cheap inlay material

[duckkisser]

been thinking of serously geting into inlays but i dont like to pay for the stuff i use. (im funny that way) if you have any idea of different materials or places to get materials especial stone and gem dust/ chips let me know

here are some materials been thinking of using

coper shaving/dust

brass shavings/dust

aluminum shaving/dust

buying gold, copper, and silver wire

glitter

snake skin (saw a fishing pole that had this on the handle)

leather?

stone shaving/dust

colored glass (glass blower in town) (Dont know if this will work)

acrylic

colored epoxy

electrical plugs from conduit boxes

marble chips/dust

semi prcious stones

chauk

charoal

places to get matarial

key grinding machines

motor(Wire)

tool and dye shops

glass blower

electrical contractors

marble counter tops cutting companies

jewler

shoe repair (leather)

http://www.beadbuddi...ious_Chips.html here is the best price and organized site for buying semi precious stones that i have come across so far.

[jHop]

For copper wire, take apart old electrical motors. I've been told that the local scrap yard is paying fifteen cents per pound of the whole motor, and the scrap price on the copper you unwind from these is not worth the time or effort to unwind it by hand.

As for places to get the copper wire, broken shredders, broken fax machines, broken hair dryers, pretty much anything that might have a magnet or spinning motor/shaft component within it. Some of this wire is pretty fine, (like 23 gauge or smaller) so you might need to add a couple of layers to get as thick as you need/ want.

Haven't tried glass; I might start with smaller chunks and carefully break it down into a powder inside some paper lined plastic bags, then seal it under a layer of CA, epoxy, or acryllic. Not being a glass blower, though, I can only offer theory. (By the way, I do know that adding rust from your car to molten glass will give a greenish color. Don't ask how I learned this.)

Leather has a couple of different options / choices. You have latigo, which is usually seen on boot laces (not the woven cloth, but the thicker leather strap-like lacing). Then you have veg tanned, which is good for carving and dyeing. And then chrome tanned, which is usually the permanently dyed stuff that most upholstry is made from. (I say this sitting in a mint-green leather chair. It's not as bad a color as you might think, but it's not something I can get in veg tanned.) As for leather sources, check a couple different places. First off, your local leather supply might have scraps available by the pound. This will typically be smaller or thinner pieces that were cut off for one reason or another. Secondly, check a couple smaller manufacturers of leather goods, like boot makers, shoe repair shops, purse manufacturers, or horse tack shops. They might have a couple of latigo remnants lying around you can get for cheap. Third option is to check a couple of stables or farms in the area. They may (not guaranteed) be willing to part with broken harness or tack parts cheap (or better yet, free), but some of the smaller shops will rather repair instead of outright replace. It's typically cheaper for them.

Leather choices are best left in the lacing / latigo strips for smaller (line) inlays, or 2 to 3 ounce leather scraps for wider / larger inlay. Anything larger than 4, and you'll be skiving (trimming excess leather off the back) it down to thickness. If you paid for your leather, this is just going to mean you overpaid for what you want. Problem is, thinner leather is kind of harder to find at the same pricing. (some shops do have it available.)

Other options instead of cow hide: snake skin (more cost), pig leather, Kangaroo, rabbit fur, suedes, and a couple of other options. I'd suggest checking out Tandy Leather (here) for a selection of available leather types. This is by no means a complete listing. Just my personal choice for starting. (and my preferred supplier, but that's because I don't order leather online. I prefer to go into the shop and talk to the crew. And this was my closest local supplier.)

[duckkisser]

thanks jhop i have a budy who is visiting mexico asked him to buy me some gold, silver wire he can get tons of it super cheap then i can piece it out to a few jewlers, and craftsmen. you can buy so much down there before it becomes a busness and then it becomes a thing they have to declare and tax. i think you can buy 500 dollers in raw material. he goes down to visit family and he buys simi precious gems twice a year and pays for the trip. talked to him last night he said gladly if i make him a small desk set to give to his wife for his 40th. only costing me half price to sell to him but ill end up geting enough silver and gold to last me years.

if i get some glass from this blower his broken pieces like my wood shavings do you want me to send you some to experiment on?