Replies

1. 
   _mj_ | May 11, 2020 06:45pm | #1

   Stain and seal it before you set in the inlay.

2. 
   cousinchas | May 12, 2020 10:09am | #2

   Have you actually tried that? If so, how did you scrape or sand inlay flush with the main body wood without damaging the stained area?
   I was hoping someone would remember a FWW article that covered this.

3. 
   DRBWWing | May 12, 2020 10:26am | #3

   I recently dealt with this as MJ proposed but unfortunately I immediately reached for the scraper and it was a disaster as the scraper removed the stain.

   I think if I had used a chisel to level the inlay I would had better results, but either way it will be difficult.

4. 
   hotdogman | May 12, 2020 10:46am | #4

   I have come up against the same issue. I suggest that you talk to the customer about how good heartwood Cherry will take on its own natural dark patina over time as it is exposed to UV light. Scaping and or sanding the inlay will result in affecting the surrounding finish. I would not suggest that.

5. 
   _mj_ | May 12, 2020 10:49am | #5

   When I did it I used a small router plane first and did final scraping with a bent single-edge razor blade.

6. 
   john_c2 | May 12, 2020 12:02pm | #6

   Let the cherry darken on its own. It will get very dark in sunlight, without any stain.

7. 
   pintodeluxe | May 12, 2020 12:30pm | #7

   I have encountered this issue in the past. Accept that some coloration of the lighter wood will happen. Just select the wood species and stain product for maximum contrast. I've had good luck with Varathane and Cobot products in that regard.

8. 
   fourier_transform | May 12, 2020 01:15pm | #8

   Whilst I have never done this, it might work. Before installing the inlay, soak it in shellac. To do this, buy some PVC pipe, glue an end cap on one end, fill it with shellac and then place the inlay inside, then install (do not glue) the end cap. Keep vertical while it soaks so shellac doesn't leak out the top. Wait a couple of hours, remove the inlay, wipe off the excess and let dry.

   I'm pretty confident the shellac will completely penetrate the inlay. So, you should be able to install it, scrap it flush and it will still not absorb any stain.

   Try first on a sample--6" inches of inlay in a tupperware dish.

9. 
   john_c2 | May 12, 2020 03:10pm | #9

   Thin strips of inlay get very brittle with too much finish. They are very thin strips. There's no need to marinade them.

10. 
    Beasley7 | May 12, 2020 04:17pm | #10

    Install and sand mostly as normal. Be liberal with the glue, it will act as a barrier to keep the stain from bleeding in. Then cover the inlay with painters tape. Make sure you press it down firmly and trim around it with an exacto knife. Stain as normal but wipe the stain off the tape as a precaution. I did this on a very small scale (about 4") and it worked. But I may have just gotten lucky.

11. 
    gulfstar | May 12, 2020 05:08pm | #11

    I have used good quality masking tape to keep stain away for two tones effect and it worked well.

12. 
    geedubbee | May 12, 2020 09:43pm | #12

    I'm also in the pre-finish camp. there are a variety of situations where pre-finishing parts or areas yields a better end result. Lay a piece of nylon cord in the grooves, watch your wetness level when pre-finishing, pull the cord, add / flush the inlay and top coat.

13. 
    lat_axe | May 13, 2020 02:33am | #13

    The FWW article is by Jeff Jewitt in the "Finish Line" series.

    https://www.finewoodworking.com/2005/07/01/protect-inlay-with-selective-staining

    Lataxe

14. 
    dshull | May 13, 2020 11:37am | #14

    I did this recently on a panel for a white oak cabinet that I stained before adding holly stringing. You can find some photos of the cabinet including some shots of the string inlay installation here:

    https://www.lumberjocks.com/projects/414901

    I stained the panel and then sealed it with shellac first. I used blue tape to protect the panel when laying out the stringing and cutting the grooves. To flatten the stringing after installation, I used a crank-necked paring chisel and pared the stringing down to the tape. After removing the blue tape, it was easy to level the last little bit of string inlay without damaging the surface. The shellac provided some protection for the stained layer. Best of success.

15. 
    cousinchas | May 14, 2020 11:08am | #15

    Thanks to all who made suggestions. I will try several of these methods. Had forgotten about how cherry darkens in sunlight. Believe I will leave parts outside for a couple of sunny days before applying any stain or finish, then try sealing inlays. If I remember right, cherry blotches badly if not sealed first too.