bending metal before or after engraving?

[John Cole]

I've been practicing my drawing this week, with the idea of engraving them soon. I would prefer to make an object rather than just cut on a practice plate. That and I've got my girls waiting to see/steal what comes off the bench.

With things like bracelettes or conchos is it preferred to engrave first and then shape or dome the metal? What about soldering findings on afterwards? Will the heat and cleanings mess up the engraving. I was thinking of working with copper, bronze or nickle to start.

thanks,
John

 

[silverchip]

Hey John, My experience tells me that if you can engrave it after shaping it,it works out better. But there comes along some items that are better off engraved first. you can engrave conchos first but you risk a lot of distortion and damage during the forming process, a bracelet-not so much but you always face that risk. An object like my flask project has to be assembled and finished before engraving. there is no choice because of the shapes involved .

 

[monk]

i'm a fan of engrave first- bend later. for me working flat is way easier esp holding the item and engraving after forming. engraving can be protected to some extent with a layer or 2 of masking tape in the forming process.

 

[Robert Jobe]

It depends on alot of things. My choice is that if it is to be heated, I shape it then engrave

 

[Beathard]

For bracelets I engrave first and bend using the GRS Tool afterwards. Works great.

 

[Luckyseven]

My wife waits to see what I made every time so she can claim it, but one or two practice plates aren't a waste of time.

Ty

 

[John Cole]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the feedback.
It sounds like it might be educational to try some both ways just so I can see firsthand what will happen.

thanks again,
John

 

[monk]

the way to "salvation" in this artform is to experiment. without doing this, you will find perhaps you're in a self-induced rut. just about all that engravers do can be done many different ways. by experimenting, one finds the best way for them. naturally, experimentation is best done on practice material. no sense ruining many hours at the bench on a money job.

 

[Haraga.com]

Once again Silverchip led the horse to water....

 

[Chujybear]

Engrave-form-engrave.

 

[griff silver]

if you must engrave before soldering paint over all your engraving with liquid paper except the exact spot your soldering on. you can later clean liquid paper off with acetone.