Choosing Between Ancient and Modern Tools for Your Marquetry Project

A decorative art form, Marquetry has been around for a while now. Wood based veneers are used quite a bit in the creation of unique designs. Woods of different colors and textures are used to create these veneers.

The veneers are next cut into a number of shapes and sizes. With these unique veneer slices, designs on the surfaces of wooden objects are then filled in. Items like jewelry boxes, paintings and curios are decorated in Marquetry.

Despite the labor that goes into Marquetry, the final product is extremely satisfying. There are many kinds of tools in Marquetry and their use depends on the kind of wood you are utilizing, the techniques and the size of the veneers you are working with. Ancient tools of Marquetry have evolved a great deal to make them more accurate.

First making its appearance in French workshops is the ‘Chevalet de Marqueterie’ or the Marquetry Donkey. Woodcraftsmen could do some real fine precision cutting with this. This tool was a saw frame that could be operated by hand and could give lines as delicate as a 10th of a millimeter wide.

The Marquetry Donkey is still used in Ecole Boulle in Paris. Students learn the French method of Marquetry with this tool. The most important plus point with this tool is that you can work long hours on it comfortably.

Ecole Boulle also uses the overhead jigsaw tool to teach its students. It consists of a leather belt that can cut up to a 180 strokes in a minute. This is great for large projects going up to 5 ft and more.

It is great for accurate work with heavy veneer packets and metals. Marquetry made by hand is still quite the preference in present times. Knives are basic tools and you can choose yours depending on the project you are working on.

With a pencil like look, the X-acto knife is a good one and comes with a knurled sleeve. You can build up your collection of knives with time and depending on the projects you work on.

For beginners in Marquetry, you will need a collection of blades. You will need blade #11 as the most basic of them for when you get started. Sharpening stones will help you get them ready again when they go blunt.

You could also opt to buy blade packets in bulk and replace them as you go. Cutting boards made of plywood are also essential. The most preferred option is beach plywood.

Pine and oak are, according to most artisans, too hard to be used. If you are working on pictorial Marquetry, a particle board is essential. Of late, the medium dense fiber (MDF) board is opted for.

For some advanced Marquetry, tools like the green board are needed on which to cut long slivers of veneer. Hand rollers are also needed to press down veneers after they have been glued to a surface. A few woodworkers opt for a rotary palm held sander that will help smoothen the surface of an image.

This article was written by Ruth D’Souza Prabhu of MarqART Gift Shop. Our jewelry boxes are original works of art, no two creations are the same. Each wood shown has its own unique wood grain pattern and color. MarqART comes from combining the words marquetry (wood inlay) + Art (a creation of beauty) an apt name for our products. A fine addition to your dressing table or as a gift. Please visit http://www.marqartgiftshop.com to browse & buy exotic marqart jewelry boxes that will give you a lifetime of pleasure!