If the design will have any
background recessed do this work after the gold inlays are in and
sanded/polished flush. If a glass bead blasting texture is used on any of the surfaces do this just
before the shading. Shading work is always the last step. Once shading is finished
the piece is finished. DO NOT sand and polish over your shading work. It
will take away from the gray tones you were trying to achieve while
shading and also round the edges of the cuts. If there are burs standing up in the engraving or shading
cuts removed them with the graver, not sandpaper or a buffer. After
the shading is complete look for burs by wiping a tissue over the surface.
Tissue lint will hang up on any burs and you may then go under the scope
and remove them with the graver.
For the larger sheet gold inlays, under cut the edges of the pocket and raise some
teeth in the center to prevent the gold from bowing up in the middle.
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