How to do a butterfly ?

[David Somers]

Hey gang!

Anyone know of good resources on how to best repair a crack with a butterfly? I checked Mr. Nakashira's site and did not see directions there. Was just looking for good techniques/variations for doing it.

Thanks!

Dave

 

[Ed Koenig]

Stitching

Dave,

Jerry Kermode uses a technique called "stitching" which is not exactly a butterfly but does the same thing. He uses a biscuit joiner to make the cuts. Visit this sit and read his techniques section. Jerry Kermode. For Further information, try contacting Jerry directly.

For a traditional butterfly, make or buy a pattern, cut the opening in the turning by piercing, carving, cutting etc. cut the butterfly using any method you are comfortable with. A router is the usual method for large butterflies in flat work. You can purchase a bearing and spiral upcut bit which will cut both the opening and butterfly. You could use a dremel tool or flexible shaft tool to make your cuts. You can use drill bits to pierce with and then clean up with carving knives, xacto knives, etc. be creative.

Hope this helps.
Ed

 

[Joe Herrmann]

Kelly Dunn from Hawaii wrote an article for Woodturning Design called "Pewa Patches for Bowls". See issue #3, Fall, 2004, pages 33-35.

Regards,

Joe

 

[hcbph]

Dave

Not sure if this is what you are looking for or not. You can buy patterns or make one yourself for the butterfly patches. You also need a routerbit, collar and sleeve for the collar (they are a matched set). It's been a while since I've had to do one so when you use the collar, I may be reversed.
You clamp the pattern onto the piece of wood to patch, and route out an opening the shape of your butterfly, using your pattern. Now clamp the pattern on a piece of wood to make a patch from, adding the sleeve to the collar and router around the perimeter of the pattern. Now saw off the excess thickness of the patch. If you did it right, the patch should tap into the opening you cut for it. Apply your glue, tap it in and sand it flush once the glue is dry.

I think Rockler, Lee Valley and others carry both the bit/collar set along with lexan patterns for the butterfly.

Hope that helps

Paul

 

[David Somers]

Thanks everyone! Very appreciated!

Dave

 

[Woodbutcher]

butterflys, bow ties, dutchmans

Dave,

I use these constantly to repair panels and all types of doors and cabinetry. There is a router bit company, MCLS. Their bits are highly rated by Fine Woodworking, they sell the brass collet and upcut spiral bits. Depending upon the wood, you can also use a downcut spiral. My personal preference is always an upcut. A lot of times if I have to apply them to door panels, I will apply them to both sides and I will stagger them. The ones on the back will be inbetween the ones on the front. I have had great success with this and it has held up fantastically well. The grain of the bow tie should be 90 degrees to the grain of the material being patched unless of course the patch and the material being patched are the same wood and then the grain can go parallel. I never go completely through from one side. If it is something that is going to be seen from both sides in a natural finish, then I rotate the butterflys so they don't line up. Unfortunately, Mama doesn't have a scanner on this puter or I could download some examples. I always use urethane glue in this application. If you need more information my home webpage is dianew0228@verizon.net and my phone number is (603) 228-6787. I'm available 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time which is a little different than you! 😀 I have also used this technique in band mouldings behind my dentals with the butterflys being different woods than the band. The pattern can be any shape cut out of plexiglass that is at least 1/4" thick for the collet to clear. It is hard to get the butterflys or other inlays to generally be thicker than 1/4" unless you use an extra long bit. The bit is generally only 1/8" in diameter. The pattern needs to be 9/16" larger in overall size than the desired inlay size. The collar that changes from internal to external cut is 9/32" which by doubling 9/32" for both sides equals the 9/16" measurement. And yes, although it is a challenge, this can be done on curved surfaces if you make a shoe to fit the bottom of the router that will ride on the curve. Of course in the "Old Days" this was all done by hand just like dove tails were. 😱

Good luck: Knowledge is power

Matt