To back or not to back

[tcleve4911]

I'm new to the Intarsia world
Do you glue your finished piece to a plywood backer?
or do you just glue the pieces to themselves with no backer?

[pddesertrat]

I think most use a backer.  That is how it has been done in the videos and books I have looked at.

[Brian Pardue]

I always use a plywood backer, the cheapest  thing i have found and lookes great is 1/4 floor underlayment non primed.

[julief]

Definitely use a backer.

[ChuckD]

It is really up to you.  I have made free standing intarsia that had the same look front and back.  Like the Calla Lily I did.  And a beaver standing up by a stump.  They are more work but worth it.  I don't have a picture here with me to show you, but if you do it right it will almost look like a carving.  Then there is the intarsia that you frame with the frame itself holding it.  Remember, have fun

[Ray]

Definitely a backer for me!

In addition to strength, it can help with warping over time. I usually leave the backer 1/4 inch from the edge on larger pieces or 1/8" on smaller ones.

One other note. For me, I don't skimp on the backer for nice intarsia. I figure that if I'm using exotic and often expensive woods for color and grain and putting all the time in to create a piece of art, I won't use cheap luan for the back. I usually use nice baltic birch. I also sand and give it a light coat of satin lacquer to the back of the piece.

Ray

[troy_curtis]

I have only done a few intarsia but the two lighthouse scenes I did I glued to a backer.