Cutting Mother of Pearl for Guitar Headstock Inlay

[motstraumen]

not mad yet as it's my first time, but there are quite a few places on web that say it is so easy...Not! lol. I think I will try some tape and may give a piece of wood a try too, might learn something. I have be going very, very slow. Perhaps I bought too thin of veneer.

[motstraumen]

My veneers (MOP) keep cracking when I cut them. Do you mount the pieces to a piece of wood to cut? You make it look easy. I have seen some reference to tape over the mop, does this give enough rigidness to then cut with the jeweler's saw? Thanks in advance.

[GuitarBrew]

@motstraumen, maybe try cutting a little slower or with a new blade. i have not tried the tape but it's worth a shot. i have had some cracking also, just have to be careful and not get mad at yourself when you are almost done and have to start over due to a cracked MOP piece.

[11harrison11]

@motstraumen I've been at this for @ 20 years, and I know how frustrating it can be sometimes. First, GO SLOW, if you're in a hurry, or you're just an impatient person, you picked the wrong hobby. Always cut on the downstroke, so your cutting plank absorbs any flex, make sure you hold your saw as vertical as you can, use a blade lubricant ( I use Pro-Cut). Keep the thumb or finger you're holding the piece with as close to the blade as is safe, this will cut down on chatter. Oh, and GO SLOW!

[GuitarBrew]

lol, yep !!!

[MrCptGonzo]

Uh...takes some time huh? Grab a snickers.