job, and the first practice one came out terrible. I dread to think what would have happened had I done it on the blank. I also tried different methods. I did a black and silver. I tried first using black, letting set for an hour then the silver and lots of heat, came out OK but not what I was looking for. Then tried just dotting small amount of silver over the black, nice, but again not what I was looking for. Did the black with less pigment for a smoke color, did the black with more pigment for darker black, changed the amounts of silver etc. I finally figured out what I like after about 8 tries. Whenever I order blanks from mudhole, I order the absolute cheapest blank, even the unfinished specials that they sell for 5 bucks, and it has saved me tons of headaches later. Spend a little now, will have you save a ton later from screwing up nice blanks.

Go to you tube and check out all the related information videos, they helped me. I saw a demonistration by a Mudhole employee and then tried it myself on dowel wood. Came out great. I did find its better to allow a bit of time before mixing the paints into the epoxy. You more control and less mixing or marbling going on.