IOVI OPTIMO MAXIMO! Wire Inlay is Easier Than You Think!

[AntonivsMarivsCongianocvs]

Okay, now that is cool! Laudes awarded for this one!

I was puzzling over how to do the inlay on a Parazonium’s scabbard… now that I see how it’s done, this looks like something I could do… I think. :roll:

Thanks!

This is the double line inlay on a Parazonium I'm speaking of:

[Matt Lukes]

Right- that piece's inlay looks to be rather wider than wire would be practical to achieve, but the method should work with sheet inlay as well- the issue is simply making the 'channel' for it; I haven't tried this yet, but I'm expecting that to some extent wider punches would work, but really large things might need a combination of a rotary tool with carbide bur to remove material and then punches to flatten the space out...

[Matt Lukes]

Well done Matt!

So much for several month's worth of incompetently trying to emulate Erik Koenig with engraving chisels. I think I might try your method instead!

Silver is softer than brass by the way. I checked with the School of Jewellry in Birmingham's Jevellry quarter and was advised by the engraving tutor to practice with copper wire, which he said was about the same in it terms of softness as silver, whilst brass, of whatever type, being an allow, was considerably less pliable and thus less suited to hammered inlay.

Crispvs

The difficutly in using a graver is exactly why I considered simpler techniques and to be honest, I'm doubtful the Romans really did it very often either given that you need pretty good, hardened steel to engrave iron. This punch method is SO straightforward and easy that I have a very difficult time imagining it not being how at least some pugio scabbards' inlay was done.

I'll have to try an example with copper wire to see if I can detect any difference

[Tarbicus]

Genius!! Inspired!! Well done. Laudes.

[Matt Lukes]

It looks as if 'large' figures aren't any real trouble either- just using a small, rectangular-faced punch, I made this corner angle that's 12mm on a side and has arms that are 4.5mm wide in just a couple of minutes. I went around the perimeter, then just flattened the interior and it seems to have worked just fine. The brass I used was 0.8mm annealed C26000 (0.032") and was no trouble to hammer into place. It was perhaps a bit too thick as I did have to grind a fair bit off the surface, but overall it worked well I think. It is necessary to be a little careful not to grind too much or the edges hold the inlay in place could be removed. In this case there's still a bit of brass on top of them (hence the less-than-perfect perimeter), but everything's still quite smooth and flush.



One thing- don't expect large pieces like this to be able to survive bending the base material- the undercuts are very small so while they're sufficient to hold the piece in place, the inaly will pop out if you bend the base. But then that's not to be expected in everyday use of course :wink:

[Marcus Mummius]

Thanks Matt, this is great stuff!

I watched Erik Konig this weekend at Xanten and while he is very adept at the engraving using the hammer/engraver combination, this looks a lot easier to do. Much better control with these chisels.

By the way, pure silver wire is A LOT easier to inlay than copper and brass wire (copper being indeed easier than brass). I think if practically achievable it's always best to practise with the material you'll use in your desired piece.
So I'd suggest practicing silver inlay with silver wire.


Vale,

[Matt Lukes]

Actually I've been examining every artifact I can with an eye to determining whether the decoration was punched or engraved and without exception, every one I've seen has been clearly punched- none have been engraved. This doesn't really surprise me anymore given how great the gulf is, on several levels, between how easy it is to use small punches vs. a graver.

As for the inlay material, I'd think the majority of force needed is to flatten out the steel again with the inlay in place, so I'm honestly really dubious that the softness of the inlay will affect how easy this all is by any perceptible amount. I tried copper and didn't feel any difference from brass myself...

[Marcus Mummius]

I believe you :wink: The person who told me this (one of my professors) has said a lot of strange things that weren't really true in the past.

I can't wait to try out this method!

One more question: did you anneal the steel/iron plate?

Vale,

[Matt Lukes]

Oh I do believe silver is softer than brass, but that it makes much of a difference, well that's more debatable :wink:

No, it's just regular old mild steel sheet- fairly soft already so I saw no need to do any extra work The wire is soft-temper though

[Crispvs]

I suppose a caveat on the advice from the engraving tutor, was that he normally taught the inlaying of precious metals into other precious metals, so mild steel may not have been so much part of his experience as I had assumed.

Crispvs

[gaiusseptimiuslucianus]

Wow! Laudes from me too.

Lucianus

[Sean Manning]

Wow! Laus ad te, Matthew!

I've read that Assyrian and Urartian helmets had bronze wire inlays hammered into slots that were wider at the base than the top (like a mortise-and-tenon joint), so you can still aspire to figuring out how they did that if it is correct.

[Matt Lukes]

That's what this is- the chisel cutting under the edge creates a space into which the inlay wire moves when hammered. It's the basis of all inlay that the base is wider than the top :wink:

[Gaius_Calvus]

Well done, Matt.

Laudes from me. You continue to teach the Roman world every day.

(Literally in my case!) :wink:

Edge

[Sean Manning]

That's what this is- the chisel cutting under the edge creates a space into which the inlay wire moves when hammered. It's the basis of all inlay that the base is wider than the top :wink:

Silly me. I missed that aspect.

This does seem like something relatively clumsy me could learn to do one day if I find I enjoy armouring...