# Woodworking: inlay advice needed. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 13, 2010, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodworking-inlay-advice-needed/550114 "2010-08-13T02:56:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![History\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b19c9b/32.png) [@History\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/History_Geek)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodworking-inlay-advice-needed/550114/1 "2010-08-13T02:56:35Z")
I need some advice on doing the inlay for [this project](http://www.flickr.com/photos/52978742@N06/4886547457/). My first idea was to rout out the recesses for the stars I had already cut. But [the stars](http://www.flickr.com/photos/52978742@N06/4886547509/in/photostream/) are quite small at [their tips](http://www.flickr.com/photos/52978742@N06/4886547547/in/photostream/), which makes routing impractical as I get near them. I don’t think making a template to rout out recesses and matching pieces is feasible given the size restriction. The board is pretty tough purpleheart and hard to work with a chisel. Am I stuck doing this the hard way, or is there a third method? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodworking-inlay-advice-needed/550114/2 "2010-08-13T07:07:02Z")
You need a Dremel rotary tool and inlay bits. A base for the rotary tool is useful too More info here. [http://www.dremel.com/en-us/projectsandcommunity/projects/Pages/detail.aspx?pcpid=17](http://www.dremel.com/en-us/projectsandcommunity/projects/Pages/detail.aspx?pcpid=17) Dremel sells a nice set of inlay bits. This guy is using a base to steady the tool. [http://www.woodworkingseminars.com/?p=983](http://www.woodworkingseminars.com/?p=983) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodworking-inlay-advice-needed/550114/3 "2010-08-13T07:20:21Z")
Nice step by step article using a Dremel for inlays > **[How to Transfer Angles From a T Bevel to a Miter Saw](https://www.ehow.co.uk/how_8029810_transfer-angles-bevel-miter-saw.html)** > > A T-bevel, also referred to as a sliding T-bevel, is a useful tool for transferring angles for woodworking and metalworking. The tool consists of a handle, which is often made of wood, but may be plastic or metal, and a blade, which is typically... ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodworking-inlay-advice-needed/550114/4 "2010-08-13T12:57:42Z")
I have found a sharp set of chisels and a good Exacto knife set to be the ticket. Also, it is much easier to to cut inlay in the bigger piece of wood then make the small pieces fit. I have made a number of cribbage boards and have gotten pretty good at the doing inlays. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodworking-inlay-advice-needed/550114/5 "2010-08-13T13:44:09Z")
search for \*\*BigShooter \*\*here at the SDMB and PM him - he does excellent woodwork building guitars so would have a lot of input on this… ---
**Author:** ![History\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b19c9b/32.png) [@History\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/History_Geek)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodworking-inlay-advice-needed/550114/6 "2010-08-13T15:38:27Z")
Awesome! I didn’t know Dremel had those sorts of gadgets. Time to hunt around and see what I can find. Thanks!