Here's a tip on making perfect miters, or 90 degree cuts of your inlay bandings every time.
Miter cut the banding slightly long using a small miter box or just a knife. The miter does not need to be perfect. I try to cut it about 1/64" too long.


I fashioned a small miter box, just for doing bandings and stringing. I use a small (6") Japanese pull saw. This is 3/8" wide redheart banding in this example.


After you cut the inlay banding on the miter box, take a piece of scrap wood or plywood (I used 3/4" plywood as shown below) with a straight edge.
Rout channels at 45 and 90 degrees; the width of the banding you are inlaying.
Put the banding in the channel, hold it tightly, and using a block of wood with sandpaper (I used 120 grit) glued to it, sand the edge of the banding and "sneak up" to the perfect fit, every time.

Go Back