# Koi Plate

# Introduction

A few years ago, I ask for a simple plate to decorate.
I never did it.

![](/assets/images/laser_koi/000_converted.jpg)


This christmass, I decided to do some marquetry, and to put a Koi fish in.

# Setup

I spent some time searching for the "best" koi drawing image.

![](/assets/images/laser_koi/model.jpg)

Next, for the colors, I decided to separate:

- white skin
- red skin
- fins
- outside

I wanted also to make a nice border

![](/assets/images/laser_koi/frise.jpg)

(from [tropical woods](https://www.tropical-woods.fr/catalogue/interieurs/marqueterie/frises-de-bordure/frise-parquet-en-marqueterie-mozart-clair-14-mm.html))

I designed everything on [Lightburn](https://lightburnsoftware.com/).

I cutted all small pieces and start the assembly.

While for cutting 5mm plywood, my sculpfun S10 needs to be at 4mm/sec, here for very thin marquetry wood, 25mm/sec is enough and depends on the wood color.

I shutted down the air pump, as the small pieces would fly away...

# Assembly

First, I needed to scratch the plate for the glue to stick to it.
It does not need to be very clean. Wood would cover it anyway.

![](/assets/images/laser_koi/001_converted.jpg)


## Fish Place-Holder

I used the largest marquetry sheet to separate the border from the insider.




![](/assets/images/laser_koi/002_converted.jpg)


## Putting the Border

I started with the border.
I putted glue progressively to avoid drying (using a Q-tip, this is a very cheap and precise brush).

![](/assets/images/laser_koi/003_converted.jpg)

This was a 1h30 puzzle game.

![](/assets/images/laser_koi/005_converted.jpg)

## Filling the Fish

After one drying night, I started the fish.

![](/assets/images/laser_koi/006_converted.jpg)

There was two errors on this project:

- For the fish, wood direction was different. This is not recommanded for sanding (for the border, it was OK)
- I did not use marquetry layer with the same thickness. This was even more difficult to sand.


![](/assets/images/laser_koi/007_converted.jpg)


## Finishing

After sanding with a thin grain, I applied some wood varnish on it

![](/assets/images/laser_koi/008_converted.jpg)


![](/assets/images/laser_koi/010_converted.jpg)