Mock Whitby Jet Jewellery - Dremel carved black acrylic

Experimenting with dremel carving black perspex, for an effect like Whitby jet. Compared to laser etched and laser cut perspex, the carved and hand polished acrylic brooches look older and have a more interesting surface, with variation from shiny to dull textures, like vintage jet pieces - more naive style carving though! Using 'off-cuts' of perspex from a local independent sign-maker.

The bird brooch has been fully sanded and polished - using sandpaper and plastic polish. The church brooch has not been sanded at all - the raised surfaces catch the light with the original perspex mirror finish, which contrasts with the roughly carved textured areas. 

Vonax polishing compound for plastics - works very well with my little Dremel felt mops and then some finishing with a soft cloth. Halfords are great for really fine grades of sandpaper - 2500grit.

Vonax polish from Cooksongold.

I prefer not to use glue to attach  brooch pins - I use tiny rivets, which come in a range of metals and lengths. The heads are ususally just a perfect size to secure brooch pins. These rivets, being hollow, fit securely once hammered into a tightfitting hole - flaring the hole slightly makes them easier to hammer into position. 

Rivets from Palmers Metals.

I am happy with the graphic carving and the two-tone effect of the unpolished perspex - close to my original sketch design.

'Little Chapel' mock jet brooch.