Copper inlay

[Ste82]

This is my first try with copper inlay (with a design from Arnaud)...i've made a lot of mistakes specially with letters, the copper fall apart and i had to redo the inlay with the poor result that you can see
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And this is a part of the inlay process
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Thanks for watching
Ste82

[redgreen]

Is that a copper wire inlay?

Bob

[SEngraver]

HI,
Ste82 that is nice.I too would like to know ,if possible,which copper you used ?
SE

[Ste82]

Hi redgreen and SE, yes it is done with a 0,4 mm copper wire, should be nothing special i've buyed at the hardware store, i've tryed also with a 0,6 mm but it was too thick for my capabilityes!
Ste82

[SEngraver]

Originally Posted by Ste82

Hi redgreen and SE, yes it is done with a 0,4 mm copper wire, should be nothing special i've buyed at the hardware store, i've tryed also with a 0,6 mm but it was too thick for my capabilityes!
Ste82

HI,

Thank you Ste82 .
Appreciate
SE

[redgreen]

Thanks for the information and nice job by the way, but you already knew that.

Bob

[GeneC]

For large areas aren't you supposed to raise a burr to hold the layered metal, maybe it's the picture or my eyes, that the area just seems to be crosshatch.

[Ste82]

Thank you all for the nice comments
You're right GeneC, i have took only few photo and the undercutting of the crosshatch was the next step...

[Bert Edmonston]

Not bad, actually quite good results. Copper isn't easy to inlay in large areas (meaning other than lines). Do yourself a favor any get some fine silver. It's fairly cheap and is much easier to work with. The silver and gold flows better into the undercuts. You really have to work at it when doing copper.

[Ste82]

Thanks Bert, i have some silver wire but i've not tried yet, the doubt was about the color...white silver on white steel isn't too faint?
But i will give it a try for sure!!!

[Cinque]

Un bell lavoro.vediamo quando ci arrivo anche io realizzare un inlay.

Pierre

[Matson]

I too, have had trouble inlaying copper. Straight lines seem to work fairly well, but curves have just about drove me to drinking! I will try the suggestion of using silver as I already have some in stock. Really want to do gold inlay, but the cost is prohibitive for practice. thanks to all who generously donate their expertise.

[Bert Edmonston]

Originally Posted by Matson

I too, have had trouble inlaying copper. Straight lines seem to work fairly well, but curves have just about drove me to drinking! I will try the suggestion of using silver as I already have some in stock. Really want to do gold inlay, but the cost is prohibitive for practice. thanks to all who generously donate their expertise.

Make sure to use fine silver. Not sterling or coin silver. Fine silver is pure 0.999. It will work more like gold. The others will give you problems plus they will tarnish

As for color, it will certainly show a contrast with steel. Silver is extremely white in color. Think about damascus steel. Those are two similar metals, yet the wood grain effect is readily apparent.

I spent a few days learning with Mike Dubber back in February. Since then I came home and practiced with silver before doing a gold inlay job. The fine silver works really nice

[Ste82]

Many thanks Bert,
The idea of damascus is fantastic..but is it possible? I've never seen an engrave on damascus, isnt it too hard to be cut?

[Bert Edmonston]

Originally Posted by Ste82

Many thanks Bert,
The idea of damascus is fantastic..but is it possible? I've never seen an engrave on damascus, isnt it too hard to be cut?

I was referring the appearance of Damascus steel. Both metals are grey. Just one darker than the other. Fine silver inlayed into steel will visually look similar in that one metal will be grey while the other is extremely white.

I've never cut on Damascus steel, but seen it done. So it must not be an impossible metal to work.