Go back to the inletting black. You most likely are using too much material and it is building up too much blacking on the metalwork.... thus making your marking inaccruate. Use a Q-Tip/cotton swab at the applicator and use only new inletting black on the applicator when the cotton swab no longer moves new color to the metalwork after each fitting to the wood. Work slowly and carefully...making sure you assemble the metal to wood the same way each time. Go slowly and do not be in a hurry.

Dennis Earl Smith/Benefactor Life NRA, ACGG Professional member