Another Nickel

[threefingerdave]

Here is another nickel i just finished.
Sorry about the poor picture.
i tried my hand at inlaying on this one and BOY! did I learn alot!
I am going to get one of those small sand blasters as i am not happy with the back ground.
any and all comments are welcome
Dave

 

[gtsport]

Dave,

Very nice, for a lefty.

Joe Paonessa

 

[Keith]

Hey Joe,
Us leftys should start a lefty hobo nickel carving club.
You are still the greatest though, you were the first....
Keith

 

[threefingerdave]

Thanks Joe,
Keith, How about a three fingered left handed hobo nickel club. lol
dave

 

[monk]

you better slow down, 3 finger. you're gonna put some carvers out of work !

 

[mdengraver]

Antique

I like the antique look of the coin. It looks like it was found on the bottom of the ocean from a shipwreck. The anchor adds the mood to that first impression.

 

[KCSteve]

Looking pretty good Dave!

I'm planning on doing another one as well. Took a tip I saw mentioned here somewhere and made up some sanding sticks - got some colored 'popsicle' sticks (craft sticks) and glued various grits of sandpaper to them. To use you split them to the appropriate width and get to work. Note that the sandpaper doesn't run the whole length - just a couple of inches.

If you go the Hobby Lobby route like I did don't do it just like I did - go to their website and print out that 40% off coupon first.

 

[coincutter]

A thought about sandblasters

Be prepared for some expense. A micro blaster is not cheap. You will have to learn to mask. You will also have to invest in a cabinet as the crap goes everywhere. Plus grit, plus connectors, hoses, lights etc.

If you are not able to see what you are doing you can erase an entire coin in a matter of seconds. Especially if the abrasive is too coarse.

The blaster is used to impart a final finish, it is not the end all to making the background clean. That you have to learn to do with tools scrapers, gravers, stipplers etc. In short, you may find it to be a waste of money for the return on the investment. Better to spend your time learning to master what you have than to go looking for the holy grail of nickel making tools (there aren't any) 99 percent of what you use will be what you make out of pieces and parts on your bench.

Probably better to spend the money on a decent camera as that will be the main tool you use to sell your work. If the buyers can't see the product it will never sell.

If you are power graving then learn to cut your gravers to do the work. They are different than those normally used but very close to what is considered the norm in cowboy flash cutting. The angles are steeper so you have to grind accordingly

 

[Mike Bissell]

I haven't entered into the world of coin cutting at this time, but I believe that coincutter has given some pretty sound advise for any type of engraving.

Mike

 

[gtsport]

Finishing nickels

I agree with Steve on the blaster not being anything more than a finishing tool, you still have to get the coin to the point where you use the blaster. I originally bought a cabinet from Harbor Freight, but its blaster is a really low quality device, however, the cabinet is lighted, sealed, has attached gloves and works well with the Hobby Lobby blaster. If I want to mask off part of a coin to keep a polished area from being blasted, I use a toothpick to apply liquid rubber (also from H L) to the coin. It doesn't take much since you don't have to blast much.

As to the three fingered left handed hobo nickel club, I've got about 3 7/8ths fingers on my left hand, not counting my thumb, will I qualify?

A Presto

Joe Paonessa

 

[threefingerdave]

Coincutter,
Thank you for the Great advice.
I was thinking along the lines of a
PAASCHE AIR ERASER..... about 65.00 on Ebay
I have some rubber tip polishers and finish stones on order
can you or KCSteve suggest a Digital camera that wont break the bank?
Kcsteve Thanks for the tip on the sanding sticks... i will definitely give that a try
Mike, Come on aboard Nickels are pretty fun my 1st one sold on Ebay for 89.00 dollars
Joe... my ring finger is completely gone on my left hand but 3 and 7/8 makes you the official President of our club... i was going to make a small blast cabinet out of plexiglass and glue a couple of rubber glove in it.
I think i just really need to focus on getting good fields on my nickels befor i engrave any more
I thank you all for your Great advice i take it all very seriously
Dave 3FD

 

[KCSteve]

Dave,

For $20 you can get the Armour 'Inflate-a-booth' from Hobby Lobby. Not as good as what you'll probably build but not bad for occasional / travel use.

 

[threefingerdave]

Thanks Steve,
I went to Hobby Lobbies web site they are heading west but haven't made it to Idaho yet. The closest is central Mt but that is ok
Steve I know that there has probably been alot talked about cameras but if you could make a suggestion for good macro
i would appreciate it
Dave

 

[Dulltool]

I am missing the end of my middle finger on my left hand ... If I carve a coin would I qualify? I also had a finger reattached..... could I get bonus points for that?

Dennis

 

[threefingerdave]

Dennis,
ouch and wow

but are you left handed
lol
Dave

 

[Dulltool]

Dave

No...... I am right handed. Does this mean I can't join now?

Dennis

 

[gtsport]

Left handed carvers

Dennis,

I guess there could be an associate membership since you did injure your left hand, after all, we lefties are a generous lot, considering how maligned we are. see below

Right handed = dexteral, dexterity
left handed = sinistral, sinsiter
ambidextrous = right handed on both sides


Joe Paonessa

 

[threefingerdave]

Dennis,
I am thinking ....but i will have to confir with the Pres Mr GTSPORT but if you can carve a nickel and post it WELCOME ABOARD.
Any thoughts Mr Pres?

 

[coincutter]

look up

microetcher from danville engineering


PAASCHE AIR ERASER was designed for drafting table use erasing vellum
it will erase your coin
bore is large and dumps a ton of grit at one time
not the best choice for coin or jewelery work
probably best with used glass beads
spend the extra 30 and go with the microetcher
much finer tip comes with differnt grit bottles etc
get very fine grit
i even use baking soda in this sucker and it will cut
in a pinch spot blaster (for spark plugs) from harbor freight is cheap
cuts fast
still you need to learn to do it with gravers first
especially if you want to sell
consider 3 seconds is about all anyone leaves one of these run
you can not see what you are doing
you cant use it under the scope
it makes a better paper weight
best use is for applying texture then engraving over as in watch or knife work
dont forget to buy the hoses
if you get the P AE you can get long hoses at hobby lobby or major art stors
best ones to talk to about blasters are the ones that use them all the time
i do the same thing but by hand with diamond tools
it makes for a little more work but its pretty

but even with 350 or finer be careful you will be amazed at the destructive power
mine usually gets used to refinish wedding rings and such

fingernail polish is a fair resist as is tape

seriously you shouldnt need it
better to by more gravers and sharpen them up
get old mullers of ebay
they cut well
french steel is better but pricey

any thing harder than nickel can be ground or shaped to do the work
keep it simple

 

[Metalman]

What about using a Paasche Air Eraser?
Has or does anyone have comment on using one for finish with starch media.