I am currently trying to inlay sterling wire into a brass key fob. The wire that I have inlaid into a channel seems to be staying where I put it but in the areas where I am trying to fill a space by laying wire side by side is giving me fits. I raised teeth in the brass to grab the silver wire but it does not want to stay in place.
I backed the brass fob with thermo lock but I am getting some dishing of the brass fob which I think may be part of my problem.
I also think the brass teeth are laying back down when I am trying to seat the wire.
These areas I am trying to fill are faily small so I was wondering if it would be better to try to silver solder a small piece of wire in the void?
I am also wondering if I am annealing the wire correctly. I am heating the wire to a dull red then letting air cool, is this correct?
Here are the problems I think I have with this project.
I am trying to inlay in a metal that is as soft or softer than my inlay material.
I possibly do not have my brass backed well enough to not flex when I am seating the wire.
I am not sure if I have the silver wire annealed well enough.
any help would be appreciated
I backed the brass fob with thermo lock but I am getting some dishing of the brass fob which I think may be part of my problem.
I also think the brass teeth are laying back down when I am trying to seat the wire.
These areas I am trying to fill are faily small so I was wondering if it would be better to try to silver solder a small piece of wire in the void?
I am also wondering if I am annealing the wire correctly. I am heating the wire to a dull red then letting air cool, is this correct?
Here are the problems I think I have with this project.
I am trying to inlay in a metal that is as soft or softer than my inlay material.
I possibly do not have my brass backed well enough to not flex when I am seating the wire.
I am not sure if I have the silver wire annealed well enough.
any help would be appreciated