Focus on patterning

I'm hard at work this fall creating mokume gane patterning samples for inclusion in an upcoming book by Hiroko Sato-Pijanowski. Most of the patterning will be done using the traditional Japanese method of carving with a chisel, then flattening. But there will also be room to include some other patterning techniques - these photos show hammering the mokume with a cross pein hammer, and also hammering with steel stamps and wire into the surface. Both are still 'top down' techniques and involve a lot of tedious stock removal (filing), but I'm pretty happy with the results.

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After hammering deeply with a cross pein, I settle into filing. Yes that's a magicut, thanks Ford Hallam!

Patterning pretty much done, quick patina with Baldwin's shows off the colors - silver, shakudo, and copper. Still needs to be flattened and rolled, and later I'll be patinating it with rokusho too.

Hammering the steel wire into the surface precisely is tricky, but I love the consistent line depth achievable. Using the stamp tools is easier. This pic is just before filing. Lots of filing.

So much color! After all the filing, I sanded to 400 then rolled. Still needs a bit more rolling, but I couldn't wait to see the colors. Silver, kuroshibuichi, 40% shibuichi, and shakudo. Baldwin's Patina.