Step 1 – I have it turned and hollowed, from 1/8” at the rim, to 3/16” at the bottom. I apply my sanding sealer usually 2 coats. Then I use Saral paper to apply the pattern.
Step 2 – I use my tapered coarse Kutzall burr to rough out the openings. I take itvdown to within ab1/32″ of the lines. I’m careful not to go too far on the tips of the claws.
Step 3 – I first use a 1/2″ sanding drum to do the large opening to the line. I then switch to a 1/8″ double cut carbide cutter for the claws. I clean them up as close as I can get to the tips. I then get out my Exacto knife and finish the points of the claws. I start with a “V” shaped relief cut in the middle and work toward the lines. The thinner the slices you take the better. The grain of the wood does not always run with the cut.
Step 4 – I paint the edges of the openings. In this case black. Then put it on my little tube vacuum chuck and spray the gloss lacquer. I do between 3-5 coats. Finally buff with tripoli on my 8″ buffing wheel.
This can be tricky with loose cloth buffs. I’ve switched over to Airwave 8 inch soft buffs.