Hey guys. I’m working on an inlay for my fire station table. It’s 8″x8″ and 1/4 inch deep. I’m using purpleheart for the inlay…..and don’t ask me why I’m going 1/4″ inch deep. 🙂
I used my scroll saw to cut out the maltese cross inlay and scribed it to my table. But the inlay is so big I don’t think I’ll be able to get everything flush. So I’ve decided that I’m going to have to saw out a new inlay piece due to the discrepancies in “flushness”. Having routered out the middle already what is the best way to duplicate the pattern I need to put in the table? Thanks ahead of time guys. I may have got in over my head on this one but I think I can do it with your help.
By the way the inlay is going to sit in Maple. And I can get pics for you tomorrow if you need them.
Dustin
Replies
You mean the inlay isn't flush with the surface? If so, why don't you just plane it down flush? You do have hand planes don't you? lol
I'm sorry. It's just not a good fit around the edges. When I do get it to fit in the table I will just card scrape and sand flush.
Oh ok, now I get it. I don't think I'll be of much help for ya then lol. Someone should be along shortly.
dmort,
Tape a piece of typing, er, printer paper over the hole, and use the side of a pencil tip to make a rubbing of the perimeter of the hole. Attach it to your new inlay w/ spray adhesive or some other glue, and cut it out.
Ray
I'll try that tomorrow....thanks Ray.
dmort,
Good luck. Sawing just on the outside of the line, with the scrollsaw (or whatever you're using) blade just slightly angled will give you a tapered shape that will wedge itself in place, and make a nice tight fit. (Of course, that means you must pay attention to the direction you are cutting--you can't saw in to the middle on both sides of the legs of the cross; you must start and go around the perimeter all in the same direction.)
Clean up with a file or sharp chisel after sawing, to straighten out any variations from the line. You must be careful, though, not to get too much of a bevel, that would prevent the inlay from bottoming out in the recess; or to have to beat the thing so hard to get it in that you risk cracking the inlay. Doesn't take much taper on 1/4" thickness to make a big difference.
Ray
I'm posting a link to a Boston TV story on a retired Worcester Massachusetts fire fighter. He and his wife and three others perished this week in a plane crash in Alaska.
All the Boston stations covered this story and the showed his fire house table.http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/13752854/detail.htmlRon
Wow. I didn't realize the gentleman was a firefighter. Sad. He sure did a nice job on their table. Thanks for the link.
Dustin
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