I have this crazy idea for a small fish shaped knife in feather damascus and MOP with gold wire pins. From what I can tell, 16 ga wire is slightly undersized to a 1/16 drill bit, and seems to be the size I want to use. Right?
Never worked with gold before (or MOP for that matter). What should I know before I order? I assume 10K is the cheapest, but will it work for peening *gently* on to MOP scales? Seems to be available in dead soft, hard, and half hard. Which should I look for?
Even if I do 8 pins, I won't need more than about 4 or 5 inches. Any place you could recommend where you don't have to buy a 5 ft roll or 10 grams or whatever?
Just because, I've also thought about a small gemstone for the "eyes" of the fish that this knife will be. I'm thinking red or purple, like garnet or something. Any recommendations there, for reddish/purplish gems, already cut, maybe 3/32 diameter at the most? Where would you even look for such a thing? I'd also have to figure out how to mount them, but one problem at a time.
Thanks for your help. I've got the MOP and the feather ready. Shooting to have this one on the table for the guild/ABS show next September, but am seriously starting to conceptualize and gather materials.
Jason,
You didn't say if you are needing the pins to secure the handle scales or not. Gold wire isn't the strongest of materials if you need them to attach the handle scales. If you are needing them for handle strength then you might consider using an 1/8" stainless tubing with the gold going through the tubing and a domed head on the pins to cover the tubing.
I would recommend checking out Rio Grande for the wire. They will sell it by the inch.(get the wire dead soft). I've never done any semi or precious gems but they will sell you that along with bezels for mounting them.
If you hand peen the gold pins, you will need to be extra careful not to chip/crack the MOP. (A headspinner would be easier to use.)
Gary
Haven't quite decided on how to put it all together. The knife will be small and artsy, OAL under 5 inches. MOP handle scales, likely a row of 6 or 8 pins, all secured with epoxy. Handle won't be more than 3 inches total, so I want small and thin. 1/16 or so on the pins, max.
Jason, I agree with Gary about Rio Grande. If you ever have any technical questions you can call and ask for a technician and they can discuss it with you and help you decide things like wire size, hardness, etc. I recommend full soft, btw.
Show us a picture when you get finished or a WIP is even better.<img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />
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Show us a picture when you get finished or a WIP is even better.<img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />
I'm pretty scared it would just be a WIP on how to break expensive MOP <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> You don't get to a higher skill level without tackling projects that are above your skill level.
Over size your holes in the MOP by a number size and snug em till they don't move. Slow and even.
Yeah, Rio Grande is about the best jewelry supplier out there.
Also something for finding small gemstones, is go to a gold buyer, one of those shops or companies that buy up gold and silver to resell. I struck up a conversation with one of these guys, and he ended up giving me a few small gems that he popped out of old jewelry; he said that he just pops out and pretty much throws away the gems, as what he wants is the gold and it takes way too much extra time and money to get into selling off the stones, more time and money than he gets back. So chances are you can get these stones pretty cheap.
