So, I am in the process of a myriad of “home” projects (shelves in kids rooms, re-finishing painted furniture, attic shelves, etc…), and have been spending my free time trying to figure out my next project. I am big on “form follows function”, so I want any project I endevor on to serve a purpose. I also want to continue my journey in woodworking, so I want to try something I have never done before, hence INLAYS.
I have seen some great projects with even better examples of strikingly beautiful inlay work on LJ, and I think I am finally ready to try my hand at some inlay work. Wanting my project to be functional, my wife has always complianed that mail which needs to be filed sits on the countertops too long. In order to solve this domestic problem, I designed this “Inbox” and planned some nice simple inlays to practice with.
My question to all of you LJs with inlay experience is : What do you think? Is this project to much, or just right? What woods should I use if I want to have a dark/rich wood base, with a light/white inlay?
My plan is ~12”x18”. All stock is 1/2”, and all inlays are planned at 1/4” wide. Corners will be biscuit jointed with a 45 degree miter. All pretty simple. I wanted to keep straight lines for a sleek simple look, as it will be sitting on my kitchen countertop all the time.
So, now is the time LJs!!! Please give me all your comments (Good, Bad, and UGLY!!)
-- Derrek L.
3 comments so far
jlsmith5963
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297 posts in 1545 days
#1 posted 1461 days ago
Derrek – Have you really solved or have you just added to the problem of to much ‘stuff’ on the counter top? If the function is to visually remove the stack of mail than surely the form is not an open top box. Perhaps if the box had a lid it would be a much ‘cleaner’ look than a stack of mail (or a stack of mail in a box) and the lid would provide a better showcase for your inlay, instead of being buried under the mail.
-- criticism: the art of analyzing and evaluating the quality of an artistic work...
scrappy
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3475 posts in 1628 days
#2 posted 1461 days ago
Straight lines are a good place to start, depending on how you are doing the inlays. With straight lines you can use your router/router table to do your groves and get everything just right.
As for wood choice, go with something that will accent your kitchen colors. What are your cabinets like? That would determine my wood choice.
Keep us informed and I am sure all the help you need will be on this site for you.
Scrappy
-- Scrap Wood's the best...the projects are smaller, and so is the mess!
i82much
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25 posts in 1584 days
#3 posted 1459 days ago
I’m with jlsmith
Your work is supossed to be seen.
I’d make the box with a lid and the inlay in that
-- At the end of my life...When I meet my Maker...Will I be seen as...a giver or a taker
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