? inlays

[shoals]

What's the best way to get that really tight fit when installing inlays, such as in check rest or forearm ?

[Red Badger]

I would make the inlay slightly larger and carefully file the inlay until it fit snug... this is a labor intensive way of doing it and requires fine motor skills which I do not have.

[shoals]

thanks for the reply. How do you actually cut the the wood for the inlay? I,ve had some tell me they go around the inlay with a pencil, so say scribe to mark before cutting wood. What do you use to make your cuts knife, chisel?

[Cranbrook]

When I install an inlay, I start by filing a very fine bevel edge around the inlay. This bevel is angled downward from the top (surface side). I then go to great lengths to determine just exactly where the inlay is to be placed on the stock. Moving it around and looking at it from many distances and angles. When this is established, I make pins to match the material of the inlay....brass, silver,? and determine where the pins will be placed. Drill pin holes in the inlay and just tack it to the stock, only about halfway down with the pins. This leaves the pins protruding so that you can easily remove them when you are ready to remove wood. The inlay will be secure from movement enough so you can cut around it. Using a very fine blade, like an exacto knife or scalpel, I cut around the inlay to a slight depth. Remove inlay and start removing wood inside the cuts. Replace and retack inlay and repeat cut around to a deeper level and repeat until you have the inlay flush to the wood. Now I like to use a small amount of epoxy glue on the underside along with the pins to hold the inlay down permanently. I scratch up the metal on the inlays bottom to get better adhesion.  Once everything is in place, drive the pins carefully all the way down flush. Go back and forth evenly to keep things level. You are now ready to file, and, or sand across everything....wood and metal for that perfect fit and polish. It should look like it grew there!

[shoals]

THANKS A TON!!! This is exactly the type of information I was looking for. I never would have thought of beveling the inlay. Thanks again, I appreciate your reply very helpful .