Back to engraving with a Hobo Nickel project, just for me.
This is my first solo Hobo Nickel, with 24 karat gold centipede legs, moose antler zombie eye.
Here’s my design transferred onto a 1937 buffalo nickel. Don’t know what a Hobo Nickel is? Try hobonickels.org
Above is the design engraved, but no sculpting yet.
A little further along, with the centipede back half sculpted…
Most of the sculpting done, and ready to add the gold…
Here’s the front half of the centipede sculpted
, and 24 karat gold wire inlaid into the raised legs. I haven’t trimmed the edges of the gold yet.
Here’s the front half of the centipede sculpted, and half of the gold legs inlaid…impressive, if you’ve ever seen one of these not-so-little nasties in person.
Front legs inlaid with gold wire, some trimmed.
All of the gold legs installed! Hope it doesn’t crawl off when I’m not watching…
Installing a zombie eye of moose antler. From upper left clockwise, – lathe turning tiny moose pegs – front and back pegs – pegs epoxied in place front and back…
Finished! The zombie eye is particularly creepy…
Thanks for looking!
Phenomenal! Fantastic job. What gravers did you use for this? And did you use an air graver or something or just by hand?
Hi Cody,
Sorry for the late reply – I missed your comment.
I use Lindsay Palm Control and Nitro G20 Airgravers. I use the standard Lindsay “V” graver geometry (both 96 degree and 90 degree), along with small punches made from broken burs. I use small flat for the gold inlay undercuts, and of course, flattening the background.
Thanks,
Tom