[TheForge] Copper inlay in steel

[Demon Buddha]

NO no no doc, you got it all wrong.  You probably can do it that way, 
but you're making things entirely too hard on yourself.  Here's a
what yo' am gots tuh doo:

Assuming you're doing wire inlay, cut a channel in the steel with a
chisel of the appropriate width as below.  If you don't have one, then
make it.  We are metal artists, which means we are toolmakers.


        ___________________        ____________________
       |                   |      |                    |
       |                   |______|                    |
       |                                               |
       |_______________________________________________|

Then you undercut the bottom with an onglette (best) or a knife
graver, like so:



        ___________________        ____________________
       |                   |      |                    |
       |                  /________\                   |
       |                                               |
       |_______________________________________________|

Then, lay in the wire.  The diameter should be 1/4 to 1/3 above the
surface of the steel, as follows:

                             ____
        ___________________ /    \ ____________________
       |                   |      |                    |
       |                  /_\____/_\                   |
       |                                               |
       |_______________________________________________|

Next, set the wire down, ever so gently, with a punch:






                          |        |
                          |        |
                          |        |
                          |        |
                          |________|
        ___________________ /    \ ____________________
       |                   |      |                    |
       |                  /_\____/_\                   |
       |                                               |
       |_______________________________________________|

The inlay, which should be annealed, will set down into the negative
draft of the channel and be locked therein for all eternity, or at
least until the sun goes nova, which is the same thing for all practical
purposes.

Finally, carefully chisel that portion of the inlay that is sitting
proud of the surface of the steel and finish by stoning. Voy-luh!
Wire inlay.
        _______________________________________________
       |                   |      |                    |
       |                  /________\                   |
       |                                               |
       |_______________________________________________|

Wide area inlays are done in a similar fashion, however, illustrating
it in ASCII art would tax my nerves to destruction.  If you are
looking to do this sort of thing, get a book on engraving.  James Meeker
has a beautiful volume on this, with lots of illustrations.

        Best wishes.



> Marc wrote:
> 
> 
> 
>      I had an idea to gouge a piece of steel (1/8" to 1/4") with
>      a plasma cutter and either hammer in or melt in some copper
>      wire. I tried it really quick today and it doesn't look like
>      it is going to be easy.
>      Has anyone tried it or heard of doing it?
>      The melting process just produced blobs of copper. Is there
>      some kind of prep after the gouging to clean or flux the
>      grove?
>      I also found it difficult to get a uniform grove. So I think
>      that is why I had problems with the hammering approach.
>      Maybe going over it with some type of gouge or rotary tool
>      might even it out.
>      Does anyone have any ideas.
>      Thanks in advance
>      Marc V. Davis III
>      Marc of the Hammer
>      Allen Park, Mi.
>      Marc3rd@comcast.net

--
        -Andy V.

        It only takes one pork chop to put a kosher butcher out of
business.