Getting hand control on power graver

[Mrbillz]

Here is what Steve Lindsay just had to say a week or so ago about the foot control versus the palm control version of his equipment.

"The PalmControl is easier for beginners to get the hang of, but once you
are good with the pedal it is six of one and half dozen of the other. If
spending long hours at the bench the PalmControl feels less confining in
that your foot isn't involved."

Now, back to my experience.

I have nerve damage in my feet and I use the foot control without issues. I can even move the foot control over to the left foot and use it OK. I suspect that I could not work for 8 hours a day with the foot control without some tiredness. Having said this however, the originator of this post may have more serious foot issues and may be better off with a palm control hand piece.

Further to the issue of a beginner engraver: When I decided after retirement to learn to engrave, I started with the hammer and chisel and took a class at a tech school in North Carolina taught by a hammer/chisel guy. After a 2 years I decided to buy a pneumatic engraver--I saw several in use at the North Carolina event but did not try any of them. I made my decision to buy a Lindsay foot control based upon my concepts of engineering and design as I spent the last 30 years of my career before retirement in the engineering business. When I received my Lindsay ( a used one) and started to use it I stopped after 5 minutes and went upstairs and told my wife this: " I could almost have cried if I were not a 68 year old "old guy" because the pneumatic engraver I bought was so easy to use, that it was clear that if I had bought a pneumatic engraver when I started to learn to engrave, I would have learned in 4 months what it took me more than 2 years to learn using a hammer and chisel"

Thanks! Neuropathy and weakness. This is a helpful perspective!

 

[Goldjockey]

Here's the bottom line for me. I'm an American designer and craftsman, from an American manufacturing industry decimated by offshoring labor to countries paying subsistence labor pricing, and engaging in foreign copycatting (often unencumbered by intellectual property law) and outright counterfeiting.

If you come asking myself and others to aid and abet the efforts of foreign (or domestic) counterfeiters, in finding ways to make your investment in their inferior counterfeit products pay off for you, and you don't like my response, the way others have responded... or your feelings are hurt.... tough.

If you had asked the question before you purchased, you would have received basically the same answer. "Call GRS, the company who originally designed the and built the product which Chinese opportunists are essentially reverse engineering, and counterfeiting, and ask them what they think about the product - before you spend a dime."

Of course, hindsight is always 20/20.

Good luck to you.

 

[oniemarc]

I'm wondering what it is you are having trouble with, considering the pedal. Is it lack of control over the airflow or something else?
If it is airflow control to control the hit...I wouldn't worry too much about it. I can get basically the same lines and start-ups with both my "airgraver" and my Shaun Hughes set-up. And I'm an absolute beginner at engraving. I am not saying that my lines are perfect by any means, but if you are just starting to look into what's right for you and don't want to break the bank, I would not be looking at anything handcontrolled to begin with. My SH graver was handmade by me...it is far from perfect...piston is slighty undersized and I don't have a pedal for the airflow...just the on/off pedal so to speak. I can adjust the speed and stroke though. I can restrict my airflow with a small control valve installed inline, but I can't adjust that whilst cutting.
I am really curious if anyone can pick which lines were cut with which machine. Both in copper...same 120 degree graver.
I guess in the end it comes down to the engraver...not the machine. I am sure that I can put both of my set-ups in the hands of many here and get the most amazing results with either one. I am also convinced that both would surpise most of said engravers. Turn the the table and hand me either a Lindsay or GRS system...the most expensive set-up you want...and my results will stay the same. Experience is key...as with most trades.

Sorry for the bad pictures BTW...had too zoom in with my phone camera....

 

[Sam]

The comfort level of hand actuation vs foot is better because you can cross your legs, extend you legs, or prop your feet on your chair base. Aside from that I see no advantage over foot pedal operation. I can do the same quality work with either system. But I use Airtact for 99% of what I do except stippling or punching. I love it.

 

[Memorymaker]

Here's the bottom line for me. I'm an American designer and craftsman, from an American manufacturing industry decimated by offshoring labor to countries paying subsistence labor pricing, and engaging in foreign copycatting (often unencumbered by intellectual property law) and outright counterfeiting.

If you come asking myself and others to aid and abet the efforts of foreign (or domestic) counterfeiters, in finding ways to make your investment in their inferior counterfeit products pay off for you, and you don't like my response, the way others have responded... or your feelings are hurt.... tough.

If you had asked the question before you purchased, you would have received basically the same answer. "Call GRS, the company who originally designed the and built the product which Chinese opportunists are essentially reverse engineering, and counterfeiting, and ask them what they think about the product - before you spend a dime."

Of course, hindsight is always 20/20.

Good luck to you.

Soooooo ........ you can’t be nice to a newbe who doesn’t know your pet peeve? I understand that knockoffs are usually substandard and sometimes make it hard to learn properly but you can be nice and explain it civilly. As far as subsistence labor pricing, you don’t have to go overseas to get that. Many billion dollar companies right here in the USA don’t pay living wages. If you want to be a bully and offensive then fine but remember ........ you reap what you sow. Just be nice ........ that’s all ...... be nice.

 

[Matthew Evans]

Soooooo ........ you can’t be nice to a newbe who doesn’t know your pet peeve? I understand that knockoffs are usually substandard and sometimes make it hard to learn properly but you can be nice and explain it civilly. As far as subsistence labor pricing, you don’t have to go overseas to get that. Many billion dollar companies right here in the USA don’t pay living wages. If you want to be a bully and offensive then fine but remember ........ you reap what you sow. Just be nice ........ that’s all ...... be nice.

Knockoffs are a lot like lead based paint. Don’t eat the chips and then ask your parents why they look at you funny.