Brass Inlay Strips for Joinery & Furniture Makers

When furniture makers and joinery workshops need clean, accurate inlay details, brass inlay strips offer the ideal balance of strength, workability and design impact.
At Metal Sheets Ltd, we supply precision-cut brass strips and provide a full subcontract inlay service for tables, joinery components, doors, counters and bespoke interior features.
This guide outlines the finishes, sizes and applications most commonly used by joiners and furniture makers.

Why Brass Inlays Are Ideal for Joinery Work

Brass is a versatile material that machines consistently, finishes cleanly and provides an immediate high-end look. Unlike softer decorative metals, it withstands routing, sanding and lacquering without distortion — making it a dependable choice for furniture and interior joinery.

• Crisp, consistent detailing with accurate thickness
• Can be recessed, glued or mechanically fixed into timber
• Compatible with hardwood, veneered boards and engineered panels
• Available in multiple finishes for modern or traditional interiors
• Easy to polish, brush, patinate or lacquer

View our full range of strips here: Brass Inlay Strips.

Popular Brass Inlay Finishes for Joinery

Natural Mill Finish Brass

A raw, unpolished surface ideal for workshops that do their own finishing. It can be sanded, brushed, patinated or lacquered in-house.

Brushed Brass (Satin)

A soft, directional texture suited to contemporary joinery, kitchens, bars and modern interior projects.

Bright Polished Brass

A reflective, mirror-like finish used for premium inlay lines, statement table tops and luxury furniture.

Antique Brass

A hand-aged patina with depth and warmth, ideal for period-style furniture, shaker kitchens and darker timbers.

Where Brass Inlay Strips Are Used

Brass inlays are used across all types of high-end joinery and bespoke interior manufacturing:

• Dining tables and coffee tables
• Cabinet doors and drawer fronts
• Reception counters and bar fronts
• Wall panelling and feature sections
• Hardwood flooring feature lines
• Doors, architraves and specialist joinery details

For table-top applications, see: Brass Table Top Inlays.

Choosing the Right Thickness and Width

Joiners typically work with brass strips between 0.7 mm and 3 mm thick, depending on the level of wear and the depth of the recess.

• 0.7–1.2 mm — fine decorative inlays, light furniture detailing
• 1.5–2 mm — table tops, reception counters, medium-to-heavy use joinery
• 3 mm — engineered MDF sub-bases, deep recess inlays, durable counter surfaces

All strip widths are guillotine-cut to order for accurate, repeatable pieces, and can be supplied alongside solid brass inlay profiles for heavier detailing.

Solid Brass Inlay Profiles

In addition to strip cut from sheet, we also work with a wide range of solid brass inlay profiles, with popular sizes including:

• 3/16″ x 3/16″ (approx. 4.8 mm x 4.8 mm)
• 1/4″ x 1/4″ (approx. 6.35 mm x 6.35 mm)
• 5/16″ x 5/16″ (approx. 8 mm x 8 mm)
• 1/2″ x 1/8″ (approx. 12.7 mm x 3.2 mm)

Fixing and Installation Methods

Different joinery projects call for different fixing solutions. The most common approaches include:

Recessed Inlays

A routed recess in the timber creates a flush, durable inlay that sits level with the surface.

Mechanical Fixing

Used when an MDF sub-base is present or when the strip forms part of an edge feature requiring screws or hidden fixings.

Adhesive Fixing

Suitable for decorative inlays not subject to heavy wear, often combined with light clamping until set.

Brazed or Soldered Joints

Occasionally used for metal-on-metal intersections in more complex designs and feature pieces.

Our Inlay Cutting & Fabrication Service

Metal Sheets Ltd offers a complete inlay supply service, including:

• Precision guillotining of brass sheet into accurate strips
• Polished, brushed and patinated finishes
• Press-braked edge profiles for tables and counters
• CNC and laser-cut recess plates for installation
• Lacquering options for long-term protection

Conclusion

Brass inlay strips provide joinery workshops with a durable, versatile and visually impactful detail that enhances furniture, cabinetry and interior projects. With multiple finishes and custom cutting options available, joiners can specify exactly what they need — supplied ready for installation across the UK.

For joinery workshops looking to explore more options, we also supply a full range of brass inlay strips, along with dedicated products for table-top work such as our brass table top inlays.
If you need raw material for wider fabrication or finishing, our brass sheets are available in multiple thicknesses, and we can also produce matching brass edge trims for table tops, counters and furniture projects.