Thread: Scale Idea

Hey guys,

I am going to sound a bit insane here but I picked up a nice size chunk of Lapis Lazuli today. I got to thinking I might be able to make scales from it. Just brainstorming ideas. Its not settled yet. I do have some other ideas. This chunk was good quality Lapis. Very little white striping, deep blue and a good bit of pyrite in it. Not sure how brittle it would be in pinning.

Any suggestions on yes or no?

I think that might turn out heavy for scales. Might be able to use it for a wedge or something else smaller. Would look nice though.

I rescaled a small Buck knife folder out of Lapis and sterling for my wife. The only things that I reused were the spring and the blades. I split the sides with a V of silver because even then I was worried about it cracking with a longer length. I never took pictures and she lost it within a month. Dang! [I still love her. ]

A wedge wouldn't show the beauty of the stone. Possibly, possibly, splitting the length of the scales like shell that I have seen would work.

Tim

I also have seen MOP shell that had one piece per scale and the wedge was a pewter one.
Be worth the try and the little left overs would be useful for practice pin peening. It will take a cool hand and concentration. The stuff does not bend!
~Richard

Practice on Quartz or something cheap.

Do you have the tools to work the material?? Have done some small inlay work with lapis,is pretty hard stuff.

Perhaps backed with brass?

Originally Posted by Magpie

Perhaps backed with brass?

Me thinks they would be off the wall Heavy,JMO

The problem would be that you need to have some flex in the scales. I've seen a few guys try making scales out of glass and the only way it was accomplished IIRC was to use a rubber wedge to allow some give along the line.

It would be interesting to see it used as an inlay.