It’s been a few days since my last post and I’m afraid I have no pretty images to share nor completed pieces, but I have figured several things:

I found a nice spray gloss that I can put over leafing and metal to keep them shiny – much better than the stuff I tried the first time. I have several leafed pieces that need sealing as well as the Magritte piece. I’ve also found out about (and purchased) a good spray paint that works as an acid resist.  I am planning on using it for engraving purposes – I can remove paint from metal and have acid etch the exposed parts.

I’ve decided to use copper pipes/tubing to attach magnifying glasses to frames. I’m quite pleased to have resolved how to integrate the glasses with what they are focusing on. Copper is easy to work with, looks fairly elegant, and will be easy to attach to the frames. I can also do decorative work on the copper – vinyl masking/sandblasting and etching. Metals, especially copper, are featuring heavily in this series – they and the magnifying glasses provide a common visual thread.

In other news: I’ve learned how to use a rotary attachment for the laser cutter that will let me engrave on round objects. Aside from the obvious use on glass, I can try it on the pipes too. Only difficulty is that copper tubing that is easy to bend comes in coils, and unless I can straighten it almost perfectly, I won’t be able to spin it. Regular half inch copper pipe will work fine, but I’ll have to figure out that scary pipe bending machine at TechShop. On the bright side, my magnifying glasses fit nicely in half-inch pipe.

I also tried etching tiny fonts on glass and figured out the correct settings on the laser. A 4pt font is quite easy to read at 100 speed/30 power.

My plasma cutter parts and my router bit have arrived, so I’m now able to do some fancy CNC wood and metal working. I need to visit the lumber yard – Home Depot’s selection isn’t good enough. I also went to Blick and purchased some copper foil for embossing, some ferric chloride for etching, and some airplane glue in case I need a quick vacation.