DIY Celtic Spiral Engraving, great results (imo)with new pic
Dec 2, 2010 20:55:09 GMT
Post by chrisperoni on Dec 2, 2010 20:55:09 GMT
A while back I tested out the SBG guide to DIY engraving:
www.sword-buyers-guide.com/sword-engraving.html
Here's the link to my first attempt, just for practice:
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=285
I also asked for advice on appropriate designs, and will be etching a cross onto the other side of the pommel based on the suggestions given then. However, I very much wanted to do something more directly involving celtic art because--- well because I love the stuff! I happen to have an endless knot tatooed around my upper arm, and back in highschool I used to mess around with learning the techniques to draw that kind of stuff. A spiral art design seemed a natural choice for a round pommel.
Well today I finally got around to the real deal on the pommel for my H/T EMSHS. The results turned out better than I hoped!
1. My workspace in typical highly organized fashion . I started by first bringing down the finish on the pommel with 600 grit. The mirror polish on the pommel and guard just didn't fit the rest of the sword.
2. Stencil is now cut out of the vinyl and has been appied to pommel. You can see the paper template in the background. It is seriously hard to cut smooth spirals with an exacto but I was okay with that. I think the uneven edges give the work a handmade feel rather than looking machined- I like the effect.
3. About halfway through etching. I followed the directions in the above mentioned guide pretty much right on. During my testing I used bare wire, this time I set up proper clips. I just wing it for the salt water solution. I went through maybe 12 qtips (both ends).
4. Next I applied Birchwood Casey Perma Blue, which turned out to be a key ingredient to get the effect I wanted. This is my first time trying it. I did 5 applications in total. It gives much better colouring than etching alone.
5. Almost finished and looking pretty good. Notice there a few places where the darkening has bled between the spirals. No worries on that though as it'll be fixed soon. I like this look okay but it almost seems too flat- looks a lot like the stencil is still on it- like a sticker.
6. Final results! The last step was to carefully sand out the little imperfections from bluing, following the direction of the sanding grain. Then give just 2-3 gentle passes over the whole thing with 600 grit again. This gives the etch character by removing some darkness and highlighting shadows and depth. Overall I'd say the etch is about 2mm deep. (edit/correction- 1mm deep)
I'll post up pics for the other side later tonight. Right now I'm going to go stare at the pommel for a while and just smile.
edit/add: did the other side:
\
edit/add: I forgot to mention sealing the Permablue- I used my 3 in 1 oil leaving a thick pool of it all over the etching for a while, then gently rubbed it in/off with a cloth. I asked the owner of the gun supply store where I bought the Permablue about using the name brand stuff (called 'Barricade') and he said he'd never heard of it. He said any oil I would normally use would do the same thing and/or I could try the kind of wax used to prevent rust on guns.
www.sword-buyers-guide.com/sword-engraving.html
Here's the link to my first attempt, just for practice:
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=285
I also asked for advice on appropriate designs, and will be etching a cross onto the other side of the pommel based on the suggestions given then. However, I very much wanted to do something more directly involving celtic art because--- well because I love the stuff! I happen to have an endless knot tatooed around my upper arm, and back in highschool I used to mess around with learning the techniques to draw that kind of stuff. A spiral art design seemed a natural choice for a round pommel.
Well today I finally got around to the real deal on the pommel for my H/T EMSHS. The results turned out better than I hoped!
1. My workspace in typical highly organized fashion . I started by first bringing down the finish on the pommel with 600 grit. The mirror polish on the pommel and guard just didn't fit the rest of the sword.
2. Stencil is now cut out of the vinyl and has been appied to pommel. You can see the paper template in the background. It is seriously hard to cut smooth spirals with an exacto but I was okay with that. I think the uneven edges give the work a handmade feel rather than looking machined- I like the effect.
3. About halfway through etching. I followed the directions in the above mentioned guide pretty much right on. During my testing I used bare wire, this time I set up proper clips. I just wing it for the salt water solution. I went through maybe 12 qtips (both ends).
4. Next I applied Birchwood Casey Perma Blue, which turned out to be a key ingredient to get the effect I wanted. This is my first time trying it. I did 5 applications in total. It gives much better colouring than etching alone.
5. Almost finished and looking pretty good. Notice there a few places where the darkening has bled between the spirals. No worries on that though as it'll be fixed soon. I like this look okay but it almost seems too flat- looks a lot like the stencil is still on it- like a sticker.
6. Final results! The last step was to carefully sand out the little imperfections from bluing, following the direction of the sanding grain. Then give just 2-3 gentle passes over the whole thing with 600 grit again. This gives the etch character by removing some darkness and highlighting shadows and depth. Overall I'd say the etch is about 2mm deep. (edit/correction- 1mm deep)
I'll post up pics for the other side later tonight. Right now I'm going to go stare at the pommel for a while and just smile.
edit/add: did the other side:
\
edit/add: I forgot to mention sealing the Permablue- I used my 3 in 1 oil leaving a thick pool of it all over the etching for a while, then gently rubbed it in/off with a cloth. I asked the owner of the gun supply store where I bought the Permablue about using the name brand stuff (called 'Barricade') and he said he'd never heard of it. He said any oil I would normally use would do the same thing and/or I could try the kind of wax used to prevent rust on guns.