question about inlays

[cliffh]

I've been reading about inlays, and I see that they are to be installed BEFORE finishing the stock.  That's fine, but how do you go about removing the finish from the inlay and still not damage the finish around it?

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Cliff

[Tumbledown]

Any stains or oils will come off when you wipe the wood down after applying. Final cleaning can be done with careful use of #0000 steel wool if needed.

[whetrock]

Varnish does sometimes get in the engraving. If you want to clean it out you can do so with some of the orange stripper. It's not too runny. Not hard to control. You can tape off the surrounding area if you want. Carefully put a little on the inlay with a cotton ball and let it sit a few minutes, then wipe it off.

But some guys intentionally build up a more antiqued style finish, and this normally goes over the inlays. Some use a layer of soot or dark paint powder early in the process, to add some contrast, and they don't necessarily worry about cleaning all that stuff out of engraving. It builds up just like it would build up on an antique that had had many layers of linseed oil added over the years.
 

[cliffh]

Thanks gentlemen.  I tried an inlay last night and it went perfect.  Very surprised at how easily the inlay cleaned off.

[Lone Wolf]

Some inlays are intended to stand proud of the wood, but for those that are desired to be flush, I file and sand them down once they are installed.  If a bevel is filed under the edges and the mortise is cut properly, the process of filing the inlay down flush with the surrounding wood will result in the appearance that the wood grew around the inlay- a perfect fit.  Once this is done, I would never want to remove the inlay and disturb that fit.  Also, many inlays are attached with nails and tacks that would not be practical to remove.  I've never had an issue cleaning the stain or finish from an inlay, just wipe it off while it is wet.

*Since the inlay is filed down and "blended" with the wood, this is best done before staining.  I wouldn't want to be filing and sanding the inlay after the wood is finished.