Inlay Away!

The idea of inlay as a decorative addition to woodworking is as old as woodworking. And yet it is a technique that is often ignored or just not thought of. As I have been learning to use the new Shaper Origin lately, its self-guided routing aspect has inspired me to do a bit more inlay. I’ve done “fake” inlay with it — filling a groove with colored epoxy. (I was super happy with how that turned out.) I’ve inlaid 1/8″ hardwood shapes that I cut with the machine and the pockets they fit into. That was a bit harder for me.

Before the Shaper Origin I actually did inlay the old-fashioned way. Mother-of-Pearl in guitar faces and fingerboards. Ivory from old piano keys in peg heads. And I liked doing it. But after a while, I just stopped.

So what about you? Is inlay a tool in your design toolbox? If so, why? If not, how come? I look forward to your comments!

Rob Johnstone, Woodworker’s Journal

Cutting Complex Inlays

Rob Johnstone explores the ways that the Shaper Origin Handheld CNC Router and ShaperHub combine to help make adding your own inlays to projects easier. He explores the process from uploading the image to ShaperHub to cutting out and installing the inlays, including the mistakes he made along the way.

Making an Adirondack Chair – Part 2

Part Two of our Adirondack Chair project. Installing the backrest and arm assemblies to complete this project.

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