What's Your Favorite Engraving Accessory??

[Andrew Biggs]

Just for a bit of fun I thought I'd show you two of my essential engraving accessories.

That magic mushroom in the vise is a block of wood with a big blob of Thermo Loc on top. Now it doesn't look like much but I tell you this thing is worth it's weight in pure gold. It lifts the work above the vise so your hand doesn't get caught on the edges of the vise. You can tilt it to any angle to accommodate weird shapes and awkward angles. It takes any odd shape you can think of and is absolutely perfect for watch cases, bezels and backs. It even hold small buckles that are attached to straps. The wooden block is 45mm in diameter and took me all of 10 minutes to make and it's rough as guts..............as you can see.

The other item is the manky looking toothbrush. This little sucker is used all the time for cleaning off metal shavings and abrasive residue plus any other crud that finds it way onto the vise and work............the yellow ones work better than any other colour

So......................what is your favorite "Can't do without" accessory?

Cheers
Andrew

 

[Arnaud Van Tilburgh]

I think mine is quite similar. But instead of using the Thermo Loc on top, I use some setters cement on this mini ball vise as that glues better. And as I use the Black and Decker hair-dryer, :big grin: because I found out that is better recentre the object to engrave to be able to engrave smooth tendrils and scrolls. The hair-dryer I bought second hand when I was on a holiday in France for 10 euro helps a lot.

 

[BrianPowley]

Is the "paycheck" considered an accessory or a coincidence?

 

[FANCYGUN]

paycheck is a rare coincidence Brain if you are a "professional" like many of us

 

[fegarex]

This is mine. I made this beat up thing 20 years ago and it keeps on ticking. I have several size holes to fit common #6 and #8 screws as well a larger ones. If there is an odd size, I just reverse one of the jaws and use a 1/2 round. It is only about 3/4" deep so if I need to do the end of a screw, the head will clear as well.
If I was to make another I might use some sort of plastic now. I just has some oak handy when I made this.
Rex

 

[Frank P]

this one counts?? for lunch time ???

Frank

 

[Roger Bleile]

Frank,

Tell us about that gun you are working on with the round action and "mutton chop" back action locks.

Roger

 

[Dulltool]

I would vote for coffee.........

 

[Weldon47]

Geez, Andrew,

For a second there I thought it was a set of false teeth and toothbrush sitting in your vise (hee hee!) Hmm, come to think of it, I've done a few jobs that were sorta like pulling teeth............

WL

 

[Lee]

Let it sit out at least 24 hours and a glass or two is invaluable for certain design challenges.:big grin: Rex and Andrew, I'm going to make me a couple like yours. Good ideas.

 

[fegarex]

Lee,
NOW we know your secret! And all this time I was using "solar potato salad"......

 

[Kevin P.]

Andrew, I'm going make up one of those for myself. I'll probably try Arnaud's 'setter's cement' also to see if one is better than the other
For another holding device I use a piece of MDF and stick glue and a paint gun for melting. It works well for flat surfaces and is quick and clean.
Kevin P.

 

[gail.m]

Frank P, I will vote for the sausage! Good sausages are hard to find here in Florida!

 

[Christopher Malouf]

I don't know Gail ... magic mushrooms, rotten milk and a greeeezy sausage (dipped in an ash tray...might as well)?

and an ativan daily before any cutting begins.

 

[Haraga.com]

Essentials

Here is a photo of a couple of my favorite essential tools. Can you see the frog in the pic? It was carved by Victor Vasquez. The other picture is a pair of spur earrings. 14K white and 18K rose.

 

[monk]

my main bench. built on the principle of strength, size, and expandability. has 18 drawers and 4 shelves, + ample storage space underneath- or more drawers or shelves could be added. it currently holds a computerized engraving machine, complete computer system, a scanner, zoom scope, 6 reams of paper, books, asst. tools, as well as pantograph machine accessories. also trash, garbage, refuse, rubbish, and things that crawl around under the bench after dark ! this is just a partial view of the beast.

 

[Kevin P.]

So Monk, where do you fit in, in this work space?
Kevin P.

 

[Cloudy]

I'd say Tom Curran is most essential to my engraving- nice to have an ace machinist and engraver as a chum!

 

[monk]

kevin: i do all essentiial planning & design outside. she only allows me in the house to "cut". she says i have too much junk, and not enough money. duh !

 

[eastslope]

Monk, I am going to have nightmares now that I have seen what can happen to a work bench. Just plain looks scary. Leonard, those spur earrings sure look fine. Cool stuff. Seth