LEARNING SKILLS FOR WORKING MOKUME GANE

Okay, Okay, so now you have billets and sheets and wires and mounds and mountains of mokume! You know how to clean it, bond it, pattern, and finish it. Now what do you do with it? Make beautiful things, of course.

The next section includes five demonstration projects that will introduce you to some basic ways of using mokume. Each project is designed to teach one or more skills for working with mokume and builds on its predecessor. When you are acquainted with the techniques demonstrated here, you will be ready to go on and begin creating your own unique designs and applications for mokume gane.

As you work through the following projects, keep in mind that you may use mokume in the same way you would other non-ferrous metals, with the following precautions:

1. All soldering must be done at a temperature below the firing temperature of the mokume. There is a danger of damaging the mokume, particularly if it was eutectically bonded or soldered.

2. When forming mokume gane, go slowly. You may forge, raise, die form, fold, and twist many mokume laminates in much the same way you would other metals. Only, do it … sloooowly. And anneal frequently. Some combinations of metals will work better than others for certain types of forming. Experiment, and find what works best for your purposes!

3. For pieces that must be flexible, like a cuff bracelet, that have been punch-patterned, be sure to fill the dents from punching with solder first and then sweat solder an appropriate metal on the back. If you don’t do this, the dents will be weak spots which will encourage excessive bending — and sooner or later, breakage — at these points. Punch-patterned mokume used for inlaying should have the dents filled with solder before inlaying as well.

4. If you are using an edge-grain laminate for a thin section, it is a good idea to sweat solder a backing sheet of the appropriate metal to it for extra strength. Because the bonds between layers are so thin, when many combinations of metal are utilized in this direction, there is a greater risk of bond failure.

Project 1
Mokume Accent Ring
The first project is a simple cast ring accented with a piece of mokume stock.

Project 2
Cast Inlay Ring
This project teaches how to inlay a continuous strip of mokume in a cast base.

Project 3
Fabricated Mokume Band
In this project demo you will learn construction techniques for a mokume band with a liner and edging.

Project 4
Gouge Patterned Pin
The fourth project demonstrates carving and forging techniques to create an attractive brooch.

Project 5
Twist Patterned Bracelet
The final project shows how to make a beautiful bangle bracelet using a twisted mokume bar.

Table Of Contents

Project Demonstrations — Step by Step

LEARNING SKILLS FOR WORKING MOKUME GANE