Frequently asked questions:
How is marquetry created?
Marquetry is made by cutting, assembling, and mounting wood veneers 1/42” thick. There’s more than one way to do each of those processes, but the first step is the same for everyone – selecting an image to recreate in wood.
The tracing
Key color areas of a photograph or drawing need to be traced onto a piece of paper which becomes the stencil for cutting. An image that’s a good beginner project might look similar in complexity to the rosebud at right. Rubber cement is a possible choice for adhering the stencil to the veneer chosen for the image background. Then the project is ready for cutting.
The cutting and assembling
Two pieces of veneer are cut simultaneously: the background and one which will fill a shape in the stencil. The piece cut out of the background is discarded, and the piece that replaces it is secured into place, possibly with both washable glue and transparent tape. Cutting and assembling happen one shape at a time.
A manual scroll saw, with a fine jeweler’s blade mounted at a 13-degree angle, is a popular tool in the guild. Creating a beveled edge on the background and on the piece that fills it, the special saw minimizes the gap left by even the finest of blades.
The mounting
After all the pieces outlined by the stencil have been cut and fastened into one seamless piece, a wood filler or simply a mixture of fine sawdust and washable glue can be spread thinly across the underside of the marquetry to prevent permanent wood glue from seeping through to the front.
Next the work is ready for mounting on a sturdy wood surface which can be framed – or on a box or piece of furniture or other wood object. Sanding and applying a favorite wood finish completes the project.
Do I have to be a woodworker to do marquetry?
Definitely not. You will need a firm wood surface such as MDF or particle board on which to mount your project. Some hardware stores, including Home Depot, will cut a board for free if it has been purchased there. Already own a piece you would like to use? You may find that woodworkers you know, fascinated by your craft, will be happy to cut your board to the size you need.
Where can I learn how?
Free workshops sponsored by the guild are a great place to learn as well as to practice marquetry skills. See Guild News on our homepage for the latest workshop schedule. Let us know you’re coming so Scott (in Denver) or John (in Erie, north of Denver) can be sure you will have everything you need. On our contact page, begin a message with WORKSHOPS – a sure way to route your message to Scott or John. Be sure to tell us your choice of location.
A sample of John’s work is pictured here. Scott created the work in Guild News. See more of their work in our gallery.
In the meantime, here are some highly recommended books to help you get started:
The Marquetry Manual by William Lincoln
The Art of Marquetry by Craig Vandall Stevens
The Marquetry Course by Jack Metcalfe and John Apps
Where can I get the manual scroll saw that many guild members use?
There are two ways to acquire this hand-built saw specifically designed and revised to make it easier to create outstanding marquetry:
- Buy one from a guild member in the Greater Denver Area for $150. Contact us and we’ll put you in touch with a member who can arrange a time and place for you to pick one up.
- Make the saw using the complete manual, which is free for members to download.
Attending a workshop is a good way to see the saw and watch a demonstration of how it works. Find workshop information under the question “Where can I learn how?”
What are the benefits of joining the guild? How do I join?
Many of the more tangible benefits are described on our “About” page. Perhaps the greatest benefit is intangible, as pointed out by James Clear in his book Atomic Habits.
Nothing sustains motivation better than belonging . . .
It transforms a personal quest into a shared one.
Request an application through our Contact form. The application tells you how to pay dues on PayPal or by check. Annual dues are $25 for an individual or couple.
We hope to see you at our next meeting, usually held at 7:00 p.m. Mountain Time on the third Thursday of the month. An email from our president will confirm that and will include a link to the virtual meeting.