Author Archives: metal_musings

Burl Noggin part 5

And, finally, the noggin and button are finished.  Here it is as the entire ensemble. Thanks for looking!

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Burl Noggin part 4

I’ve been working this morning to remove the background of the engraved copper disk. I used my NSK micromotor grinder and several sizes of very small carbide burrs to carve away the background, leaving a pleasing texture behind. I fastened … Continue reading

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Burl Noggin part 3

When last we saw our hero, he was getting ready to begin engraving. Above, I’ve stuck the copper disk on a small block of walnut with pitch (Northwest Pitchworks, in Bellingham WA).  Here, it is clamped in my engraver’s vise. … Continue reading

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Burl Noggin part 2

Well, since I made the fancy Gentleman’s Noggin, I now need a high-end chunky button to go along with it.  These chunky buttons were designed to allow someone to hang the noggin from their belt, but still be handy to … Continue reading

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Burl Noggin part 1

After making the new crook knife, I needed a good test for it.  Scrounging around in my wood stash, I found a small block of big leaf maple burl, which has been seasoning for, oh, about 20 years now.  It … Continue reading

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Carving a Noggin and Making a Crook Knife

After testing my crook knife, I liked it so well I decided to make another, with less “crook” to it.  In the Pacific Northwest, this one is called a “planer” crook knife, since it is used to produce a nice … Continue reading

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Carving a Noggin and Making a Crook Knife

What’s a noggin?  It’s a small, carved wooden cup carried by frontiersmen, often carved from pretty burl wood.  This one is just cherry.  It will hang from a chunky button on a string that goes under a belt, so the … Continue reading

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“Knapped” Bronze Dagger

Wanting to play around with forging some bronze, I researched how to make it on the Web.  I decided (mistakenly, as it turns out) to make a high-tin alloy called “bell metal.”  This is 20% tin and 80% copper, and … Continue reading

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Telegraph Key USB Drive #7

Disassembled and ready to engrave the top copper plate. Here are the lines engraved in the top copper plate. The background removed, and a quick inking to see how it will look. Added the fine shading lines, then inked; ready … Continue reading

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Telegraph Key USB Drive #6

I turned a keypad from mild steel on the lathe, and soldered it in place with paste solder. Used Birchwood Casey Super Blue (cold gun blue) to darken the brass and steel of the telegraph key.  I also soldered the … Continue reading

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