jdowning - 1-27-2007 at 10:33 AM
Jameel has posted a detailed image of the exquisite rosette of the original Abdo Nahat oud currently subject of Hosam's "Abdo Nahat Project" (see
page 2).
In the 1970's I started to explore the possibility of using laser cut rosettes for lutes but did not get very far with that investigation at that
time. The commercial laser cutting processes must have advanced considerably since those days and I imagine that today, with computer controlled
machines, custom cut oud rosettes in wood or bone over wood might not be too costly to produce? The cutting process is, apparently fast and accurate -
capable of cutting very intricate patterns.
Laser cutting machines are fairly costly to purchase but there are a number of companies who do small quantity custom work. I understand that all that
is required from the customer, by companies providing this service, is a photograph or line drawing of the design, which can be scanned into the laser
machine computer and a surface finished panel in the material to be cut.
For those wanting a very intricate oud rosette, but without the time (or skill) to make one, this might be an economical alternative?
Does anyone have experience of custom laser cutting? As for cost I guess the only way to find out is to get quotes for specific designs.
Jameel - 1-27-2007 at 12:52 PM
I have an acquaintance who has a laser engraver. It works great for roses and such. Although the burnt edge is an issue, but maybe not with dark
woods. I've seen some laser cut shamsa, but the burnt edge turned me off.
jdowning - 1-27-2007 at 01:25 PM
I understand that the burnt edge is seen as a darkening of the sides of the cuts only and does not intrude into the designs on the upper and lower
faces (provided that they are finished before cutting)? I suppose the dark/light contrast could have a decorative effect.
The burnt edge seems to apply to laser cut wood only. I wonder what the effect would be if some other suitable traditional material - such as a solid
bone panel - was laser cut? Bone veneer over ebony might be interesting too but perhaps this is not a traditional material combination for the oud?
Dr. Oud - 1-29-2007 at 09:03 AM
Personally I don't like the look of laser cut roses. They are too precise and look machine made. For me the rose is the signature of the maker and
should be made by hand to impart a personl touch or expression of the builder's art or craft. So what if it takes longer, the skill is pretty low
level, it's just a matter of patience, but the result is much more meaningful than a machine made decoration. my $.02.
jdowning - 1-29-2007 at 09:59 AM
Thanks - I am not surprised to learn that laser cutting already has found an application with some oud makers - presumably on instruments at the lower
end of the market?
I am with you concerning hand cutting the rosettes although I only have experience with cutting lute roses that I cut with fine chisels directly
through the soundboard (which is about 1 mm thick) - which is a little different from oud rosette making practice as I understand it. This gives sharp
crisp edges and the main risk is breaking the pattern on the cross grain but a bit of glue soon repairs such minor accidental damage.
It seems that some of the master luthiers of the 16th C. stocked lute soundboards prepared by specialist suppliers, with roses already cut in.
However, the lute rose designs then - although intricate - were more standardised than those of the oud today.
Jonathan - 1-30-2007 at 12:43 PM
On a somewhat related topic, I wonder if anybody is using a carving device like the Compucarve that Sears sells, to cut the rosettes. Too pricey for
my limited needs, but it looks interesting.
jdowning - 1-30-2007 at 01:53 PM
I imagine that the minimum diameter of the router cutter
(1.5 mm or 1/16 inch ?) would be a limitation in CNC cutting of rosettes making it impossible to achieve the sharply acute angled corners of a hand
cut design? However, given such limitations, careful design of an oud rosette might produce acceptable visual results for "mass produced" relatively
low cost instruments?
Interesting technology and amazing how the cost of small CNC machines (both metal and wood cutting) has come down in recent years.
Jonathan - 2-1-2007 at 05:36 AM
Elie Riachi shows a beautiful example of a laser cut rose, and a link, on this page:
http://mikeouds.com/messageboard/viewthread.php?tid=862#pid6023
jdowning - 2-1-2007 at 06:55 AM
Thanks - didn't realise that this subject had been dealt with as a past topic.
A further thought. If CNC laser cutting machines use a scanned image for automatic digital input it should be possible to draw up an "imperfect"
rosette pattern with deliberate irregularities to give the finished product more of an appearance of being hand made? I don't suppose that perfectly
symmetrical patterns are required.