Re: Engraving MOP
Posted by
Andrew Werby
on 2000-04-07 12:12:25 UTC
Questions about engraving mother of pearl.
How hard is it?
[It is about 3.5 on the Mohs scale. ]
What type of tool do you use?
[It can be cut with hard steel tools, like a jeweler's saw. But carbide is
recommended for engraving, etc, as its abrasiveness will dull steel fairly
quickly. Avoid breathing the dust.]
It looks like a standard
1/2 round engraving bit. Where do you buy it, and is it expensive
(mother
of pearl, not the tool)?
[As rough, it can be found in shell shops fairly reasonably, but flat
veneers can be pricy- look for them at luthier's supply places.]
Have you ever done marble or granite? Years ago I needed to drill a
couple
of holes in a piece of marble and was prepared to go through more than a
few
drill bits. It took about 5 seconds to go through 3/4 inch, I was amazed
at how soft it was. I bought a 12 X 12 marble tile the other day to try
and
engrave it but haven't got to it yet.
[Marble, like you found out, is pretty soft- even softer than MOP.]
Any idea what kind of bit to use?
[Carbide, for the same reason as above.]
What to use for coolant?
[Water is traditional, but might rust your machine. Oil can stain marble.
You should be able to engrave it dry, though.]
I imagine granite would be much harder.
Bill
[Right you are. It is also rather uneven in hardness, being composed of
quartz and feldspar in compacted and contiguous but separate crystals. It
can be drilled (very slowly) with carbide-tipped tools, but for any
machining, you need diamond. Watch out for the dust too- it isn't much
better for your machine than it is for your lungs.]
Andrew Werby
Andrew Werby - United Artworks
Sculpture, Jewelry, and Other Art Stuff
http://unitedartworks.com
How hard is it?
[It is about 3.5 on the Mohs scale. ]
What type of tool do you use?
[It can be cut with hard steel tools, like a jeweler's saw. But carbide is
recommended for engraving, etc, as its abrasiveness will dull steel fairly
quickly. Avoid breathing the dust.]
It looks like a standard
1/2 round engraving bit. Where do you buy it, and is it expensive
(mother
of pearl, not the tool)?
[As rough, it can be found in shell shops fairly reasonably, but flat
veneers can be pricy- look for them at luthier's supply places.]
Have you ever done marble or granite? Years ago I needed to drill a
couple
of holes in a piece of marble and was prepared to go through more than a
few
drill bits. It took about 5 seconds to go through 3/4 inch, I was amazed
at how soft it was. I bought a 12 X 12 marble tile the other day to try
and
engrave it but haven't got to it yet.
[Marble, like you found out, is pretty soft- even softer than MOP.]
Any idea what kind of bit to use?
[Carbide, for the same reason as above.]
What to use for coolant?
[Water is traditional, but might rust your machine. Oil can stain marble.
You should be able to engrave it dry, though.]
I imagine granite would be much harder.
Bill
[Right you are. It is also rather uneven in hardness, being composed of
quartz and feldspar in compacted and contiguous but separate crystals. It
can be drilled (very slowly) with carbide-tipped tools, but for any
machining, you need diamond. Watch out for the dust too- it isn't much
better for your machine than it is for your lungs.]
Andrew Werby
Andrew Werby - United Artworks
Sculpture, Jewelry, and Other Art Stuff
http://unitedartworks.com