Product Description
Chasing punch, or Inlay chisel. These are also known as Japanese ‘Tagane’ Engraving Tool Blanks; chisel blanks specially designed to be refined into your own custom shape.
Use inlay chisels with metal inlay mesh to embed different coloured metal accents into fired silver - without the need for firing different metals together! This new technique developed by Aida for use with Art Clay takes advantage of the unique softness of Art Clay Silver and enables everyone to use a traditional technique that previously only skilled craftsmen could use.
They can also be used for traditional chasing and repoussé techniques to chase, shape and engrave metal, or stamp patterns into metal and fired metal clay which could be contrasted with patina or Gilding Wax, etc.
We have chisels in several base shapes, you can see them all here.
Here is an article with some ideas on how these can be used; https://www.ganoksin.com/article/japanese-chasing-tools/
How to use:
- First, use a medium fine file to make the tip of the chisel flat and level.
- Then file down to your desired shape (e.g. circle, triangle, star, teardrop, etc)
- Sand end with 600 Grit to 1200 Grit Wet & Dry paper to achieve a smooth finish (this ensures the mesh will be flattened smooth when it’s been hammered into the silver.)
- Use a hammer to chase your inlay tool over your piece at a 90° angle 2-3 times, with the mesh in between, on a steel block or small anvil. Then rotate the chisel around inside the stamped shape to cut the mesh (continue hammering while you do this if needed).
Some helpful tips if using with metal clay:
- Fired metal clay must be no thinner than 1.5mm
- To apply the inlay technique around rings, use a ring mandrel while striking to ensure the ring doesn’t bend while hammering. Please note - we don’t recommend stamping where the ring is joined, as it can become weakened.
When using on harder metals you will first need to harden the chisel:
Hardening:
800°C. is the most common temperature to harden the chasing tool.
If you are using a gas torch, the spot which you are heating must turn orange in colour to show it is hot enough. Once the entire piece turns orange, quench it in water.
*If you apply soap bar around the heating spots, you can minimize oxidation.
Tempering:
We recommend the use of an electric kiln at 230°C.
Unlike the hardening process where you quench it once it becomes orange in colour, when tempering, the chisel needs to be held at 230°C for a specific time based on the volume.
For reference, fire it 1 min.for 6g, 2mins for 10g, 3mins for 20g, and 4mins for 50g of steel.
Quench in a water after heating.
Quenching in water or oil:
In metalsmithing, quenching in water is common, but you can choose whichever you like. When quenching in water it will normally produce a harder and tougher chisel. Whereas quenching in oil will make it hard by less tough, which is often used for industrial purposes.
Shape: #3 Rectangle - Medium
Approximate size: 90mm x 5mm, Chisel Tip: 4mm x 1.5mm
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Inlay Chisels
These are tool steel and can be hardened and tempered, good to see Japanese metalworking tools being imported, they will no doubt be of interest to the general metalworking community. Hand forged and a good price. Well done Metalclay. Perhaps we will see other Japanese metalworking tools coming soon?