Cut Inlay Pocket
2 hoursEngrave recess to precise depth matching inlay wire or sheet thickness.
Field context
This workflow is part of 1 niche field
Learn metal inlay engraving from scratch with a clear step-by-step workflow, recommended tools, safety guidelines, and expert tips.
Engrave recess to precise depth matching inlay wire or sheet thickness.
Anneal gold or silver wire, flatten if needed, and cut to pocket length.
Drive inlay into pocket with punch, overlapping ends, until fully seated.
File and sand inlay flush with surface, then polish without dishing surrounding metal.
Inlay pocket depth = wire thickness × 1.1 for secure mechanical lock.
Loose wire inlay leaves voids visible after polishing — recut pocket if wire slides.
Keep steel and gold tools separate to avoid embedding steel in gold.
Over-punching distorts pocket walls — use incremental taps.