Here is my final output for the inlay. The base is mesquite and the inlay is maple. In the center is a graphic I used Affinity Photo to create. Our woodworking club has a painted sign that is about 3’x3’ and from a picture of that sign I was able to extract the log and used the text on a path to circle the log. I printed that on matte photo paper and used 3M 99 contact cement to glue it into the recess. The recess was .1" and I trimmed the picture to perfectly fit in the recess. I put 3 key holes in the back. The recipient can hang it on a single or on the outside two key holes. It only took about 2 minutes to cut the 3 key holes so why limit what and how it can be hung.
I had a previous attempt that failed. On that one I cut a .2" recess for the photo. Since it was a failure I tried MAS table top epoxy to see if it would look ok. I wanted to finish the whole plaque with the table top epoxy. However the epoxy looked cloudy so I just finished it with gloss poly.
This plaque was created to thank Dr Kulhavy for his assistance in getting a woodworking show that is at the SFA affiliated Cole Art Center in downtown Nacogdoches Texas. I went in photoed all the exibits and made a video. If you have time please take a look at the youtube video of our woodworking show.
