Does anybody here do Inlay any more?

[Dennis Peacock]

Am I the only one here asking questions about how to do inlay work?

No offense....inlay is not for everyone but it is now and has recently been an area of interest to me in doing and learning.

I have done a little inlay that was done with router and router template with a guide bushing. However, my problem is creating the templates that are smooth and accurate enough to use the router and guidebushing setup. I don't have a scrollsaw though Terry Quiram has turned me on to an EXCELLENT scrollsaw and all I need is money to get it.

Does anyone here know of any "How-To" articles here on the web that I can read and research about how to do inlay as a newbie to inlay work? OR does anyone here do inlay work that can share some how to knowledge to a very inexperienced fellow woodworker?

[Sam Simpson]

Hi Y'all,
Dennis, I do a fare bit of inlay. I use three main methods. First the method you have outlined, with the router, and incise an area to accept wood, either in strips or as a pre-assembled design. ( for stringing or center medallions) Second laid up as a design while veneering a compete panel. (such as cross banded table edges and drawer fronts) And third by incising a design into the surface using carving tools. (such as curved work, bombe chests and such) A fourth method that I have not mastered yet, is the Boulle method of creating complex designs by cutting layers of material in a packet and fitting together the contrasting results. I must say that this is where the real art of inlay is to be found, but, since I make furniture for a living I use specialist companies to provide these inlays already assembled.
In each case different tools and disciplines are required. I have never found one source that covers all of the methods. All of my sources are old English apprenticed trades instruction books, long out of print. So I can only offer what I know by referring to them if you have specific questions. If I were doing it as a hobby I would pursue the Boulle method. I believe it is there you will find the greatest reward for your diligence.
Regards Sam Simpson.

[Dennis Peacock]

Hey Sam,

Good info there. I have ordered three book that deal with inlay work and box making. I am grasping for anything I can get my hands on right now since I know nothing about inlay work. I created a template for these music notes to inlay for a CD cabinet I am making. Making the template too me SEVERAL hours by hand to make this and there ain't no way in the world that I can get my money out of this project to make up for the time I am investing. I am really interested in learning inlay work as I truly believe that this is what sets furniture apart from fine furniture. Of course the choice of wood used for a project also is a major player in a regular piece of furniture and something to behold. I just don't know enough about it to really know where to start.

Am I crazy? I don't think so....I just want to learn something I believe is really cool to help set my pieces apart from my early pieces. Know what I mean?

[Phil Phelps]

Hi Y'all,
but, since I make furniture for a living I use specialist companies to provide these inlays already assembled.
Regards Sam Simpson.

What took ya' so long to get here? Looking forward to hearing from you often.

[Dennis Peacock]

Hey Phill.....

What Sam doesn't know is that I most often work by the touche' method instead of the Boulle' method......and that most of my woodworking is like a: Boulle' in le' china shoppe'.........

Needless to say that this is one post that I have only gotten rare replies rather than many replies. Here and WC as well.....Oh well...I guess I will need to learn how to do this and demo it at the next CSBBQ.....

[Keith Outten]

Dennis,

I thought you were going to send me your CAD file for the diamond shape. I can make one myself but it is unlikely that it will be what you want on the first try. You gave me height and width, there is one dimension missing for the diamond.

If you send me the dimensions of your router bit and guide I can make you a matched set of patterns (male and female). If you do the CAD work the cost of having acrylic patterns laser cut is cheap!

Aaron and I do laser inlay work all the time. We make patterns for routing and often we laser cut both pieces inside the cabinet. I guess there is a 5th method

[Dan McLaughlin]

Dennis If you haven't read it already, take a look at the Oct 2003 issue of Woodwork (WoodWork 83) Page 66 "Skin Deep - Three Centuries of Inlay" by Steve Latta. Apparently Steve is a cabinetmaker and a cabinetmaker instructor at Thaddeus Stevens College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. I just picked up the issue and it caught my eye. Haven't had a chance to read it yet.

[Dennis Peacock]

Dennis,

I thought you were going to send me your CAD file for the diamond shape. I can make one myself but it is unlikely that it will be what you want on the first try. You gave me height and width, there is one dimension missing for the diamond.

If you send me the dimensions of your router bit and guide I can make you a matched set of patterns (male and female). If you do the CAD work the cost of having acrylic patterns laser cut is cheap!

