engraving on obsidian?

[SarcasticDwarf]

ok, here's what I am looking to do:

I want an oval shapped piece of obsidian about an inch and a half tall, 1/4 inch deep, and about 1/2-3/4 inch wide.

I would like to get an engraving of a dragon on one side (my initials on the other) and have that engravng inlaid with a tiny ammount of silver (the thickness of the engraving will be significantly thinner than that of a toothpick).

So, for anyone that is in the know, who can I go to to get this done? and for that matter, how much will this set me back? THe engraving is not very complex at all, just rather small.

and damn anyone who wants to copy me!

 

[JC]

You could start at a rock/mineral shop. They could likely shape a piece for you, maybe engrave it too. Prolly need a jewelry shop for the inlay. As for cost, I dunno.

JC

 

[Brutuskend]

I would sand blast it.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: JC
You could start at a rock/mineral shop. They could likely shape a piece for you, maybe engrave it too. Prolly need a jewelry shop for the inlay. As for cost, I dunno.

JC

good idea, now if only I can find one...

*grabs his (measures it) 9 inch tall stack of yellow pages

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: Brutuskend
I would sand blast it.

wtf? get lost

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: DeathByAnts

Originally posted by: Brutuskend
I would sand blast it.

wtf? get lost

Haha, wow, saucy.

 

[Brutuskend]

Some community collages have lapidary class' you could take.
Still, because of the brittle nature of obsidian I think sandblasting would work better than engraving.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: Brutuskend
Some community collages have lapidary class' you could take.
Still, because of the brittle nature of obsidian I think sandblasting would work better than engraving.

sandblasting would kinda destroy it, would it not

 

[amnesiac]

Why obsidian? Why not an opal?
AFAIK obsidian is too fragile to engrave. It will chip.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: amnesiac 2.0
Why obsidian? Why not an opal?
AFAIK obsidian is too fragile to engrave. It will chip.

WHat color is opal? I am looking for something that is 1) cheap and 2) very deep blue/purple or black

 

[JC]

Since obsidian is basically glass, perhaps sandblasting with a template would be the answer.

JC

 

[Brutuskend]

Originally posted by: DeathByAnts

Originally posted by: Brutuskend
Some community collages have lapidary class' you could take.
Still, because of the brittle nature of obsidian I think sandblasting would work better than engraving.

sandblasting would kinda destroy it, would it not

No.

I have sandblasted a LOT of glass, and the nature of glass is about as close as you can get to obsidian.

You mask it off, cut out your design, and blast it. The longer you blast, the deeper it gets.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: Brutuskend

Originally posted by: DeathByAnts

Originally posted by: Brutuskend
Some community collages have lapidary class' you could take.
Still, because of the brittle nature of obsidian I think sandblasting would work better than engraving.

sandblasting would kinda destroy it, would it not

No.

I have sandblasted a LOT of glass, and the nature of glass is about as close as you can get to obsidian.

You mask it off, cut out your design, and blast it. The longer you blast, the deeper it gets.

I would think the design would be WAY too intricate for a template. The lines would be thinner than the width of an average piece of snad.

 

[tikwanleap]

Originally posted by: Zakath15

Originally posted by: DeathByAnts

Originally posted by: Brutuskend
I would sand blast it.

wtf? get lost

Haha, wow, saucy.

ROFLOL

 

[Brutuskend]

What I always did was. I used two layers of masking tape over the glass. Then using carbon paper, I traced my pattern and transferred it to the masking tape. Then I used a Exacto knife and cut out the area I wanted blasted. The only limit is how well (and fine) you cut. Silica sand comes in many different sizes.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: Brutuskend
What I always did was. I used two layers of masking tape over the glass. Then using carbon paper, I traced my pattern and transferred it to the masking tape. Then I used a Exacto knife and cut out the area I wanted blasted. The only limit is how well (and fine) you cut. Silica sand comes in many different sizes.

Yeah, but where can I get this done? I am completely unable to do work of this type.

 

[Brutuskend]

Look around. There are many places that do sandblasting.

Some Auto shops, paint shops (Esp. powder coating places) and maybe some craft shops.