I have been practicing inlaying and was wondering if when you are working on a line like a border do you undercut the whole line? Also how do you shape your tool for undercutting a fine line I'm having trouble with that (I have trouble with the back side of the tool hitting the opposite side of what I'm working on
Bob

Bob Bullard
2/7/2007 8:04:10 PM

Bob,
I like to undercut the whole line. Depending on the width, it doesn't take a ton. Everyone has a different method to do this but I usually just use an onglette and grind it down. The other thing I like to do is use a flat to cut my original line. A #37 works well for a 15 thousands line.Doesn't work for everybody and won't do corners but make a nice groove that is easy to under cut.

Rex Pedersen
2/7/2007 10:10:33 PM

Rex
Thank you for the quick answer But how or where do you grind it and what do you use for something that has a corner ?
I haven't been to a school yet but hope to make it to one this spring
Bob

Bob Bullard
2/7/2007 10:46:00 PM

I should have said curves, not corners but for that I use a square. As far as grinding down the onglette, just make it so it is skinny enough by removing metal from the sides and top. Another method is to make a sort of a punch from a flat with something like a 30 degree face and no heel. You then make the undercuts by punching it perpendicular to the line. I don't use this much but several others like this method.


Rex Pedersen
2/8/2007 6:55:24 AM

Bob, a no. 1 knife graver will work where Rex is talking about grinding the onglette. Very thin blade. However, one must be very careful as it is really easy to scrape or cut metal from the opposing edge while doing the undercut. I use a no. 1 knife graver with the bottom edge stoned to a flat graver for cutting lines to be inlayed. You can make it to what ever width you need. My narrow one cuts about a .012" groove and the wider ones about two and three times that. The flat graver gives me a more uniform width if I do my job and keep the depth uniform...easier than with a square graver. For the narrow lines I use you can actually use a scribe and scrape the undercut into the bottom corners of the groove but you must be very carful as it can jump out and make a grown man cry. I normally use a small flat chisel with the belly ground with a long taper so it fits into the groove without marring the opposing edge. Also round the sharp bottom edges of the belly of the chisel so any marring is just that, not actually scraping metal away with a sharp edge. Don't get too carried away with the undercut, a little works fine for these lines and will keep the edge of the line smooth and straight. Mull it over and post any more questions you have. I can see what I mean better than I can explain what I mean. Know what I mean??? S

Sam Welch
2/8/2007 8:01:16 AM

Yea,
What Sam said.....
He explained it better than me and hope you can understand. I forgot about a knive graver. They are much thinner. I just happen to have a lot of onglettes that I have ground down.
On wider lines you can also punch in little teeth in the bottom of the channel as well. This keeps the gold from walking as well. Just make sure the teeth are lower than the groove.

Rex Pedersen
2/8/2007 9:52:26 AM

Rex, Sam
You 2 have really cleared up alot for me and I now see some of what I have been doing wrong. Thank you guys very much
Bob

Bob Bullard
2/8/2007 9:36:50 PM

You are most welcome Bob and I am glad we could help. When I think back to my early days in Kodiak and the only engraver I knew lived in Ohio, available by long distance phone or postal service and compare to today with the internet giving almost instant communications with engravers worldwide, including photos, Well...I am speachless!!! S

Sam Welch
2/9/2007 7:17:00 AM