Scratched effect, best tool for the job?

[stu_clouds]

hi,

i am in the process of starting to make a range of silver jewellery with a scratched effect finish. I am currently using a scribe to do the scratching, this tends to take a while. Does anyone else use this effect? and what tool/s do you use to get good results.

thanks

Stuart

[ps_bond]

How deep do you want the scratching? For deep lines I'd use an onglette graver - like this (not mine, I hasten to add!):

http://www.japanesesword.com/Images/Swords/06/1106/1106gunto7/DSCN6021.JPG

For less pronounced finishes, a frosting wheel might give you what you want?

If you're using a scribe, I'm assuming that Scotchbrite isn't going to do the job.

[agent_44]

My experience of frosting wheels is they produce irregular surface textures, rather than straight scratches, if that is what you are after.

A rough grade of sandpaper might give you what you want.

[mizgeorge]

I'd have said a coarse Scotchbrite, but as Peter's pointed out, that might not be deep enough for what you want.

I've also used a stiff wire brush with pretty good results.

[stu_clouds]

thanks everyone. i have ordered a graver and also ordered a coarse scotchbrite both seem like they may do the job.

thanks again

[MuranoSilver]

Love that piece you put up Peter -
Who's work is it?
Nic x

[ps_bond]

No idea! It's a silver foil covered copper habaki, no mention of who made it.

1106gunto7 (http://www.japanesesword.com/Images/Swords/06/1106/1106gunto7/1106gunto7.html)

This is more contemporary:

KinMuku NiJu Mon Habaki 2 Piece Solid Gold Habaki (http://www.japanesesword.com/Images/Other/habaki/kinmuku_niju_mon_habaki_2_piece_.htm)

...but now I'm thread hijacking. :(

[MuranoSilver]

Lol I think the questions been answered though - and a little off topic on topic ramble never hurt anyone. ;)
Loving those Japanese Swords!
nic x

[ps_bond]

Loving those Japanese Swords!

Really ought to finish some of the ones I've got here - 2 commercial ones (bought before the "ban" came in) and 1 I forged. There's a lot of jewellery techniques go into making sword furniture.

[MuranoSilver]

Oooh CAN I FEEL ANOTHER Peter does fabulous creations post coming on?? *-:)
You know you want to :worthy::)))
Nic xx

[snow_imp]

Oooh CAN I FEEL ANOTHER Peter does fabulous creations post coming on?? *-:)
You know you want to :worthy::)))
Nic xx

Oh, I'm with Nic on this Peter - please another post!

[ps_bond]

Argh... It's quite a long process! I'm still at the stage where I'm chucking habaki away because I'm not satisfied with the fit. Each one is better, but still not good enough.

For each sword, I need to make at least one habaki (the collar round the base of the blade that wedges it in the mouth of the scabbard), a shira saya (sort of a storage scabbard & handle), a guard (tsuba), a couple of menuki (ornate little objects that go under the handle wrap to index the correct hand position)... And so on. I've missed a lot out there. My blade still needs the polish completing, the commercial ones are OK as is.

This is another area where there were a lot of highly specialised craftsmen, all dedicated to one skill only. And there's no way I'm going to get close to the results of a team who have spent their lives doing that!

Scratch *quite* long - individually they're going to take me an age!

Here's an example of how a traditional sword goes together - http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/koshiraemaking.html
There's a fantastic book by Joe Earle Lethal Elegance (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lethal-Elegance-Joe-Earle/dp/0878466797) that has a huge number of pictures of koshirae - the only slight criticism is that I'm as interested in the techniques as the results, and the former isn't covered.