Fixturing trick

[mitch]

Once again, I made the mistake of saying, "Yeah, sure, I can do that for you..." (Will I EVER learn???) and needed to figure out how to hold a teaspoon to engrave the inner concave surface with some new baby data. Here's what I came up with. It's a 2.5"D cylinder of stainless steel with a big glob of hot glue on it. I would have preferred a wooden cylinder because I had to put the SS one in my toaster oven at 250 for 15 minutes to get it warm enough for the glue to melt & stick to it (my heat gun was outgunned). Then it took forever to cool down so I could get on with it. This trick would work just as well on a convex object, too.

You're looking at the only 'two' baby spoons I'll ever do: The first and the last.

 

[papart1]

where there is a will there is always a way, I'll remeber that too. Thanks Mitch.

 

[John B.]

Hi Mitch, and others. Here is what I use for those odd items.
A very inexpensive hardwood dapping block (#82986) from Micro-Mark offers 6 different diameter cavities and will not require the heat up treatment.
And nice and square to hold in your vise. Give it a look.
Best regards

 

[Sinterklaas]

Round is nice for repositioning the working area to the centre of the vise. Also if you make some saw grooves about 1mm deep in to the top (cross hatched) then glue or thermolock will have something to grip.

 

[Dave London]

Cool concave engraving is a PITA, what is up with the screws in the vise jaws.

 

[mitch]

Cool concave engraving is a PITA, what is up with the screws in the vise jaws.

It has threaded inserts for a custom-built set of hand rest plates. Should be four, but one came loose and I've never got around to gluing it back in.

And as John recommended, dapping blocks will work, but can't be turned 360 degrees to position ANY spot on the object square/parallel to the top of the vise and your microscope.

 

[sam]

A very challenging project. I've only done a very few spoon jobs in 38 years, and none I'd care to show anyone!

 

[tdelewis]

Don't make your wife mad at you! I use a heat gun to soften the glue.

 

[Dave London]

Thanks Mitch,

 

[Stefan]

Mr. Mitch, how do you fix the spoon for the engraving on the reverse side of the stamp? Are there any fixing methods?
Spoons and forks, knives and silverware engrave often.
I would be grateful for any photo or picture.

 

[mitch]

Mr. Mitch, how do you fix the spoon for the engraving on the reverse side of the stamp? Are there any fixing methods?
Spoons and forks, knives and silverware engrave often.
I would be grateful for any photo or picture.

I would probably just use a smaller diameter cylinder, maybe 1.5"/4cm, and round off the end a bit so the spoon fits better without quite so much hot glue.

 

[JJ Roberts]

I have a draw filled with blocks f wood for hot glueing small gun parts for engraving. J.J.

 

[Stefan]

Thank you, Mr. Mitch! And how do you usually fix spoons and forks for ordinary engraving? Thimbles? Small salt shakers, pepper shakers, owls and sugar tongs?

 

[Stefan]

Mr Mitch. Do I need to blacken engraving in cutlery. After all, they eat?

 

[quickcut07]

Mitch I usually have good luck putting glued pieces in the freezer for a bit. Just be gentle to get it started and it will usually pop out.

Eric

 

[mitch]

Mitch I usually have good luck putting glued pieces in the freezer for a bit. Just be gentle to get it started and it will usually pop out.

Eric

i don't have a problem getting anything unstuck, but in this instance i needed to resort to more extreme measures to get that big steel cylinder hot enough for the glue to melt and stick in the first place.

 

[mitch]

Thank you, Mr. Mitch! And how do you usually fix spoons and forks for ordinary engraving? Thimbles? Small salt shakers, pepper shakers, owls and sugar tongs?

One of the main things you must learn as an engraver is to be creative in fixturing, all the more so if you work under a microscope. i've used dozens of different wood blocks, partially submerged parts in cerro-metal, made Bondo fixtures, screwed some parts to blocks, etc. They're all a little different...

 

[mitch]

Cool concave engraving is a PITA, what is up with the screws in the vise jaws.

 

[Dave London]

Sweet idea, I like the slide action. My rests fit in the large pin holes parallel to the jaws. Thanks Mitch

 

[Stefan]

I understood. Each product must be approached creatively. And think how to fix. Thanks for the photo. I have a lot of wooden blocks need to use different options. There is no single rule! There is a rule to think for yourself!