[Harp-L] Burnishing v Embossing

[Joseph Leone]

I might (repeat, might) be cautious about using too small a diameter swaging wand. As this would cause a furrow in the smeared metal. Pushing the metal down into
the slots, which in turn would need the reed to swing lower than necessary. It seems to me that swinging closer to the original surface is all that is necessary and would
ultimately be less (shall we say) strain on the reed itself. 

Keeping in mind that the reed here in this particular case, is the more fragile part and the reed plate being the (more or less) ‘base’ part. Or dead weight part. Inert as far
as movement goes. And it is the reed’s movement that give us the sound. ‘I’ as an island would advocate a swaging tool at least 11-12 times the dia. of the reed’s width.
Ergo..if a reed is .10 inch (2.54mm) wide, the tool should be 1.10 to 1.20 inches (27.9 to 30.4mm) diameter. Ergo.. a 3/4” (or 19mm) socket would be swell. Round edges,
chrome plated, held at a 30 to 45 degree angle to the slot.

smo-joe (who has made things from practically nothing at all..and if he ever gets it down to nothing, there will be a rip in the space/time continuum) lolol.  

> On Jan 20, 2017, at 6:05 PM, Rick Dempster <rickdempster33 at xxxxx> wrote:
> 
> Yes Aongus, and Joe. Neither embossing nor burnishing describes the pressing of the metal to alter its shape.
> Swaging does. I am not a professional tradesman, but a fairly experienced handyman, who has worked in 
> machine and sheet metal shops in times past.
> I know of all these terms, and I am familiar with "swaging" through attaching turnbuckles to steel cables, 
> such as might be used in fencing or ship rigging.
> The metal is pressed so that it entraps the steel cable.
> I would use 'emboss if making an inscription, and 'burnish' as a form of polishing.
> 
> Here are some internet dictionary definitions:
> Burnish:
> polish (something, especially metal) by rubbing.
> "highly burnished armour"
> synonyms:	polish (up), shine <https://www.google.com.au/search?espv=2&biw=1955&bih=1062&q=define+shine&forcedict=shine&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjzq9_i6dHRAhXMFJQKHVtIDZoQ_SoIHDAA>, brighten <https://www.google.com.au/search?espv=2&biw=1955&bih=1062&q=define+brighten&forcedict=brighten&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjzq9_i6dHRAhXMFJQKHVtIDZoQ_SoIHTAA>, rub up/down, buff (up), smooth <https://www.google.com.au/search?espv=2&biw=1955&bih=1062&q=define+smooth&forcedict=smooth&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjzq9_i6dHRAhXMFJQKHVtIDZoQ_SoIHjAA>, glaze <https://www.google.com.au/search?espv=2&biw=1955&bih=1062&q=define+glaze&forcedict=glaze&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjzq9_i6dHRAhXMFJQKHVtIDZoQ_SoIHzAA>; archaicfurbish <https://www.google.com.au/search?espv=2&biw=1955&bih=1062&q=define+furbish&forcedict=furbish&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjzq9_i6dHRAhXMFJQKHVtIDZoQ_SoIITAA>
> "marks can be removed by scraping and burnishing the metal"
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Emboss:carve, mould, or stamp a design on (a surface or object) so that it stands out in relief.
> "an embossed brass dish"
> 
> 
> Swage:
> 1.
> shape (metal) using a swage, especially in order to reduce its cross section.
> "the instrument has a swaging head and a pulsed action which flattens the rivet in a series of rolling motions"