Silver Wire Inlay Techniques by Joe Keeslar, MS

[spinafire]

Good video, managed to get a makeshift setup and tools and did my first wire inlay on a box. Everyone has been impressed by it so far.

[americanbladesmith]

Hi Stefan,
The silver wire is held into the wood simply by the fricton of the wood against the wire. I have seen Kentucky rifles that I built 50 years ago that had silver wire work inlaid in the stock and the wire is still in place. There is no need for glue to hold the wire in place if it is installed correctly.

Good Luck on your wire work.

Semper Fi,
Joe Keeslar

[americanbladesmith]

Hi Taylor,
I have never worked with the tig welding rods in making any stabbing chisels for silver wire inlay. All I can say is give it a try and see how they work.
Let me know how the tig rods work out.
Semper Fi,
Joe Keeslar, MS

[americanbladesmith]

Tom, The silver wire wire can be obtained from T. B. Hagstoz &Son, Philadelphia, PA, 800-922- 1006. Tell them you want semi-annealed sterling silver in whatever dimension (size) . I recommend and I use the following, .008 by .055 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. Joe Keeslar, MS

[TMKNWA]

Very interesting! I would love to give it a try sometime. I am not sure how to make the chisels. I was thinking of using some SS TIG welding fill rod. Do you think it would work Joe? It is 304 SS. Very hard.

[franbonney]

Does Mr. Keeslar still make and sell his knife sets for wire inlay

[americanbladesmith]

Joe makes his chisels for silver wire inlay.

[GottliebGoltz]

I hear the wood's grain raises right back with moisture, cleanly chiseled.?

[Zoch]

But how do you get the wire to stick there ? No glue or anything, seems like it will be easilly removed/fall apart ?

[martinwalters]

Where does one get Silver strings as described?

[wilgarcia]

Nice JOB =0)  any reasen to not melt the metal in to place?

[MyLifeAiur]

does rosewood receive inlay easily or does it splinter/flake? cheers

[alrchaplain]

I need the chisels. Where do i find em or do I have to make them?

[wolflahti]

I have two problems: I cannot find a source for rectangular wire, and when I try chiseling the channel, I end up with a rough, uneven line of inconsistent depth.