i appreciate inlayed designs and am about to start a project with hopefully birdseye maple inlayed with some rosewood or a similar species that will contrast.
I have used veneer extensivley and edgebanded work (grain right angles to the edge) on desks etc but never tried the inlay process. I suspect it is simply a groove (depth according to veneer thickness) with the appropriate veneer ‘inlayed into it. obviously the inlayed veneer would sit slightly proud to be scraped down flush.
My questions are:
1. how do you prepare the inlay for the groove. do you simply use a knife and cut the veneer to the width?
2. when a cross banding is incorporated in a top, do you cross band to the edge of the primary wood then edge band between the two afterwards or work back from the middle to the edge. eg. top, inlay, edgbanding etc.
3.which glue do you prefer. I would look at going toward hide glue is this right?
4. to make the initial groove a trimmer router with appropriate bit could be used?
thanks alot guys.
Replies
Gazza,
Since I make federal furniture, all most all my work incorporates inlay.
I have found it quite difficult to use veneer for stringing,. Trying to cut veneer to a precise width, with the grain is no easy task, as the knife wants to follow the grain. With this in mind I make all my stringing by sawing it from solid stock, ands then sanding it to a precise thickness with a homemade fixture on my drill press.
Narrow strips inlaid as cross banding , can be cut with just a knife and some sort of stop block to insure uniformity.
I use laminate trimmers or full size routers or a Dremel tool to cut the grooves for the inlay. I buy solid carbide end mills, which come in many sizes, but I find that 1/32” - 1/8” by 1/64” covers almost all my needs.
It is actually better to have the inlay slightly below or flush with the surface when working in solid wood, and perfectly flush if inlaying into a veneered surface. Nothing will break your heart like sanding through an inlay.
I use hide glue for everything, and recommend it highly.
I’m afraid I did not understand your second question
Rob Millard
rob,
thanks for answering my questions. i recently saw a sofa table you made in the gallery and it is some of the finest work my eyes have come across recently. museum quality.
Seem to remember that the last FWW issue (before Shops and Tools) had a very good article on inlay process.
forestgirl Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
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