Official Luthiers Forum!

What black stuff can I use for engraving mother of pearl besides that Laskin stick from the luthier supplies? Sharpie?

Thanks!

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Pat

i'm not an engraver, but i personally wouldn't use Sharpies for anything nice. it can look iridescent and take on a reddish or sometimes bluish cast in certain lights. maybe shoe polish or lampblack? if you let a sterno can burn closely against some metal it will produce the deepest blackest soot you have ever seen

I believe I've read or seen people use black ink. However it doesn't fill the engraving lines the way the Laskin filler does so it give a different look. I believe if you are careful you can paint the ink into the engraved lines and wipe off any that remains on top of the pearl. Just can't remember where I read/saw this...Larry Robinson maybe?

Josh

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Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
https://www.facebook.com/canadianluthiersupply?ref=hl
House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com

+1 on avoiding the sharpie, I've tried it and it does have an off color sheen, sort of like an oil slick. Never thought about shoe black but now reading this it makes sense and I'll be trying it.

The last couple times engraving I've used India ink because my wife has a whole bunch of colors, including black. I just painted it in with a tooth pick. I'm not sure if it was necessary , but I also sealed the ink with CA glue.


Ray

Oh, and for the record, I saw that in the Robinson videos too. Good resource to add to a collection.


Ray

I've used archival felt pens from an art supply store. They don't look weird and you can get them with really small tips. Originally india ink was used. I've used high quality black chalk and CA. Dry pigments with CA work very well but they aren't cheap but you can make your own colors which is important. Or you can just buy black CA if jet black is all you want. As you know CA with pipet is easy to control. I know guys who use acrylic paints but I'm too impatient and they really need to dry before you flush sand. I've also been using Marshals liquid photo retouch pigments. They are an archival ink. They are a little weak in color so work best for subtle work. Often I use these on top of pearl or mammoth Ivory for a blush in a face or other slight color shift. I always use a product that is as archival/fade resistant as possible.

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Michael F Smith
Goat Rock Ukulele
http://goatrockukulele.com

Hi Pat,

What is your reason for not using the Laskin stick? I assume you don't like the look.

Josh

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Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
https://www.facebook.com/canadianluthiersupply?ref=hl
House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com

Its not that, I just needed it done yesterday!

Thanks for the replies guys, I think I will try those pens or India ink. Do I still need to cover with CA?

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Pat

I use either the Laskin filler, which wears better on fingerboard inlays, or a gun makers lacquer stick (you can get these at Brownells or another gunsmith shop). The Laskin filler is a sticky wax, but the lacquer stick goes on very soft and then hardens in the engraved lines--comes in many colors too. I prefer the lacquer stick for inlays that will end up with finish over them, as I've had the waxy stick cause some finish adhesion problems in the past.

Dave