stippling relieved backgrounds

Tim Herman · Mar 29, 2009

For the blackest dots for backgrounds I have ever seen, I've just been using hardened stippling punches like the mid sized ones GRS sells. On the nice sharp point, set your dual angle sharpener to 30-35 degree lift and sharpen a facet every 90 degrees to make a 4 sided point just like the pyramids. I think you will be amazed at how black these dots are.
Try it and let me know.

Andy · Mar 29, 2009

Marion,
I too have been resharpening these small burrs to a needle point for fine undercutting and relief. What I have found though is that the simple round end burrs have only a short piece of carbide and after only a few sharpenings the carbide is gone. So I started buying the pear shaped carbide burrs just to reshape to needle points. The length of the carbide point is much greater than the rounds. I don't even use these as they come. I immediately reshape them. They last much longer and cost the same amount. For my normal relief work I do use the rounds because they come in smaller sizes than the pear shapes though.
Of course this may all differ from one brand to another. I have been buying mine from Lasco Diamond. I am not sure where you get yours.

Marian Sawby · Mar 29, 2009

Tim, I agree that this is a great method for a dark background. I learned this sharpening method from someone at GRS and used your sharpening method until recently. I don't like it as much for deep relief engraving because the size of the faceted stippler is so much larger than a .010 bur sharpened.

Marian Sawby · Mar 29, 2009

Andy, That pear shaped bur is a good idea. As you indicate, however, the round burs come in smaller sizes which is why I buy them. The carbide round bur I use is .010 or 1/4mm. Because I use them for such a short time, sharpening them and using them for stipplers is just a cost saving measure....a way of reusing a fairly expensive item in another way. I get my burs from Basic Dental Supply, about $140 for 100. What is the size of the pear shaped that you buy? Marian

Andy · Mar 29, 2009

At one time the 1/4 round burrs from Lasco seemed to have a better length of carbide but seemed to cheapen them over time I think. The smallest pear shape is an ISO 8 which is two sizes up from the 1/4 which is an ISO 5. But the length of the carbide is 1.6 mm long on the pear shape which is about three times the length of the 1/4 burrs. Now if you have that many scrap burrs left over it wouldn't pay to buy the ones like I do just for making needle points even if they don't last long. I find that I was going through the needle points faster than the little rounds so I never had enough. I started using brand new 1/4 burrs to make the needle points which didn't make sense.

canadian · Mar 30, 2009

Marian,
Great idea.
If you have any left I will take a few.

Please mail to :

Boris Kolodny
Artistic Jewelry Design
2775 Dundas St.West
Suite 203
Toronto, On. M6P 1Y4
Canada
Thanks

Boris

canadian · Apr 6, 2009

Marian,
Thanks for the gift of the burs. They will find a good home here.
Let me know if I can do anything for you in the future.

Best,

Boris

jetta77 · Apr 6, 2009

Marion, Andy, Tim, In my experience as a jeweler and working with burs alot I've come to the conclusion that dental carbide burs sold as 1/4 or .01 are not .25mm but are .5mm. Maybe one of you guys could take out a micrometer and measure one for an experiment, I could be wrong on this. The smallest round burs I can find are not carbide but tungsten vanadium steel and I can get them as small .35mm. Just curious about this subject bacause I'm always on the lookout for the smallest of burs.
Jeff

airamp · Apr 7, 2009

Hi Marian,

Thanks for the burrs. Will give them a go. They look like a very good idea.

Regards,
AirAmp

Steve223 · Apr 7, 2009

Marian if you have any of those burs left i sure would like to give them a try. And thank you so much for your genarous offer
Steve
Steve Burton
575 Hatch hwy NW
Deming NM
88030

rod · Apr 7, 2009

yes, Jeff,

1/4 mm burs are quoting radius not diameter.

Rod

Marian Sawby · Apr 7, 2009

Jeff, Yes, the burs I use are .010 radius or .020 diameter, but are called 1/4mm. I also have 1/2mm, which I assume would actually be .040 diameter. Does anyone know WHY they are calibrated by radius rather than diameter? Also, I haven't found any smaller than these. Marian

Steve223 · Apr 11, 2009

Marian i got the burs and thank you very Much....If theres ever anything i can do for you please let me know!!!
Steve

Marian Sawby · Apr 12, 2009

I wanted to mention that I will be away from home for the Santa Barbara knife show and for a couple of weeks thereafter. So, if anyone else wants some of the burs, I will be able to send them after I get home around May 7. Marian

stippling relieved backgrounds

Tim Herman

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