Aaron and I do laser inlay work all the time. We make patterns for routing and often we laser cut both pieces inside the cabinet. I guess there is a 5th method

Keith,

All I use is the standard inlay kit on the router. 1/8" bit. The only format I can save the file in is .dc (DeltaCad) and .dxf........The width of the material is 1/4".....I will send you both file formats in case one of them works.

[Dennis Peacock]

Dennis If you haven't read it already, take a look at the Oct 2003 issue of Woodwork (WoodWork 83) Page 66 "Skin Deep - Three Centuries of Inlay" by Steve Latta. Apparently Steve is a cabinetmaker and a cabinetmaker instructor at Thaddeus Stevens College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. I just picked up the issue and it caught my eye. Haven't had a chance to read it yet.

Dan,

I don't have that magazine, but I guess while I am in Little Rock tomorrow, I will have to make a stop by the bookstore to see if they have that magazine in stock. Thanks for the pointer to more info on inlay.

[Brad Hammond]

Dennis,
you might want to try here. this is an article from the Badger Pond Articles section. there's a link on WC's site. hope it helps.
cya

Moderator removed direct link (see SMC Rules of Service concerning direct links to other forums).

[Ted Owen]

Hi, Dennis--

Here are a few sources for video's and books.

http://www.frankpollaro.com/Videos/index.html

http://www.schurchwoodwork.com/tools/educational.html

http://www.vacupress.com/videos.htm On this last source, Daryll will throw in the product demo tape if you buy the two instructional tapes.

Personally I find video's more helpful than books.

Best, Ted

P.S. Did you say you posted on WoodCentral? I can't find your post there. Or am I thinking of someone else?

[Ace Karner]

Hey Dennis,

I'm no expert on inlay nor will my suggestion make you one but I'm pretty sure this project is the one we talked about at the CSBBQ and I know you have way more time in it than you can stand so maybe this will help.

I've thought about it and have this suggestion. Maybe you could make up three female templates one for the bottom of the note, one for the shaft, and one for the flag? portion of the note. You could then route them out in stages and then fill them with epoxy with black graphite added, kinda like when they fill voids in Mesquite, and then sand them flat. Should look great and would probably save ya some time too.

Ace

[Dennis Peacock]

Hi, Dennis--

Here are a few sources for video's and books.

Personally I find video's more helpful than books.

Best, Ted

P.S. Did you say you posted on WoodCentral? I can't find your post there. Or am I thinking of someone else?

Ted,

I did post it on WC and Here. The subject line may be a little different than here but I posted them around the same time. Thanks for the pointers. I have ordered some books but will be ordering a video or two as I learn a LOT better and faster if I can SEE how it is done.

Ace,

Glad to here from you buddy.!!! I finally got the musical note thing worked out.. WHEW!!!! That was a real doozy!! The problem I have now is the "diamond" inlay template. 3" by 6" diamond (outside dimensions). I haven't been able to make a single diamond template straight enough to give satisfactory results. I don't have a scrollsaw so cutting by hand and filing is my only way.

[Eric Apple - Central IN]

I suppose owning a laser would change this, and the arcylic router templates would be slick. But, inlay is very time consuming. I don't think there is a fast way to it. When I've seen other inlayed work for sale, it is very expensive. At least I tell myself that as an excuse to really take my time.

For me, inlay is one-off and making templates and so on won't really help. (again an easy to make laser template would change this). I cut by hand, dremel, and free hand router, edge guide and trammel to fit the work. I am very far from being an expert on the subject. For your notes, I would use a template to trace an outline. Then cut the edges with a sharp knife, and simply start to remove material.

I'd bevel the edges of the notes, and tap them into my hand cut cavity set with a bed of dyed epoxy using a wood block and light hammer. I trim off the proud top of the notes using a router shy of the surface, and then use a card scraper to bring them flush.

I'd guess setting those three notes would take me in the range of 2 - 4 hours.

[Dennis Peacock]

I'd guess setting those three notes would take me in the range of 2 - 4 hours.

Eric,

I made the template for the music notes and that is why they are there. BTW, there are a total of SEVEN notes....I just showed three of them for the sake of posting here. I have the music note inlay down to a science now.......just the 3" by 6" diamond part (the other inlay piece) is giving me problems.......

Ya know.....1/4" wide wood strips in Padouk to make the diamond inlay shape in red oak plywood. Red oak on the outside of the diamond AND on the inside of the diamond....just the 1/4" strips to form the diamond.

Make sense.?