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Entry tags:
toil and trouble
With the completion of the staff, I am suddenly cut adrift without a project to obsess over. Obviously, that means I should work on one of my many sewing projects, right? Maybe finish up some of my embroidery?
...Ahhh, it's good to laugh. No, I think I'll start on my third major project of the year: doing actual metal inlays on the body of Bad News.
Questions, issues, and problems to be solved:
1. How to cut the channels? This will be constrained by what I have access to.
a. Chisel?
i. Pros: very traditional, gives me maximum bragging rights. Won't involve a power tool, which kind of scare me. I do know, technically, how to use chisels already, because I've carved both stone and linoleum.
ii. Cons: not sure where the carving set has gone. It will need sharpening for sure. My knowledge is only technical, and Bad News is made of cherry, a very hard wood.
b. Dremel?
i. Pros: faster. Probably easier-- would certainly require less force. I know exactly where the dremel is.
ii. Cons: Not technically my dremel. I have only the fuzziest notion of how to use it, and would require a refresher course from the owner. Is a loud power tool.
Solution: On test wood, try both. Decide which gives best result/is easiest.
2. How to get the metal into the wood?
a. Hammered wire?
i. Pros: traditional. Guaranteed to get the effect I am looking for. I already purchased the wire, and if I don't use it for this it will feel like a waste.
ii. Cons: Wire means a fixed width and depth I have to carve to. I have a lot of curlicues that are no doubt going to be a bitch and a half to fit.
b. Powdered metal in some kind of resin?
i. Pros: thanks to a family member discovering all kinds of fun stuff while cleaning, I do actually have both powdered brass and epoxy, as well as superglue in case the epoxy is too thick. Will allow for a lot of line weight variances.
ii. Cons: a lot of potential to go sideways. Sticky and messy. Will probably need a lot of sanding, which will have to be by hand, and which I am already tired just thinking about. Getting the correct ratio of binder to metal is going to require experimentation, and I have a limited quantity of dust and a resistance to purchasing more.
Solution: Complete test project utilizing both techniques. Decide which looks best/is easiest. Will probably end up doing a mix of both-- solid wire for the bigger designs, and then epoxy for details.
...Ahhh, it's good to laugh. No, I think I'll start on my third major project of the year: doing actual metal inlays on the body of Bad News.
Questions, issues, and problems to be solved:
1. How to cut the channels? This will be constrained by what I have access to.
a. Chisel?
i. Pros: very traditional, gives me maximum bragging rights. Won't involve a power tool, which kind of scare me. I do know, technically, how to use chisels already, because I've carved both stone and linoleum.
ii. Cons: not sure where the carving set has gone. It will need sharpening for sure. My knowledge is only technical, and Bad News is made of cherry, a very hard wood.
b. Dremel?
i. Pros: faster. Probably easier-- would certainly require less force. I know exactly where the dremel is.
ii. Cons: Not technically my dremel. I have only the fuzziest notion of how to use it, and would require a refresher course from the owner. Is a loud power tool.
Solution: On test wood, try both. Decide which gives best result/is easiest.
2. How to get the metal into the wood?
a. Hammered wire?
i. Pros: traditional. Guaranteed to get the effect I am looking for. I already purchased the wire, and if I don't use it for this it will feel like a waste.
ii. Cons: Wire means a fixed width and depth I have to carve to. I have a lot of curlicues that are no doubt going to be a bitch and a half to fit.
b. Powdered metal in some kind of resin?
i. Pros: thanks to a family member discovering all kinds of fun stuff while cleaning, I do actually have both powdered brass and epoxy, as well as superglue in case the epoxy is too thick. Will allow for a lot of line weight variances.
ii. Cons: a lot of potential to go sideways. Sticky and messy. Will probably need a lot of sanding, which will have to be by hand, and which I am already tired just thinking about. Getting the correct ratio of binder to metal is going to require experimentation, and I have a limited quantity of dust and a resistance to purchasing more.
Solution: Complete test project utilizing both techniques. Decide which looks best/is easiest. Will probably end up doing a mix of both-- solid wire for the bigger designs, and then epoxy for details.