These Bowties Hold Nothing… Except Your Attention. How To Inlay Bowties.

I’m currently building a Walnut desk for my wife—something sturdy, functional, and unapologetically beautiful. And what better way to dress it up than with a couple of bowties?

To me, bowties are the jewelry of woodworking: not always necessary, but impossible to ignore.

In this video, I’ll show you how to install clean, precise bowtie inlays (aka butterfly joints) using a simple template and a few essential tips.

I’m sharing top tips to make this process easier, safer, and cleaner—whether you're fixing a crack or adding a design detail.

✅ My go-to technique
✅ Tips for clean cuts and tight fits
✅ Safety first — how to avoid common mistakes

📌 Bowties are both functional and beautiful—and when done right, they elevate any woodworking project.

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More project tutorials here 👉    • Woodywoodwood Handmade Furniture Shorts  

Bit and Bushing Combination
A B C = B + 2A
Bit Diameter Bushing for Key Bushing for Negative
1/8 5/16 9/16
1/8 3/8 5/8
1/8 7/16 11/16
1/8 1/2 3/4
1/4 5/16 13/16
1/4 3/8 7/8
1/4 7/16 15/16
1/4 1/2 1
NOTE(s)
i. The key will have pointy corners
ii. The negative will have round corners
iii. Choose either:
a. Round the corners on the key; or
b. Chisel out the corners on the negative to match the key.

🧰
The tools, etc. I use are listed below. Some product links are affiliate links. This means that if you buy something using these links I will receive a small commission at no cost to you.
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For a detailed list of all my tools:
https://www.woodywoodwood.com/tools

🪑 About me: I'm a CPA and woodworker combining finance, philosophy, and craftsmanship.

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