Mokumegane #14

Mokume Gane in process

A line was grooved on the cut out mokume gane sheet with a punch.

TOP: front view BOTTOM: back view

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Mokumegane #13

Mokume Gane in process

This sheet is, the same one as appeared in Mokumegane Patterning #4, composed of silver, copper and shakudo.
It was cut out for ??? (You will see the completed piece photo in the near future.)

Fire scale made the sheet unclean looking.

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Mokumegane Patterning #4

This Mokume Gane sheet was flattened out after second-time drilling.
The first drill marks were deformed and I found them very interesting.

Size: approx. 105 mm x 55 mm x T:2 mm


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Mokumegane Patterning #3

This Mokume Gane sheet is the same one as yesterday.
It was drilled rain drop pattern for the second time and then annealed.

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Mokumegane Patterning #2

This is the same Mokume Gane sheet which appeared yesterday,
after hand hammered.

It was elongated to . . .

84mm x 47mm x T:4mm (originally 68mm x 35mm x T: 6mm)


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Mokumegane Patterning #1

Mokume Gane billet composed of silver, copper and shakudo.

size: approx. 68mm x 35mm x T6mm

Using a drill bit, it was engraved about 1/3 of the thickness.


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Mokumegane #12

Mokume Gane in process (rain drop pattern)

This is the same piece, GIN'NEZU - silver on silver- billet after pickling.
The materials are all silver, yet you can tell the color difference in it.


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Mokumegane #11

Mokume Gane in process (rain drop pattern)

The silver on silver billet "GIN'NEZU" on Sept. 10 (mokumegane #11) of my blog became a thinner sheet like this.

Thickness became 9mm to 1.5mm while drilling - annealing - hammering.

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Mokumegane #10

Mokume Gane trial billet

GIN'NEZU (silver)

I checked the edge to see the layer after bonding. I will report the process and the outcome later.



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Mokumegane - Learn from failure #2

Mokume Gane test billet

Composed of silver, copper and shibuichi



On the previous page, you saw the cracked edges.
I trimmed off those edges about 1/8" or so.
Well, this is the SAME billet after the treatment.

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Mokumegane - Learn from failure

Mokume Gane test billet

Composed of silver, copper and shibuichi

This billet is one of the failure pieces.
Bonding temperature was appropriate, however, after taking the billet out of the forge, I didn’t wait long enough to put pressure on.

It caused cracks on the edge. Although, most part of the billet can be used, this is not desirable.

I will report the outcome later.

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MBMAG Art Show -Trapped & Pearl -

The Monterey Bay Metal Arts Guild
presents




"TRAPPED & Essential Element VII - Pearl"

September 8 - October 19, 2006

Opening Reception: Friday, September 8, 2006 7:00 - 9:00 pm

Pacific Grove Art Center
568 Lighthouse Avenue
Pacific Grove, CA 93950

Phone: 831-375-2208
Hours: WED - SAT 12:00 - 5:00 / SUN 1:00 - 4:00

My mokume gane art piece will be at Pacific Grove Art Center during this show.
Please drop in and see art pieces when you happen to come this way.

Photo: Sand Trap by E.B. (friend artist)

Mokumegane in Kanji

"Mokumegane" or "Mokume Gane" was named so, because its pattern looks like mokume - "wood grain".

"Gane" means "metal" in general and, if it used as a single character, it means "gold".

Some people use different kanji (Chinese) characters (above right) , especially in Akita Prefecture which is the birth place of mokume gane.
(In this case, "gane" means "copper")

Mokumegane Making #3

Mokume Gane Making Tools

These are some of my tools for mokume gane (pattern) making.
Small craft hammers and Japanese style chisels.