Wire Inlay Tools?

bobbywett

bobbywett

Joined
Jul 23, 2006
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I would like to try inlaying wire on some of my knife handles. What type of tools ie; chisels, mallets, scribes should i use?

Thanks for all replys.
 
The tools are tiny chisel/knife blade tools ( they look like mini chip carving tools) with a "tip" about 2-3mm wide and a length of about 3mm. You make them from old hacksaw blades.Joe Keesler sells a kit with tools,wire,and instructions.The tools are pushed into the wood to separate the grain and make a slit that the wire (actually a flat ribbon ) is tapped into. IIRC,Bill Moran covered making the tools and doing the inlay in his "Handles" video pretty well.
Stacy
 
Thanks Stacy,
:thumbup:
I will try to find out more about the "Joe Keesler Kit" and the "Bill moran Video". In the mean time, I have plenty of hacksaw blades I'll begin practicing with.

Greatly Appreciated.
 
inlay_tools.jpg
 
I've tried inlaying wire with limited success, emphasis on the limited. I used 24 gauge deadsoft square wire. The wire keeps rolling over and then it looks like two different thickness of wire because of a bigger cross section when its twisted to the side. I was just wondering what gauge of wire you use and if maybe round wire would work better?
 
gpong to inlay a wooden sheath with copper wire. been practising with various tools but these pics combined with the tutorial in another thread should make sure it comes out ok.
 
Just remember, the term "wire" is different to jewelers and gunsmiths than electricians. The "wire" you want is thin,flat, ribbon - not round. Sometimes referred to as flat strip, roll stock, or bezel wire. 24 gauge by 2mm is a good size. You want it half-hard ,too. If it is dead soft it will roll over and smush around (technical term).

In copper, you might have to make it a little more than half-hard , to avoid problems.

One day ,I'm going to lay out a real fancy pattern (maybe Bill Moran's face?)and send it to my friend with the laser engraver. He should be able to cut a two millimeter deep line that is only 10 thousandths wide. Then all I'll have to do is get the wire in neatly (which can be tricky on a complicated figure).
Stacy
 
garrisonknives said:
I've tried inlaying wire with limited success, emphasis on the limited. I used 24 gauge deadsoft square wire. The wire keeps rolling over and then it looks like two different thickness of wire because of a bigger cross section when its twisted to the side. I was just wondering what gauge of wire you use and if maybe round wire would work better?
Click to expand...

try work hardening the ribbon by running it back and forth across a curved surface like an anvil horn. It wants to be a bit harder than dead soft or it will roll over like you found out.
 
Bill Moran advised that you also pull the wire through some sandpaper held between your fingers to rough it up so it gets some "traction":D
 
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