Knife Stone Inlay Andy Wolak 5/07/23
Class | This class is completed
Knife Stone Inlay: Lapidary Knife Scales
Instructor: Andy Wolak
You will learn how to select folding knives and chef/utility knives that are suitable for stone scales and handles, make templates for marking slabs to cut to preliminary shapes, cut and shape the stones, prepare the knife surfaces and stone surfaces for maximum adhesion, and glue the stones to the knives. You will also learn how to safely grind, shape and polish the scales and handles to minimize the risk of injury or damage to the equipment. Knives have sharp blades! Slabs will be available for sale. You are encouraged to bring your own slabs. 1/8” to 3/16” are good for folding knives, 1/4” to 3/8” for chef/utility knives. Sterling silver rectangular wire will be available for sale or bring your own silver for channel inlays. I use Rio Grande Item#100590, rectangular wire 5mmx1.24mm and Rio Grande item#100305, strip .050x1/4”.
Class kits will include:1 Folding knife,1 Damascus steel chef knife, Template material, Epoxy, Sandpaper, Fine line marker, and Pencil.
Lab fee: $200 (includes kit contents and misc. consumables)
Est Material Fee: $0+
Prerequisite: Efficient at making cabochons.
Andy Wolak
I’m a relative newcomer to Lapidary Arts. A couple of years before I retired in early 2021 my wife and a friend encouraged me to learn how to make cabochons so I would have a hobby to keep me busy. I learned from a friend who generously let me use her equipment and taught me techniques she learned from Jack King. I spent the year before I retired acquiring equipment and working out the best configurations and processes for making products other than cabochons. I started putting shaped stones on money clips, developed a way to attach stone handles to kitchen knives. I added folding knife scales to my products and developed a process for removing the existing scales, prepping the stones and knives for scales, and finishing the knives. When not vending my one-of-a-kind creations at local and regional art shows, I live in the basement (says my wife). I love rocks and I love knives. I am happy to share my techniques with other lapidary artists and enjoy teaching at William Holland.