[quote="Dank"]
I also make a small amount of lost wax cast silver jewellery under the name KautzCraft Studio and these boxes are of course, useful for jewellery. It's a bit difficult to run both crafts at the same time in the same shop but I am in no great hurry. I posted a tickler in that website that I may be making more boxes.
Do you ever cut sterling pendants and such directly on the CNC... or use sheet sterling for inlays? .... I've done a couple small sterling inlays but never tried 3d carving of a blank.
Paradise Boxes
- Dank
- Posts: 45
- Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2007 4:36 am
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Re: Paradise Boxes
No, I have not directly milled silver. It is certainly possible. I would rather carve (mill) the wax master, then cast. I have used Vectric Aspire for the design and run mill bits as small as 0.003 inch. Wax is perfect for that.
Sterling is running a little over $20/oz so I wouldn't try doing something with a lot of waste unless I had a way of easily recovering the silver swarf. I even save my fileings when I can.
I have seen it done with brass and have thought about the silver inlays but haven't had a project for it. perhaps a fancy box. Argentium might be good for tarnish resistance. What was your project?
Sterling is running a little over $20/oz so I wouldn't try doing something with a lot of waste unless I had a way of easily recovering the silver swarf. I even save my fileings when I can.
I have seen it done with brass and have thought about the silver inlays but haven't had a project for it. perhaps a fancy box. Argentium might be good for tarnish resistance. What was your project?
Dan'l
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- Vectric Wizard
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Re: Paradise Boxes
Yes, casting makes perfect sense.
I just tried a small inlay as a test and the sterling seem to cut fine, held down with epoxy, then heated lightly to remove.
P.S. like your work, very nice!
I just tried a small inlay as a test and the sterling seem to cut fine, held down with epoxy, then heated lightly to remove.
P.S. like your work, very nice!
- Dank
- Posts: 45
- Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2007 4:36 am
- Model of CNC Machine: Home brew gantry and two Taig CNC mills
- Location: Frisco, Texas
- Contact:
Re: Paradise Boxes
That inlay looks great! Sheet stock is usually well annealed and obviously looks like it cuts fine. Thanks for the share!
Dan'l