To produce the shading seen in Sheraton inlays, very fine sand is heated in an iron pan placed upon the top of a stove, the heat being slightly greater than can be borne by the fingers, but not so hot as to char the veneers. Practice is required to prevent an abrupt edge, the gradations of tone being gained by holding one end of the veneer in the sand longer than another part. As the sand is generally hottest in the middle of the pan, the dark or nearly black tones are gained by placing the veneer in the sand at that point. If the veneer is small, it should be held with a pair of pliers or tweezers. The work must be done before the marqueterie is made up. The foregoing is an old-time method, and is now being supplanted by pyrography or poker work, which is closely akin to etching, as it allows the work to be touched up alter the veneers are fixed into position.