Post #493891 by TikiMango on Sun, Nov 15, 2009 11:58 AM

Thanks for all the comments! They are the fuel for my fire.

Well, another weekend slowly slips away, but not before I was able get a real workbench stuffed into the garage. I had been carving with a piece of plywood across my lap... not too friendly on the neck! At least not friendly considering the time it takes to get the bone to look good. To break-in the new bench I managed to finish another Manaia with some paua inlays, trying a few new subtle directions with this design.

No one said inlay was easy, I just assumed it wouldn't be too difficult. Eyes are one thing, but that large piece on the hook body took much longer to fit than I had envisioned! I suppose it's due to the compound curves of the hook. A lot of test fitting there...

I also put a through hole in the eye, maybe that works?

Thanks for looking as always.