Wire inlay

Gahagan

Gahagan

Joined
Sep 19, 2009
Messages
130
Ok I have looed at the threads for silver wire inlay as well as watched the tutorials. I think I am ready to start the process but have a few other questions. First is this done on stabilized woods or can it be if not? The second question is I am wanting to start with copper wire for the project I am working on. can I use standard copper wire from a crafts store or do I need a different type of wire like the silver wire that appears to be flat instead of round. If I need a different copper wire can some one give me a place I can order this from.
 
a place I can order this
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I've used Rio Grande for plating supplies, and they are good to work with. They have a metals section where you can search for wire by shape.

At some point I think I inlaid metal in wood, but I can't recall the details. If I were going to do it again, I would be a bit nervous about round copper acting like a wedge and splitting a thin section of wood if it is oriented along the grain.
 
You need wood that the grain can be separated on. Stabilized wood would be difficult, if not impossible.
The "wire" isn't round wire...it is flat wire ( as should have been discussed in the info you read and watched). You need a thin, half-hard flat wire. Copper may be hard to find in the size you will need.
This thread is one of many on the subject. I covered the basic in my post there.
 
Thanks Ill look at both of those places. I have seen some 24 guage flat copper at Rio Grand.
 
24 ga. flat copper is usually for cloisonné work. It may be too soft for inlay. Brass should be harder.
 
If you are just starting out, use maple or walnut (unstabilized as Stacy said). Joe Keeslar did a wire inlay demonstration at the ABS hammer-in last month. These woods are the ones he suggested. The wire size he uses in .013 x .055 and .008 x .055. He makes it look so easy. :)

If you want some walnut scales to practice on, I will be glad to send you a set. Let me know. ...Teddy
 
I appreciate it . I have a lot of walnut (my father makes furniture as a side job so I get all of his scraps) I will start practicing on them. My guess is you would get the handles 95% or more finished and then work them and oil them as you would gun stock is that correct?.
 
Yes, shape and sand the handles to 220 grit. Draw the pattern completely. Cut it in with the inlay blades, tapping in the ribbon wire and seating it fairly flush. File the surface with a #2 ( fine) file, then sand it to the final grit. Apply finish as desired.
 
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