Today I had to good fortune to attend a workshop day with
David J. Marks , craftsman, artist, teacher and former host of
DIY networks
Woodworks. Today's class focused on router template inlay and double bevel marquetry. We also learned about sharpening card scrapers using water stones.
The class was held at Columbia South Carolina's
Woodzone. David had taught 4 classes over the weekend and Monday was listed as an all day workshop. This is the
second year that the nice folks at
Woodzone have brought David to Columbia to teach and give workshops.
David is in the process of building a school of woodworking in Northern California and spends the winter months travelling the country teaching
classes at events like this one. From here he was on his way back to California for one day then off again to Houston for more classes.
Many of you know that our friend Marc
Spagnuolo spent time with
David when he was planning to leave the world of lab science and move into full time woodworking. I had on my The
WoodWhisperer T-shirt , David recognized it right away and asked about Marc and
The Woodwhisperer website. While setting up the router inlay bushing on the router provided by the store David noticed that there was a screw missing on the base, I was standing there talking with him at the time so he used my
Dewalt plunge router instead, (I may never wash it).
After the template routing David showed us his
double bevel marquetry technique that gives you a perfect fit inlay every time. Instead of my trying to describe it here click on the link above for a video David has placed on
Youtube of the technique. I have to say, that I've never done any inlay other than a few dovetail butterfly's but using David's method I was able to create my own design and put it in wood in just a few minutes as was most of the class.
I haven't taken many woodworking classes but I have to say that this type class with this class of instructor is something I plan to repeat. I feel that I've reached a plateau in my skill level and classes like this are pushing the bar higher.
Thank you David for your time and talent today and for opening up new avenues for my woodworking, I plan on incorporating some
Harvey Ellis designed
inlays into a piece in the near future.
Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time.
Steven Wright
Well friends, I did it. After taking the doublebevel inlay class with David Marks I had to get a decent scrollsaw so I could add inlays to some of my upcoming projects. I got the DeWalt variable speed scrollsaw with stand and light. Yesterday the saw and light showed up and this morning the stand came, so like a five year old on Christmas morning I couldn't wait to unwrap it and put it together. Assembling the stand was just a matter of bolting the legs to the stretchers. The saw only required attaching the table to the saw, while two screws on the side of the saw came off to hold the light in place.
Enjoy the pictures, I'm sure that very soon I'll have some doublebevel inlays to show you. 
