SIMPLE EPOXY INLAYING
Traditional wood inlays are a great way to dress up a project. Of course, cutting those inlays can be a tedious and time-consuming process. However, using colored epoxy achieves similar results with a lot less time and effort that you need to invest. Check out the four-step process I use in the photos below. You’ll need colored epoxy, along with a syringe to apply it and spray-on lacquer to seal the wood beforehand. Using a torch or heat gun after applying the epxoy should remove any air bubbles, but a toothpick or paperclip can touch up any remaining imperfections.
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| To prevent the epoxy from soaking into the grain, I first apply a coat of spray-on lacquer to seal the grain around where I’ll be applying the inlay. | A disposable plastic syringe allows you to precisely apply the epoxy. You can cut the plastic tip to fit the size of the groove. Make sure to overfill the groove a little bit to allow for some shrinkage. |
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| After about an hour, use a chisel to remove most of the overflow. At this point, the epoxy will be rubbery. After it’s cured (again, 12 to 24 hours) move on to a hand scraper, then finally sand the inlay smooth. | Imperfections caused by air bubbles in the inlay can be filled using a drop of epoxy on an applicator, such as a paperclip or toothpick. After the repairs have cured, sand them flush to the workpiece once more. |
