Cutting Direction for Inlay

[Montserrat]

Hi guys, here is something I cannot wrap my brain around for some reason.

 

As a practice cut, I had wanted to make a keychain with my daughter's name as in inlay.  But it did not work out.  So I think my process/thinking logic is off. 

 

So which direction do I cut when (clockwise, counter-clockwise)?   Here I did both, which obviously was wrong.  

 

My hope in the long run is to make cutting boards with name inlays for my grandchildren. 

 

I would very much appreciate advice from the experienced hands in the forum. 

Edited December 26, 2015 by Montserrat

[LarryEA]

Jim Finn is the answer man.  Go to General Scrollsawing and search for inlay.........it's all there.

The answer lies in which way you tilt the table......

Old answer from Jim:

A test piece is the way to find out the degree required.  I use  all 3/8" thickness wood with a #5 or #7 blade and tilt my table on my saw  about 2.2°.  I do inlay and always hot glue the wood to be inlaid on the bottom and cut both at once keeping the image to the right of my blade with the right side of the table tilted up the required angle.  Your saw , blades and wood thickness may require different tilt  angle.

[LarryEA]

Another...

 

At what angle do you cut an inlay ?        

[amazingkevin]

Hi guys, here is something I cannot wrap my brain around for some reason.

 

As a practice cut, I had wanted to make a keychain with my daughter's name as in inlay.  But it did not work out.  So I think my process/thinking logic is off. 

 

So which direction do I cut when (clockwise, counter-clockwise)?   Here I did both, which obviously was wrong.  

 

My hope in the long run is to make cutting boards with name inlays for my grandchildren. 

 

I would very much appreciate advice from the experienced hands in the forum. 

I can't give you an answer from experience , but i think the inlay piece should be very thin as compared to the rest of the wood,hence the main body of the key chain,Just my uneducated guess.  As far as direction cutting i notice that I'm spinning counter clock wise in my cuttings, not sure why but when i read magazines i go from the back of the book to the front ,no rhyme or reason why.Merry Christmas my friend! :santa: :santa: :santa:

[trailfndr]

I have very limited experience with inlay, but to my thinking, it only makes sense to go in only one direction.  If you are doing it right, your blade or table is at a slight bevel, so I would be cutting so that the scarp on the outer piece is wider on top than bottom (hope that makes sense) and the same for the inlay piece so that iots a tight press fit when assembled.  You should end up to where you have to slightly sand the inlay piece to match the level on the backing piece.

 

Hope this helps....

[scrollerpete]

I have an Excalibur saw so the table do not tilt, the head of the saw move.

For inlay I moved the head to the right 2 to 3 degrees depending on thickness of the wood and I cut clockwise.

To test just draw a circle on your piece of wood you plan on using and see the fit, the inlay piece should not go through but stay a little bit on top, you can sand it flush.

Hope this help.

[Montserrat]

Thanks, I will give it a whirl and look at the info from you @Larry. 

[Jim Finn]

The whole concept of clockwise or counterclockwise gets confusing.  The wood moves clockwise or is it the cutting blade?

      I just Keep the image , that I have drawn or glued to the background wood and put the wood to be inlaid on the underside.  With the left side of my saw table down by 2.2° I keep the image to be inlaid to the right of the blade.  I just keep telling myself...."Keep the image to the right of the blade"  . (The higher side)  If your table is tilted the other way or if you put the wood to be inlaid on top this rule may change to "keep the image to the left of the blade"  Experiment, document in writing what you did and adjust angles and directions on practice pieces until you figure out what works.  Then be consistent.  Also your thickness of the woods must always be the same.  I use 3/8" because I use cedar and any thinner than that is pretty fragile.  Email me if you like with any questions you run into.   Jimtfinn@aol.com