tayloredcreations
Member
How do you ensure you are not messing with the undercuts when performing background removal with an inlay present?
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Question: Background removal with inlay
- Thread starter tayloredcreations
- Start date
My way has been to make the inlay edge undercuts a little deeper and then taper the background removal making it a little shallower at the edge of the inlay.
jerrywh
~ Elite 1000 Member ~
Another method would be to just tooth the bottom of the inlay cavities real good. Then you don't need to worry about the undercuts. When using 24K gold you don't need a cavity with vertical sides. The sides of the cavity can slant in towards the inside of the inlay.
tayloredcreations
Member
Perfect, I am going to be trying these out on brass and copper tonight. Additionally, is there a recommended way to finish gold inlays or things to avoid? Can I use polishing compounds like tripoli and red rouge? I imagine from the hammering that it will be fairly work hardened. I usually start by sanding the inlay with a 600 grit but I've heard of this stoning term that I am not quite familiar with yet. Any and all advice/tips welcomed!
jerrywh
~ Elite 1000 Member ~
Actually stoning works better than sanding as far as quality is concerned. Sanding tends to undercut the gold some if care is not taken. Neither copper nor brass will work like gold will. Neither one of them will take to teeth very well unless the base metal is pretty hard. When doing inlays other than gold or pure silver I prefer to have a cavity with vertical sides and good undercuts. I recommend practicing with pure silver. Pure silver is cheap.An ounce goes a long ways. What ever you practice with it is not going to work like 24K gold.
tayloredcreations
Member
What do you use to stone? I am unfamiliar with the term.
jerrywh
~ Elite 1000 Member ~
I use these in medium and fine grade. Different sizes for different jobs. I prefer the hard type.
https://www.mscdirect.com/browse/tn/Abrasives/Blocks-Sticks?searchterm=stones&navid=4287924177
tayloredcreations
Member
Thank you, Jerry.
I do the final polishing of flush inlay with 1000 grit wet or dry super glued to a hardwood flat stick. You must use a very light touch or it will dish in as Jerry mentions, but it does work for me.
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