Hi, new here (fairly new to woodworking too), and I have a couple questions. This forum is busy, lots of knowledge to absorb.
I'm about to start a sign, simple carved lettering for a house front. I have some ambrosia maple (wormy maple), which is spalted with grey streaks through it. I'm going to laminate it, when I'm done it'll be about 18"x30"x1".
I'd like to inlay some walnut for a border around the edge, but I don't know about laying the walnut grain perpendicular to the maple grain for the 18" sides, is it generally done like that or will expansion cause trouble? I'll be using epoxy, probably want the walnut 3/8" wide. The maple is fairly dry and it'll have another month sitting indoors, stickered and stacked with some weight on it. I assume the moisture in the walnut isn't so critical since there's hardly any width across the grain.
Another thing I was wondering is what species maple I have? I dont' know much about maple, this stuff has a pretty light and understated figure. Does "ambrosia maple" encompass more than one species? My understanding is that this wood is fairly common.
Thanks!