Hi,
More than a few times I have posted here about Stew Mortson the master pantograph artist and designer. He is teaching me some techniques for developing my skills concerning sterling silver inlays, die grinding, high luster polishing and chemical treatment. I am starting a big cue "The Ruby Jaws" next month which has a lot of compound inlays using silver and Austrian Crystal.
I was admiring one of Stew's fancy inlaid cues the other day that had some cool silver inlays and Stew went out to the car and came back to the shop and put these scrap inlay silver slabs from the parts he had created in that cue on the assembly table. When I inspected them very closely I realized they were cut manually with a diamond wire saw of very small proportions.
When I asked Stew what the trick was concerning the task he only verified that is was cut with a wire saw of some type. My guess is that he rigged a wire scroll saw unit to the P2 3 big mill panto and controlled the cutting with a template and big a reduction ratio. I am not buying into the "by hand" stuff he is trying to suggest by keeping a closed mouthed and smiling.
So far he is not giving it up and is making me think. Pretty cool fun stuff here in the cue shop. Stew gave me these pieces to keep and I will always treasure them. I have been studying the work of many cue artists who use create polished silver inlays and have a believe I have keen eye concern details in this area of cue making. The work Stew has done and especially the polishing patina is in a league that can hang with Ernie and DPK. IMHO. His silver looks like flawless mirrors on his cues.
I thought I would share these pics for those who like this kind of stuff.
Enjoy,
Rick G
Notice the travel pattern of the wire saw, one way in and the same way out.
There is glue on the back of these as they were attached to wood backing for mill table clamping, I guess?
.130" Thick
More than a few times I have posted here about Stew Mortson the master pantograph artist and designer. He is teaching me some techniques for developing my skills concerning sterling silver inlays, die grinding, high luster polishing and chemical treatment. I am starting a big cue "The Ruby Jaws" next month which has a lot of compound inlays using silver and Austrian Crystal.
I was admiring one of Stew's fancy inlaid cues the other day that had some cool silver inlays and Stew went out to the car and came back to the shop and put these scrap inlay silver slabs from the parts he had created in that cue on the assembly table. When I inspected them very closely I realized they were cut manually with a diamond wire saw of very small proportions.
When I asked Stew what the trick was concerning the task he only verified that is was cut with a wire saw of some type. My guess is that he rigged a wire scroll saw unit to the P2 3 big mill panto and controlled the cutting with a template and big a reduction ratio. I am not buying into the "by hand" stuff he is trying to suggest by keeping a closed mouthed and smiling.
So far he is not giving it up and is making me think. Pretty cool fun stuff here in the cue shop. Stew gave me these pieces to keep and I will always treasure them. I have been studying the work of many cue artists who use create polished silver inlays and have a believe I have keen eye concern details in this area of cue making. The work Stew has done and especially the polishing patina is in a league that can hang with Ernie and DPK. IMHO. His silver looks like flawless mirrors on his cues.
I thought I would share these pics for those who like this kind of stuff.
Enjoy,
Rick G
Notice the travel pattern of the wire saw, one way in and the same way out.
There is glue on the back of these as they were attached to wood backing for mill table clamping, I guess?
.130" Thick
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