The Ankh


The oldest sign of ancient Egypt, the ankh is a powerful symbol of life everlasting. Every Egyptian god, goddess, and ruler was depicted with the ankh through which their immortality was maintained. It was not a symbol which was normally worn. Instead, it was carried in the right hand.

2 pieces of 8" X 4" 20 gauge copper
8" X 4" piece of 1/2" thick wood
Coping or sabre saw
Medium half-round file
Large, rough tooth half-round file
Tin snips
Emery cloth
Carbon paper
Tracing paper
Sandpaper
Five minute epoxy
Electric drill and 1/4" drill bit
Electric drill buffing attachment and polishing compound
Shellac
Glossy Varnish

Draw an Ankh to fit on your materials. Rough the surfaces of the copper with sand paper and transfer your drawing onto the surfaces with the carbon paper. Cut along the outside contours with the tin snips. Once the metal has been cut out, flatten the metal with a hammer (flatten anytime the metal becomes warped). Drill a 14" hole in the center section about 3/4" from one of the inside lines. Drill as many additional holes as you need to fit the tin snips inside to cut out the center. File the inner and outer edges with a half-round file.

Transfer the shape of the ankh to the wood. Clamp or hold the wood down and cut along the outer edges with the coping or sabre saw. Drill a 1/4" hole in the center section. Open the coping saw and insert the blade through the hole. Close the saw and saw around the inside lines (at least 1/16 from the actual line) until the center section can be removed. File the edges of the wood with a large rough tooth half-round file.

Emery cloth the backs of the copper ankhs so that the glue will adhere to them. Apply epoxy to one of the copper ankhs and position it on the back of the wooden ankh. Weigh down with books or something heavy. Allow to dry. Repeat procedure with the second copper ankh to the opposite side of the wooden ankh.

File away any excess copper or wood until all three pieces are uniform. Sand the exposed wood on the sides and inside the center hole with rough and then fine sandpaper. Apply a coat of shellac to the wood and allow to dry for about two hours. Apply a coat of glossy vanish to the wood, and a second coat after the first has dried. Allow the second coat to dry for an entire day. Emery cloth the surfaces of both pieces of copper and polish with the electric drill buffing attachment.