Replies

1. 
   wdwerker | Jan 19, 2012 09:39am | #1

   inlaid letters

   I have done something similar to this with wood filler. Be careful on ash or oak to keep the filler out of the surrounding open grain.  Maybe you should mask off the area before you route and chisel your letters out. Be careful when pulling the masking off, too soon can lift the soft filler, to late and the masking is trapped by the hardened filler.

   Colored epoxy might look nice too. I would definitely practice on scraps of ash before I took a chance on messing up the chest.

2. 
   RalphBarker | Jan 19, 2012 12:05pm | #2

   I think colored epoxy may be your best bet here. It's fluid enough to allow it to be coaxed into fine detail (serifs and such), but viscous enough to avoid bleeding into surrounding edge grain too easily. You still might want to consider "sealing" the surface with dewaxed shellac prior to applying/pouring the epoxy, though,

   If you do a search on "epoxy inlay" here, you'll find several discussions that may be useful in terms of recommended products and techniques.

3. 
   roc | Jan 20, 2012 01:29am | #3

   Sounds like a beautiful project

   Please post photos when done or while in progess.

4. 
   Metod | Jan 20, 2012 07:17am | #4

   Inlay

   In addition to what Ralph said: There was an article in FWW some years back on using epoxy for inlay.

   Best wishes,

   Metod

5. 
   swenson | Jan 20, 2012 09:42am | #5

   apoxy

   I have used a colored epoxy, brand named Apoxy to fill voids in knots and like it a lot. It is a clay / epoxy mix, the version I used was called Sculpt, if I remember right, and was used in Hollywood to make parts of the alien in Alien I. I used black, but there were other colors too

1. 
   greyspider56 | Jan 20, 2012 11:10am | #6

   Thanks for all the ideas and for trying to help. i'll take pictures along the way and try to post.

   Mike