Copper Crab Pocket Fetish Tutorial


Beginning a tellurium copper pocket fetish with the previous crab theme. However, I first have to cut the design on the back side, because if I cut the front side first, I’ll never get the piece square and flat in the vise. Got to think ahead with CNC, ‘cause the computer certainly won’t!

There has been some concern from my readers about tellurium in this alloy. Tellurium is only present in tiny amounts in the alloy and the only hazard listed in the MSDS is dust inhalation. Folks are probably thinking of beryllium copper, which does have significant health risks. Also, don’t forget that copper is a heavy metal, too. There’s no extra hazard in just handling tellurium copper (aka copper 145). Here’s a link to the MSDS: http://www1.mscdirect.com/…/MSDS0…/40714214-20120815.PDF

Try it, you’ll like it. Carves, mills and engraves really well. My only complaint is the thinnest I’ve been able to find is 1/4 inch thick. I have rolled it through my rolling mill to thin it successfully, but going from quarter inch to thinner is a lot of work!

 


Here’s the front side of the tellurium copper crab pocket fetish. This is about halfway through the CNC roughing pass with a 1/8 inch carbide square end mill.


Saving the tellurium copper crab pocket fetish… Side B (the octopus) milled correctly, but about 2/3rds through the CNC milling process of the crab the machine stalled (maybe a power transient?) before the finishing pass to refine the details. While the result is pretty cool, it isn’t what I had in mind, and it’s even missing the third leg on the left side. Not to worry, I’ll be using hand engraving techniques to save the 4 hours of milling and days of computer modeling. With a square graver, tiny carbide ball burrs and flat nosed punch I’ll be engraving and carving the details the CNC missed.


Saving the tellurium copper crab pocket fetish… With a square graver and tiny carbide ball burrs I’m hand engraving and carving the details the CNC missed.


Saving the tellurium copper crab pocket fetish… The lonely crab needs some silver barnacles. I melt a ball on the end of a silver wire and use a tiny homemade blacksmith’s nail header to create fat rivets. Here I’ve used punches to shape the barnacles. Still need to detail the barnacles…


Saving the tellurium copper crab pocket fetish… The lonely crab needs some silver barnacles. I melt a ball on the end of a silver wire and use a tiny homemade blacksmith’s nail header to create fat rivets. Here I’ve used punches to shape the barnacles. Still need to detail the barnacles…


The tellurium copper crab pocket fetish is finished…all it needs now is a tiny leather wallet to protect it in your pocket. Thanks for looking!

Thanks for Looking!

Tom Sterling

http://www.arizonacustomknives.com/tom-sterling-sterling-sculptures.aspx
http://www.sterlingsculptures.com
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