If you search for how to do intarsia woodworking, you’ve come to the right place. Check out this article for step-by-step guides and helpful woodworking tips.
The art of intarsia
Woodworking is an art with depth and different forms of craft. Intarsia, although not new, still attracts those who love the feat and meticulousness. It gives us the thrill and excitement of performing artistic mosaic and assembly techniques.
So, how to create intarsia woodworking? We can summarize in a few steps as follows:
- Find an assembly instruction sheet.
- Select the type of wood.
- Cut separate pieces of wood.
- Put the pieces together.
- Smoothen and raise the texture.
- Finish the details.
Let’s find out in detail step by step through the following article!
Things You’ll Need
Traditional woodworking tools
You’ll need some tools before you get to work. Check out the list below, and be sure not to miss a thing.
- Instruction sheet (it is best to copy 3-5 sheets).
- Woodworking glues.
- Suitable wood.
- Jigsaw.
- Scrollsaw.
- Sanding machine.
- Compressor.
- Carving knife.
- Wood burner.
- Carbon paper.
The amount and material of wood will vary from project to project, but these are indispensable tools.
The sander works to create a soft contour for the overall work of art. It would help if you chose a disc machine or a belt sander. They are easier to control.
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How To Do Intarsia Woodworking? Step-By-Step Guides
Mosaic art is one of the oldest and sophisticated carpentry arts. It requires good cutting and shaping skills to join wood pieces into a realistic and sophisticated 3D picture.
The color and texture of the wood are also kept at the most natural level to bring realness.
An intarsia example
Finding The Suitable Instruction
You will not be able to execute the intarsia from the zero-project. Guidance is always the most crucial factor.
Imagine you are playing a jigsaw puzzle from many different pieces. Without instructions or samples, you probably won’t be able to cut or shape what you’re doing exactly.
There are many models and assembly instructions for wood mosaic patterns on the market. We recommend basic designs such as a Teddy bear or a swimming dolphin for those new to this art form.
Make multiple copies to prevent errors. It is best to have 3-5 documents ready.
Selecting The Material
Since intarsia is an art, you should not paint or texture the wood. Choose natural wood with the most suitable color and grain to create a picture with depth.
The most suitable woods have a soft texture because they are easy to cut and sharpen. Consider using four varieties: western red cedar, walnut, aromatic cedar, and pine.
Western red cedar is dark chocolate or transparent white. They are soft and straightforward to shape. Another advantage of this type of wood is its affordable price.
Black walnut is famous for its fancy grain patterns and veins. It also has a very affordable price tag. This material is slightly more complex than cedar.
Fragrant cedar, as the name suggests, has a pleasant scent. It is also very soft and easy to work with. The color of this material is very vibrant and suitable for flowers or accents.
You should choose light in color. It is a great contrast to all kinds of cedar.
You should also buy large wooden boards because they will save a lot later on. Not everyone succeeds from the first try.
Don’t forget to choose wood with a thickness of ¾ inch. This thickness is strong enough but still very easy to work with.
Different wooden textures
Cutting Separate Wooden Pieces
You will need the instruction sheet for this step.
First, cut out the individual parts and attach them to separate pieces of material. Often the manufacturer will mark the corresponding color and wood type for each part. Please read the instructions carefully before doing so.
Use carbon paper to copy the outlines of the drawing onto wooden boards with the corresponding colors. Make sure to draw clearly so that the line is as clear and bold as possible.
When cutting puzzle pieces, use scroll saws. Many sculptors prefer bandsaws, but they are not as versatile.
A simple blade selection tip is to use a #5 reverse-cut blade for wood less than 1 inch thick and a #7 for 1-¾ inches thick lumber. The finish will be smooth and leave fewer wood chips on the bottom.
It would help if you also cut the edges square to make assembly easier. Don’t worry about roughness, as you will have sanding steps later. It’s best to cut as close to the outline as possible.
Assembling The Pieces Together
After we have cut and divided the parts of the drawing into pieces, we will come to the inlaying stage.
Put the parts together and try to adjust the fit. To avoid a deficit between the two pieces, you can cut the excess at the intersections and adapt accordingly.
Pieces of wood with different grains will create a pronounced depth effect.
The inlaying stage needs meticulousness and refinement. Use a pen to mark carefully. You won’t want to deviate too much at this step. You should also mark the name or put a number so as not to assemble it by mistake.
Refinishing The Look
You’ve got a basic flat jigsaw, and now we need to bring them to life.
Use flat supports or wooden shims to create depth. Sometimes you’ll have to sand or plane the surfaces to make them thinner and lower than usual. These actions are also known as risers.
The belt grinder is the most suitable tool for surface thinning. However, never sand the back of your intarsia project. It will cause the parts not to match.
For the shaping stage, you should use a sanding drum. It comes in three basic types: solid rubber drums, flex drums, and wrap-around tools. The second tool is the best option.
Use this device to rub and create a smooth surface for the work. It also brings depth with high gloss to your work.
Using a sander to smoothen the surface
Making The Details
The final step involves softening sharp corners, sanding scratches, and finishing details. You can use chisels, drills, and sandpaper to do it manually.
The details are often small in size, so using the machine will need a lot more concentration.
Start gluing the pieces together from the center of the canvas. This action will minimize the consequences if you make a mistake.
You can use a guide board and wax paper to make the mold. Wax paper does not stick to the glue, so it is easy to peel off after finishing.
Use a ¼ inch thick sheet of luan for the backing. Glue your creation carefully onto the board and wait a while for the glue to dry. If necessary, clamp it together so that the two pieces stick together more tightly.
You can spray more lacquer with a glossy finish to keep the wood from spoiling and fading.
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Frequently Asked Questions
This section will help you learn more about the art of intarsia woodworking.
What Is The Difference Between Intarsia And Segmentation?
Although both are arts-related to carpentry, intarsia and segmentation are two different forms. For the former, the choice of material is significant. It determines the color as well as the particles on the surface.
On the contrary, you don’t need to care about the material when segmenting. The reason is that you can paint or paint on the surface to create the color you want. This video will analyze in detail.
What Kind Of Sandpaper Should You Use To Finish The Details?
To remove grit and rust, use 220 grit or finer sandpaper.
Final Thoughts
Intarsia is an art. It requires the meticulousness of the artisan from the first preparation to the final finishing step. Although the work process can be a bit tiring, the results are worth it.
Hopefully, this article was useful to you. Don’t forget to share this article with your friends. Follow us for more woodworking tips. Thanks for reading!
