Silver Wire Inlay Additional Techniques by Joe Keeslar, Master Smith

[cmwitchypoo]

Beautiful. I have been teaching myself how to do inlay and this is so helpful. You are amazing, I work with Jade so it is a bit different. :(

[Russell]

i never thout about doing that to my old black powder Hand gun grip ill have to try that thanks Amazing work by the way

[wmrhoward]

Joe, beautiful work. I've started to learn this skill and do OK on a flat surface but I have a knife handle I'd like to inlay but it has a slender handle. I've tried a couple of practice pieces and not able to get the wire to conform to the curvature. I only have .010x.100" wire, is that part of the problem. I've tried to cut to ~.055" but not steady enough. Any hints?

[mightygoodmagic]

Do you use any epoxy/cure procedure to seal in the work? I saw a video elsewhere with the inlay wire sealed such... I'm adapting the technique for a more Old World feel in my bone and horn work.

[randyscott]

What size wire do you use and where might I purchase wire I’ve read online that many people have bought wire that wasn’t silver

[paulrohrbacher]

Help! I am trying to inlay Copper wire on a knife handle. The handle is curved so when the wire is started and the wire is tried to be seated around the curved surface, the started wire pops out of the groove. How do I keep the wire solid in the groove as the process proceeds around the curved surface? I have tried CA glue but it doesn't work well and it stains the wood. Placing the flattened wire in the wood on edge is the problem. I have tried annealing the wire, but then I am trying to drive a soft wire on edge (edge wants to fold over) onto the Walnut wood. Can you help me solve this problem? On the flat surface, my wire stays in place.

Paul

[ryannolan]

As far as not tapping the wire in all the way (You mentioned 3/4). What happens if you tap it flush, instead of tapping it 3/4 and then filing it down?

[RocketCityGardener]

Is the thickness of wire that you see is 0.008? With the thicker portion being tapped into the wood?

[americanbladesmith]

It sounds to me that your silver wire is way too wide for this type of inlay work. I would suggest that you use a narrower wire, one in the .050 t0 .055 width and try your inlay again. This narrower wire can be obtained from T.B. HAGSTOZ & SON, INC. 800-922-100. I recommend and I use the following, .008 by .055 semi-annealed sterling silver flat wire. Our founding father of the ABS, Bill Moran always used .013 by .055 sterling silver or sometimes fine silver flat wire. Semper Fi, Joe Keeslar