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Hi, what hand tool(s) is used for removing metal such as for an inlay, or in paring relief engraving? By hand tool I mean from the days of hammer and chisel engraving.
A wider tipped graver. Jerry Huddleston is the man to contact there though. Relief engraving is just like relief carving, except the relief height isn't nearly as great.
Hi,
There are a lot of tools required. In the 18th century, most relief carved metal inlays were cast if they were silver or brass and then the details cut. Iron was not cast so they were sculpted by chisels. I use die sinker's chisels from Brownells to cut relief as well as my usual gravers, In addition, stones, burrs, rifler files,and scrapers are also useful. In addition, abrasive powders and pencil sticks are very important.
I used a small square graver to cut the initial out lines and then a flat chisel to cut the mortices. The flat is sharpened so the bottom is a little wider than the top. That way, I can use it to under cut the sides of the mortice so the silver wire gets locked in when tapped into place. Below are photos of a silver "spider" sight inlet into a barrel. I cut the outline with a small square graver and then remove the metal in the mortice with the flat die sinker's chisel shown. Then I undercut the sides with my flat and tap in the silver.