Butterfly and other structural inlays are fun, but I’ve also found them time consuming and fussy. The Slab Stitcher changes this, making the task routine and quick.

The jig comes in several versions. I tested the BowTie Master Pack Starter
Kit ($80). It comes with everything you need: the templates, router bit and
bushing, and several bowties. Two attributes of the Slab Stitcher really impressed me. First, it has multiple templates that interchange within a larger template, called a mainframe. This mainframe gives you much more area to clamp the template to your workpiece than other templates I’ve used, which often require double-sided tape. It also lets you switch out the smaller templates without moving the mainframe, opening up design possibilities.

Second, you can leave the template in place to register a chisel, allowing you to easily achieve the classic sharp corners in your bowties. The product’s website includes an instructional video, which I found very helpful for getting started. I tested the jig using a variety of inlays and workpieces and consistently got good results.

With traditional bowties, one cuts the inlay piece and then the accompanying mortises. With this system, the mortise size is fixed, so you’re committed to the prescribed sizes and exact dimensions. You can buy bowties from Slab Stitcher in a variety of wood species and types of metal.

—Adam Godet is a woodworker in Washington, D.C.

From Fine Woodworking #282