Inlay Work on the Wolfpawn — V-Carve Inlay Technique Step by Step

Inlay Work on the Wolfpawn — V-Carve Inlay Technique Step by Step V-carve inlay creates perfectly fitting wooden or resin inlays in a contrasting wood. Two parts: a female pocket in the base, and a male plug cut slightly oversized to press-fit in. How V-Carve Inlay Works Both the pocket and the plug are cut with the same V-bit. The pocket cuts normally. The plug is cut upside-down, slightly larger than the pocket. The angled walls lock together — no glue slop, no gaps. Materials Base: Any hardwood — darker woods show light inlay best Inlay material: Contrasting wood, resin-filled wood, or solid resin pour Both pieces should be flat and surfaced Step 1 — Cut the Female Pocket 1. Aspire → V-Carve toolpath on your design vectors 2. 60° V-bit, feeds per material 3. Cut into the base material 4. DO NOT set a flat depth — let it go full V depth Step 2 — Cut the Male Plug This is the key difference: 1. Use the same vectors 2. V-Carve toolpath but: - Check Start Depth: set to 0.2–0.4 mm (this is your inlay offset — makes the plug slightly wider) - Check Flat Depth: set to 3–4 mm (defines plug thickness) 3. Cut the plug flipped upside down from the back face of the inlay material Step 3 — Fit and Glue 1. Test fit the plug — it should sit proud by about 1–2 mm 2. Apply wood glue to the pocket 3. Press plug in — it should seat firmly 4. Clamp until dry Step 4 — Flush Trim 1. Once glue is cured, run a very light surfacing pass over the whole board 2. OR hand plane/sand flush 3. The inlay should be perfectly flush with the surrounding wood Offset Troubleshooting

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