Blog #28: Inlay Process

Blog #28: Hello! Hope you all are well. I have been busy in the workshop both making instruments and doing repairs. I have been working on putting in the inlay on the head stock of my next mandolin. This is another area that would seem hard to do by hand, but I have found it a great pleasure doing it this way. I start with my veneer, mother of pearl, and the abalone. I first glue down a piece of paper with the shell inlay on top. I then glue down a copied tree image for an outline. I do the same for the name "Macica" as well. It is neat, because it never is the same signature twice...always a little different this way. I then cut it out with a jewelers saw. I am cutting both the inlay and the veneer. This makes for an excellent fit with no gap at all. This method has proven to work both quick and efficient with very little follow-up. After everything is cut out, I soak it in water and de-laminate the laminate from the veneer and then.. done. Now I glue everything onto the headstock. I have included some pictures of this process! Enjoy! Martin