Wd-40 And Stippling

[ED DELORGE]

Today I was working on a job that I have been on a long time. All of the background is relieved and stippled. Well I always spray the parts with WD-40 when I am finished for the day. ( By the way W-D 40
degresses niceley and the parts blue or plate with out any problem) So, then I came back today and continued stippling the background I noticed how much easier it was to achieve the dark stippled affect that I am shooting for. So, I continued wiping in a little WD-40 through out the day. It seemed to make stippling a lot easier? Has any one else tried it? One other thing that I have started doing with the relieved background. I started using a stippling tool with a flat tip ground on it like the sculturing tools that sam has pictured. Well that flattens out the background very nicely. This takes a bit more time , but makes stippling a lot easier. Then I stipple the background with a knife point to get that nice dark backgrond (as I was taught by Sam Alfano many years ago) .

Ed DeLorge

 

[Jack Davenport]

wd-40

Hi Ed: over the years I learned that wd-40 is simply a high grade kerosene with something added to make it smell good. I use wd-40 when I am turning or milling something very small like 3/32" two part pins for my small gents folders, it keeps the softer metals from sticking to the mills and turning bits. I also use it when I am drilling the holes in the frames of my folders, I found that it wets the metal well because of its invasive viscosity, using it insures my drilled holes are closer to the right diameter.

 

[sam]

Hi Ed. Your experience with WD40 is interesting and merits further investigation. I will definitely give it a try the next time I stipple. I've seen Chris DeCamillis stipple with a square point and then oil the work when he's finished, and this produced a nice dark background.

Here's an experiement: 1.) define a decent size area for stippling. 2.) Stipple half of it without using WD40.
3.) Stipple the other half after treating it with WD40. When finished it should be easy to tell if the oil provides some benefit during the stippling action. I think I'll give this a try. Maybe others will also try it and report back.

I just love experimentation! / ~Sam

 

[Peter E]

I used to use WD-40 as a lubricant as it is typically advertised, but had found it works better as a cleaner. As an aside, it works well as starting fluid too!

Peter

 

[guzzi]

One comment on WD40, it is not a very good rust preventative. Once the carrier (kerosene)
evaporates from the metal you are left with a sticky varnish. When the metal is exposed to
temperture variations (like coming inside from the cold into a warm room) the metal will
sweat as it adjusts to the new temp. This sweat (water) stays locked in under the varnish
and eventually creates a rusted piece. Any mineral based oil will work better to preserve
your engraving, light motor oil, 3 in 1 oil, automatic transmission fluid etc.
WD 40 is hard to beat as a cutting fluid for softer metals such as aluminum, gold and silver
and as Ed points out, stippling. Just be aware about the long-term storage issue of it as
a rust preventative coating.

guzzi

 

[SharpGraver]

I use WD-40 on my arthritic joints and believe it or not it works better than any anti inflamitory that has ever been perscribed for me.

 

[fegarex]

OK,
I had to bite and give it a try. In my instance, I didn't notice any difference but I'm sure it has a lot to do with the point you use as well. I was using a fairly "rounded" stipple point that both levels and stipples at the same time. Perhaps a sharp point would produce different results.
I do know like Sam mentioned that a light coat of oil will highlight the stippling and make it appear darker. I done that for years while working on a job. Usually, the dirt mixed with the oil will darken any background nicely and give you the "finished" look while you are working on it.
I'm interested to see what results other people have.

 

[Joe Mason]

I think it is important to note that Chris DeCamillis's oil has a little burn oil mixed in with it. He calls it dirty oil. This makes it real dark almost black. It works great.

Joe

 

[Doc Mark]

When I did my Hobo Nickel, I used "Stoning Oil" from Gesswien when I was stoning the background field smooth. This particular oil seemed to darken the coin as I smoothed the metal much more than any other oil I tried before. I think this is also a better grade of kerosine, without the offending odor. I'll try it the next time I do any stippling.

Mark

 

[coincutter]

Apply super blue
Stipple
Reapply super blue
restipple
reapply if necessary to insure even light distribution.

Don't rotate your vise or change the angle of your attck on the tool.
Stipple is much like bulino in that respect.
When done check to see if it's right by spining the item and watching the reflections and any oddities.

Any change and you redo those areas specifically - generally its a problem with highs and lows in the removed metal.

It will be nice and dark.
If you want the metal back to shiney - blue remover or a little ferric will do the trick as the super blue does not go deep.

Have fun

 

[Lee]

We may be talking about two different things here. In Sam's experiment try it and observe whether it makes the stippling go easier and extend point life. When one is done then rub oil also on the side that was stippled dry and see whether it now takes on the appearance of the half which was stippled with the oil. It is possible that what is happening is that the half stippled with oil seems to go easier because it appears darker quicker. It is also entirely possible that it really does help and extend point life. Interesting experiment.

By the way, I just got home from the East Coast Custom Knife show and enjoyed it very much. Spent some time with Tim George and Jon Robyn. Saw one knife done by Jon and as you might expect it was wonderfully creative and very well done. Tim also had several fabulous pieces at the show and helped me with some ideas about gold inlay. Thanks Tim. With all of the weather problems I felt fortunate to have had only a one hour delay.