fluting?

thesilversmith · Post by **thesilversmith** » Sat Aug 10, 2002 10:04 pm

I'm working on a set of spaulders and i haven't done any fluting before. i was wondering do you do fluting before or after you dish?
thanks

[This message has been edited by thesilversmith (edited 08-10-2002).]

Cerdic · Post by **Cerdic** » Sat Aug 10, 2002 10:09 pm

For dishing, after. If you do it before, your pretty fluting will get dished right out of the work.

For straight lames, after as well. Technically, you could do it before, as gentle single direction rolling (as long as it's not fed through a roller), might not hurt it. However, usually straight pieces are articulated into each other, and dished pieces. By doing the fluting after the dishing, rolling, and fitting process is complete, the flute will now make a nice smooth transition through the pieces.

Regards,
Cerdic the long-winded. :^)

thesilversmith · Post by **thesilversmith** » Sat Aug 10, 2002 10:29 pm

thanks, and to think i was going to do it first

Kobold Arms · Post by **Kobold Arms** » Sat Aug 10, 2002 10:37 pm

Grins yes use a dull chisel on a wood block,after you dish,do the layout with the parts bolted together,to make it line up and pay attention to WHICH side of the line you are making the flute on,or they won't line up.

Now I have come up with other methods over the years,personally,I got tired of the time it took to make even flutes.

I now use blade tools in the shapes I want,ground down to flat chisel edges,to flute over wood covered with leather(usually oak,pine is too soft,makes a poor impression)

(If you do not,it embosses the wood grain into the sides of the flutes when you run the press down)

and I can do it up to 16 gage THEN dish it in wood blocks with hollows cut into them,and the flutes still stay bold.

I also use patterns that have the fluting stencil cut into them,I can lay everything out in advance,while it's still flat.

The upshot to this,is I can do Gothic for about half the price of the average maker,and it's very clean-not some bogus round bottom bead put in with a roller (which I do NOT consider Gothic)

You can check out some of the results at

http://www.msnusers.com/Koboldarms

Every flute you see in all the paerts is made that way...........

Enjoy!

Sven the Armorer

Gaston de Clermont · Post by **Gaston de Clermont** » Mon Aug 12, 2002 12:37 pm

Sven,
The flutes you're making are very nice, and I'd like to better understand exactly how you're making them. It sounds like the wooden dishing forms you're using have hollows carved out to accomodate the flutes. Is that correct?
You said you're using ground down blade tools. Some of your flutes have fairly tight curves to them. How did you get your blades to match the shape you wanted?
You also mentioned "you run the press down". Are you using a mechanical press, and could you describe it?
Regards,
Gaston de Clermont