Inlay and marquetry work involves dealing with lots (lots!) of small pieces of veneer. So many. In Woodsmith 273, Scott Grove lays out a short list of essential veneering tools. For me, it's refreshing to see a list of "must-have's" that's short and doesn't cost a lot of money.
One item on that list, though can be tough to find and therefore pricey. It's a veneer tape dispenser. Vintage tools are ideal for this. That's no surprise. Unlike a typical tape dispenser, one designed for veneer tape holds the thin tape down and includes a sponge to moisten the back side all in one go.
However, as you might imagine, the dispensers aren't all that common. Scott's solution was to build one for himself. You can see his prototype here. With Scott's permission, here's a drawing that outlines the basic parts.
You'll find nylon bushings (sometimes called spacers) in the section of small drawers in hardware stores or the hardware/fasteners aisle at a home center.
Check out Scott's site for his courses, books, and other tool lists.
