Doc Mark
~ Elite 1000 Member ~
Just when I began to think that I was making progress...I screw it up by trying to inlay! I watched the FEGA video on gold inlay, twice, I've read everything I could find on the subject...so I thought I was at least semi-prepared...but noooo! First, I'm working with annealed copper wire as was suggested somewhere here on the Forum. I also made my punches, as also suggested, from bronze welding rod, worked great. The straight line attempts also worked fine. It was when I tried to cut a tight scroll and undercut it, that everything went to pot. How do you relieve a narrow, (flat #37 graver width) tightly curved line without scarring the outside edge of the curve with the graver either while cutting or undercutting? The 37 flat can't make the turn, so do you cut with a 115 or 120 degree graver first? If so, how do you relieve the preliminary cut to proper depth and then undercut both sides of the curve, again without scarring the edges? I saw on the FEGA video that you don't really have to "cut" the undercut, but only "punch" the groove on both sides of the line to lock the gold in place. Sam mentioned somewhere on this forum that some engraver could inlay "hairline" thickness gold line work, how is this possible? Are there different grinds for narrow relief cutting? The inlay lines I see on some of the knives and firearms presented on this site and others are phenominal in their unwavering evenness of line width, the lines are often narrower than a 1/4 round bur, so relief by rotary handpiece is not the answer.
Also Sam, I believe you once mentioned that you finish the rough inlay metal with some kind of fine grit "stones". What are these called again and where can they be purchased? What grits do I need?
Thanks for any help guys and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Mark
Also Sam, I believe you once mentioned that you finish the rough inlay metal with some kind of fine grit "stones". What are these called again and where can they be purchased? What grits do I need?
Thanks for any help guys and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Mark