Inlaying perpendiculat to the grain

yes. you can keep it under control by keeping the cross grain sections
short.

Hi bob:

I have done this, though it was at a large scale. When I did some
decorative inlay in my hardwood floors, I used short sections of wood
for the cross-grain inlay. That allows the underlying wood to move
seasonally. By cutting the pieces from the same piece of wood, the
grain matches and the joints are nearly invisible. Here's a picture:

http://community.webshots.com/photo/280959647/280960351BLjgSL

Regards,
John.

Robert Rifkin wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> If I inlay narrow strips of wood perpendicular to the grain direction, must
> I worry abou the inlay splitting owing to wood expansion/contraction?
>
> thanks in advance.
>
> bob


This may help. And the tool to cut the groove for line inlaying
can be made from a cabinet scraper.

http://home.comcast.net/~charliebcz/Inlaying1.html

charlie b