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    Cracking on 18K red gold wire while rolling.

    Cherry red is too hot for annealing. A dull red in a dark room should be enough. I also read to quench red gold in denatured alcohol for a slower cool-down. OK for small pieces but you don't want a large open container of alcohol around, obviously. I set it on a steel plate and don't quench...
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    Question: drawing programs

    there is also a free program called GIMP that is a lot like photoshop
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    Some knotwork in titanium...

    It is an awesome design. My only suggestion would be to vary the shading a little. Alternating longer and shorter strokes and/or graduating the shade lines from short to long.
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    Hermaphrodite Calipers

    The square legs make a neat little engraving project as well.
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    Tumbling sterling silver with 24k gold inlay?

    I have used a rotary tumbler with stainless steel media and I think they have a very gentle action. I don't think it would ruin the inlay. I actually think they do a better job at "polishing" engraved pieces because it does not remove the fine details like buffing with a wheel would. That...
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    Help, please: Coin carving question

    You could also use a liner to make a florentine-type of texture for background areas. Also you could use a hammer and small punch to planish the background areas smoother but with a little texture. Getting the background back to smooth is not very easy.
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    So brass, copper or steel.

    I sprayed my copper practice plates with clear fixative and they are still nice over 5 years later.
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    Question about gun engraving

    you might need a carbide graver instead of high speed steel. Requires diamond sharpening stones.
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    Help, please: 100 scrolls designs challenge

    Divide a sheet of sketch pad paper into 10-20 random shapes by drawing random straight lines or crease the paper with random folds. Most of the shapes will have 3,4 or 5 sides. Practice filling the odd-shaped "cells" with scrolls that touch as many sides as possible. You'll be surprised at your...
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    bulino/scrimshaw practice

    On a brown egg. A cheap and plentiful practice material?
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    strike !!!!!!

    An inexpensive white plexiglass dome will really help reduce glare in your photos.
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    Using acid to remove steel burs

    Jeweler's pickle solution will dissolve (rust) steel. I use it to remove small drill bits when they break and get stuck in jewelry. Hot works quicker.
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    Question: Thoughts on engraving onto plastic?

    I seem to remember seeing somewhere that plastic silverware is great for practicing bulino or scrimshaw.
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    Critique for a beginner?

    I would recommend you start out with some basic engraving practice - Straight lines, concentric circles, graduated shade lines - the type of boring practice that most beginners want to bypass. Also keep drawing and don't engrave a design until you have refined it at least twice. You can touch...
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    Engraving initials on outside of wedding band

    Print your text and tape it to the outside of your ring. Use a needle to poke through the paper and leave a tiny dot on the ring at the ends of the letters. Connect the dots by eye.
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    Any script engravers on this forum?

    The Jewelry Engraver's Manual by Allen Hardy & John Bowman has a lot of good introductory info.
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    reactions?

    Try darkening your background areas as if you had done "background removal" in your finished engraving. This will help you envision that your "negative areas" are evenly spaced and in proportion to your leaves and tendrils.
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    Tricky Coin

    Removable sword opens secret window.
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    Engraving costs today?

    At 4% inflation things double in price about every 20 years.
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