New to cafe

[Rockingkj]

Just joined the Cafe. Very rank beginner in engraving. I push engrave with wood handle palm gravers. Below is my latest effort. Full of issues, slips and I’m certain mistakes I don’t even know about. Hope to learn and improve by joining. Tim

 

[mtlctr]

Any Skinner be proud to cap off With that . Nicely executed,not Overdone for the period imho.

 

[Rockingkj]

Thank you.

 

[Rockingkj]

Here is another project, a tobacco canteen. My take on a 1870’s item. About the size of a pocket watch. Engraved flat, domed the sides, soldered together

 

[monk]

welcome to the forum. if a rank beginner, not bad at all. rather good i'd say for push work. i see a few minor problems but i feel they will disappear without you even being aware of them. practice and time as many say, WIll bring perfection.

 

[Rockingkj]

Appreciate the kind words.

 

[Rockingkj]

One more bit of my engraving, backgrounding covers a lot of “oops”.

 

[mtlctr]

Here is another project, a tobacco canteen. My take on a 1870’s item. About the size of a pocket watch. Engraved flat, domed the sides, soldered together

Nice accoutrement, engraving looks right for the period.

 

[Rockingkj]

Thanks at this point that’s about my skill level. Drool over work of others on the cafe.

 

[mtlctr]

If you check out some reference books of the period you will see the engraving was much simpler with borders , lines not much in the way of scrolls seen today on firearms. Many of the gunsmiths just did engraving as a matter of course as a standard of craftsmanship. They werenot trained engravers.

 

[Rockingkj]

I spend a lot of time studying engraved guns from 1850’s-1900. True, generally not the highly refined details seen in modern engraving but I would be delighted to be able to come close to that old work. Would like to whine about using hand push gravers rather than power air gravers but know that’s a lame excuse. The old master’s achieved greatness without power gravers.

 

[John B.]

I spend a lot of time studying engraved guns from 1850’s-1900. True, generally not the highly refined details seen in modern engraving but I would be delighted to be able to come close to that old work. Would like to whine about using hand push gravers rather than power air gravers but know that’s a lame excuse. The old master’s achieved greatness without power gravers.

Nice work!
Try some hammer and chisel powered engraving.
Many old timers used that method, together with push.

 

[mtlctr]

I used h&c for all.

 

[Rockingkj]

Very nice. Never attempted hammer and chisel. More goodies to acquire.

 

[Rockingkj]

Do you make your hammer and chisel gravers? Not found a ready source for suitable gravers. Played with H & C in a small way yesterday. Have some die makers chisels but those a huge and not for fine work. Cut a scroll on a axe head, I can see possibilities with the right tools.

 

[mtlctr]

Chasers hammers readily available, 3/32” or 1/8” x 2 1/4” lathe tool bits grind to shape I made my own handles & purchased some Belgium style steel handles..

 

[John B.]

Rockingkj,
I recommend the square Belgium style gravers handles.
With them your "hand/mind" can "automatically" sense when the graver is "upright" or the amount "leaning angle" you are giving it to create a flair cut.

This takes a little time to get the hang of, but will come to you with a bit of practice.
Round handles will work but you have to align things visually.

You can buy steel Belgium style graver handles from Ngraver Co.
But Ngraver has been a little difficult to deal with since the passing of my friend and owner, Ray J. Phillips.
If you can't get them from Ngraver they are easy to make from square stock, metal or wood, if you have the tools.

No tools to make your handles? A machine shop can easily make them for you,
I recommend having 4 or 5 handles to accommodate different size and style gravers, without having to constantly change them around as you work.

Best of luck with your engraving journey!

 

[Rockingkj]

Thanks. Looks like I should get a small metal lathe that always wanted. Would be a simple thing to turn a handle, drill and tap for a set screw to hold the graver in. Have a fellow that has offered me a good price on a combination lathe and milling machine. Down side is it’s 400 lbs + (and I don’t have enough strong back friends to move it) and have no place to put it in my shop.

 

[mtlctr]

You can buy round or square stock cut to length drill center hole , side hole for set screw. Don’t need a lathe. Broom handle works too.

 

[Rockingkj]

Thanks. I had found the spiffy handle sold by Lindsay and had gone all fancy in my mind. If I used the handle from a vacuum cleaner would it the be a power graver? Asking for a friend. Lol thanks for all your advice