AND NOW, MURDERS

Inlay's done, sanding's done, all that's left is to paint in faux-ivory and ebony and do the final polish! I'm super proud of the sanding job-- the picture doesn't show it, but there's this lovely soft sheen to the wood and it's baby soft to the touch, like rose petals.


Some notes: 
-previous pictures show the wood to be much glossier. This is because when I made Bad News the first time, it was the week before the con I meant to debut it at, so I sprayed on half a can of acrylic sealant and called it a day. That's been removed in favor of a more traditional walnut oil polish (to be applied).
-to remove the acrylic, I've got two different methods. One is....significantly easier, but requires specialized tools.
       Option 1: With relatively heavy grit sandpaper-- I think I used 100?-- go after the polish. Wipe down with a rag soaked in isopropyl alcohol. Scrape remaining softened bits of polish with a sturdy knife. Repeat until the sawdust is wood-colored instead of whiteish-grey.
       Option 2: Use a card scraper. Get on with your life.
- Up next is testing various paints and how they respond to the wood and the finish. I've got oil paint, milk paint, and india ink on a test block. So far, oil paint is dead last in the rankings because it takes five millions years to dry and I am not a patient person.

I've talked about this before, but I've wanted to put brass inlay on Bad News since pretty much the moment I made the gun in the first place. With the weather getting nice-- and with all the time at home-- I've finally put my money where my mouth is and started in on that.


After a series of experiments, I discovered that the easiest way to cut clean channels to the appropriate depth was to first cut a relatively shallow guide with a carving tool and then deepen/widen as needed with a flex shaft tool (ie, a dremel but Beefy).

Channels cut, adding the wire is just a matter of shaping, cutting, and tapping with a rawhide mallet-- I like to shape the curls on the wire spool and then cut them off once they fit. I also add a dot of super glue to the channel and spread it in with a needle before tapping in the wire. Sure, theoretically, tension should hold the wire in there just fine, but I live in a constant state of mild paranoia and really enjoy the insurance.

From there, it's just a matter of grinding the brass flush with the wood, then sanding and polishing. I've taken to cycling through the steps, to give the motor of the flex shaft time to cool and my hand different things to complain about, and I've been making great progress.

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.