Frequently found on premium furniture and guitars, inlays are designs cut from materials such as mother of pearl, abalone, stone (pietra dura) and brass (Boulle Work) which are then laid in to pockets in the item's surface. You can use our inlay materials to cut your own inlay designs, or alternatively we can cut them for you - get in touch for a quote.
The art of inlay goes back millennia and the materials and techniques used continue to develop to this day. We offer a selection of traditional and contemporary materials for you to create your own inlay designs. They differ in the sizes available and how they can be cut, with the below table outlining the differences between them:
| Pearl, Abalone & Shell | Recon Stone | Glow | Celluloid | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other names | Nacre, MoP | Reconstituted | Luminescent | Cellulose nitrate |
| Colours | White, Black, Gold, Green, Sand, Pink | Many | Green, Blue | Many |
| Types | Mother of Pearl Abalone Paua Awabi Pink Mussel Green Turban |
Jade Malachite Azurite Jasper Lapis Turquoise |
Green glow Blue glow |
Pearloid Shell Tortoiseshell Ivory Plain colour |
| Thicknesses | 0.5mm, 1mm, 1.5mm, 2mm | 1.5mm | 2mm | 0.46mm - 2mm, depending on pattern |
| Cuts with | Scroll/Jeweller's saw Dremel CNC router Water jet |
Scroll/Jeweller's saw Dremel CNC router Water jet Laser (can give a powdery edge) |
Scroll/Jeweller's saw Dremel CNC router Water jet |
Scroll/Jeweller's saw Dremel CNC router Water jet Laser (discolouration on lighter pieces, but this will sand out) |
| Glues with | Superglue (cyanoacrylate) Epoxy UHU Hart |
Superglue (cyanoacrylate) Epoxy UHU Hart |
Superglue (cyanoacrylate) Epoxy UHU Hart |
UHU Hart Acetone |
