Stock Wire Inlay Attempt

[36g]

I have a few ML kits to build so am trying my hand at some wire and other inlays for the stocks.

I understand that this process is an art form so success isn't guaranteed.

First attempt.

Penciled Pattern resized.jpg Penciled Pattern

Wire in Place - resized.jpg Wire in Place (Brass wire)

Wire implanted- resized.jpg Wire Implanted

Wire sanded and finish applied - resized.jpgSanded and Finished

The stain used was one coat of Iron Nitrate (should have used two) then heated, and a finish coat of Tried and True.

My sample rifle will be a .32 percussion Traditions Hawken kit just to test the inlays, stock finish, and steel/brass finish and antiquing then on to the flintlock kits...

[DaleT]

I did some silver wire inlay on one of my builds and one thing is for sure - them folks were artists through and through ! Very challenging project for a non-artistic person hehe.
Thats a nice first attempt BTW.

[Shawlerbrook]

Inlayed different types of wood before but never tried wire.

[waksupi]

Concentrate on the art work. No flat spots in the curves. You have the right idea by doing some practice pieces.
When doing brass wire inlay, I get sheet stock, and cut the strips myself. If you didn't know this already, hold the end of the strip with a pair of pliers, hold a file on either side of the strip, and pull it through the files. Gives some teeth to hold on to the wood.
Some get carried away making different gouges to make the curves. I do all the inletting with a simple skew chisel.

[36g]

Concentrate on the art work. No flat spots in the curves. You have the right idea by doing some practice pieces.
When doing brass wire inlay, I get sheet stock, and cut the strips myself. If you didn't know this already, hold the end of the strip with a pair of pliers, hold a file on either side of the strip, and pull it through the files. Gives some teeth to hold on to the wood.
Some get carried away making different gouges to make the curves. I do all the inletting with a simple skew chisel.

Thanks for the insight. More practice to come...

[waksupi]

Thanks for the insight. More practice to come...

It takes me much longer to get the art work right, than to do the actually inletting.

I'd also suggest, put a rounded curve on the wood you practice with, to represent the shape of a gun stock. It works different from flat stock work.