Introduction to Intarsia

Eagle Pattern

Introduction to Intarsia

Why should you spend your time playing with Intarsia?

Fantastic Woodworking

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Because you get lots of bang for your buck

If you want to make some extra cash from your hobby but don't have much in the way of tools, timber or capital, intarsia is definitely worth investigating. To get going all you need is:

Instructions

If you've never done it before you might possibly need a how-to intarsia instruction book.

A design

Either out of your head of if you need inspiration, surprise, surprise, we have some intarsia patterns that may just fit the bill.

Wood

Small bits of different coloured timbers. Or cut them out of one piece of cheap pine and stain the pieces different colours as you can do with this free Elephant Scroll Saw Pattern.

This is very cheap and easy way to produce something amazing. I recently posted to my blog on the subject of sourcing different timber colours.

Saw

Either a scrollsaw, a cheap one will do, or a bandsaw with a narrow blade to cut out the shapes.

Sander

Some sandpaper preferably attached to a sanding machine. Unless of course you are a masochist and enjoy hand sanding. A cheap drum sander that fits in your drill or bench grinder is perfect.

Chocolate!

A large bar of chocolate.....oops sorry, no you don't absolutely need the choccy and anyway I'm on a diet. The quantity of timber you will use making a large intarsia is only a fraction of what you would need to make a small coffee table. And the finished intarsia will most likely be worth heaps more than the table.

  • Fox

    "I made a fox and even some of the grandchildren were impressed. Not for the excellent work but that a grandma made it."

    Edie (West Australia)

  • Dolphin

    "But I could never produce beautiful work like this.
    Well you probably can. But you won't know until you try. Why don't you give it a go with this sample baby dolphin intarsia pattern. But don't tell the boss whatever you do. If she finds out I'm giving even more stuff away for free I'll be in the dog box. Let it be our secret.

    After trying your free pattern, (Dolphin) I have definitely been bitten by the Intarsia bug. .... but your enthusiasm must be catching, because it has reawakened my flagging interest, and I'm dying to try another pattern."

    Terry (UK by email)