bright-cut tutorial.

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Sam,

With all the recent interest in western buckles, and bright-cut engraving how about a small tutorial on the subject. Maybe just a small step, by step on a flower//scroll. I know my interest is peaked, I'm sure others feel the same.

Bill.

 

[sam]

Bill: If someone would care to photograph the steps I'd be happy to see it in the Cafe. I can cut a mediocre example of western, but REAL western engravers are far more qualified than me.

Anyone up for the task? / ~Sam

 

[Norm Harris Jr.]

Sam

I would like to second Bill's suggestion of a Bright Cut Engraving tutorial.

Norm

 

[Ray Cover]

That would be great if someone could do that.

If someone would put together a step by step I am sure a lot of folks would find it helpful.

There is a very kind person who is sending me stuff privately via email. I don't know that they want the attention drawn to them so I won't say who. I would not mention it other than than to let them know I really do appreciate their effort.

Ray

 

[Brian Hochstrat]

Well, I am not sure I really have the years of experience to put much weight behind a tutorial, but Diane Scalese taught me bright cutting and she is a good teacher, so here goes.
1. I have wriggled the backbone, I used a 37 flat 40 deg. face and no heel I use the low hand technique and over exagerate the wrist roll to get this type of look. I wriggle counterclockwise and keep the edge of the tool on the outside edge of my guide line. Also I have made the 1st cut the 3 step sequence the "backhand cut". I use a 45 flat with the heel rolled from 20-5 deg. highly polished. It should be broke off squarely at the end of the cut.
2. This is the bright cut, to make the bullnose ending, at the end of the cut drop your hand and kick the graver up and to the northeast, if you are facing north. The rolled heel helps with a clean leave. Stop your cut short of the backbone to give room for the "capcut".
3. This is the "cap cut". It lines the bright cut, It should be somewhat light, I have a bad habit of getting them to heavy, it should just accent and crispen the edge of your bright cut.
4. Here are all the cuts with leaf size tapering in size as you go, the last cut is a "combo cut" it has a backhand and bright cut but no cap cut.
5. Here are the "closer cuts", The first is just a variation, note the last closer next to the nob should cross the backhand cut. Also the "smiley cut" (Dianes term not mine) is added to accent the nob.
6. Here is the finishing sequence for the nob. Snap the cuts off squarely at the end.
7. Here is the start of lining, I use a 18-10 bent liner with face rounded for ease of cornering. I start with one tooth in the metal at the thin end of the leaf and roll it flat as the leaf thickens.
8. Here all the leaves are lined, keep in mind the lining must flow smoothly with the leaves. Keep only the teeth of graver cutting, you should have several fine peels coming out of the metal.
9. Here is the cross hatching, to achieve this stand the tool, a 28-8, on end with the corner in the metal and give your vise a turn, roll the tool flat as you go.
I hope this is helpful, and I hope Diane get her computer fixed so she can log in and give you her expertise, she is a Master bright cutter, and her skills as a teacher are as good as her engraving. She could also critique my plate and show you some things not to do as well.

 

[Ray Cover]

Brian,

I love the step by step practice plate. What is that cut on?

Check your PMs

Ray

 

[Brian Hochstrat]

Ray, I used a brass practice plate I had laying around, I would have prefered a copper plate but I did'nt have any, it bright cuts better and easier, but the brass worked in a pinch

 

[Marcus Hunt]

Fantastic Brian, that was a great tutorial and very well thought out. Any chance you could do a tutorial on cutting flowers in a similar manner? Thanks.

 

[BrianPowley]

Brian,
Bravo............nicely done from start to finish. Thanks!
Years ago, I took a class taught by Johny Weyerts.(Another good bright cutter)
I forgot how much fun bright cutting was.

 

[Joe Mason]

Great job Brian. The step by step really help. May have to give this a try.

Thanks

Joe

 

[John B.]

Hi Brian.
Thank you for a great step-by-step tutorial.
Very clear and well done.
What is the size of the plate or each square, please?
John B.

 

[webad2006]

Brian,

Thanks for the post, I'm sure everybody appreciates the time you spent to put this info together for us.
Great-Job!......

Bill.

 

[Brian Hochstrat]

Marcus here is the flower you asked for. Again it is on a brass plate 2"x2" same as the scroll plate, copper would be better but I have none so we are stuck with brass. All was done with a 45 flat accept for the shading
1. This is the flower layout, on this I used a 1/2" circle on the outer and a 3/32" on the inner. It has been scribed for visual purposes only. I typically use Sam"s wax and a 9H pencil.
2. Next I cut the center. Follow the guide line with the outer edge of the tool as you turn roll the tool flat and snap the chip off squarely at the end. I tend to leave a bit of metal uncut in the center to give more of a fan blade look, I think Diane prefers to make the entire center bright.
3. Here the center is finished and one side of the pedals are cut, the taper is achieved by both rolling the graver and increasing the depth of cut.Cutting one side at a time helps to keep a consistant cut from one to the next.
4. The other side has been cut. Being sure to snap the chip out squarely.
5. This is "S" cut, start on the outside corner or the tool, roll it flat, to get the bull nose end, as you end the cut drop your hand and scoop the graver up out of the metal as if you were scooping ice cream.
6. Here the "S" has been capped. Start lightly follow the contour of the S and end just short of the pedal cut.
7. Here is the famous "Flutter Tool". Stand it on end and rock it back and forth as you turn the vise. Laying to tool at an angle will give a curved affect. The end of the tool has a radias and a knife like edge. The more radias the more hand movement is required to walk the tool
8-9. There are countless variations, not only in flower shape and cutting combinations, but even changing the center or, your flutter pattern will give a different look.
Also, here are the tools I most commonly use (from left to right) 18-10 bent liner, note the radiased face, 28-8 for crosshathing it was striaght but I put a slight bend in it, Yeah its ugly but it works, I like the Glenn steels used flat, easier to square up in the sharpening fixture and stay bright longer, sometimes there are finger clearence issues. Flutter tool made out of an old 45 push graver, The flat is a 45 the huge notch is for clearance of raised edges, concho domes ect, I am about out of tool though . Not promoting, but I use the Magnum handpiece, which got a bit more kick since recently upgrading to the GraverMach.
Hopefully this is helpful, I have recieved tons of help from you all, which takes up your valuable time, so it nice to be able to give back some. Brian

 

[Tira]

Great Tutorial! I moved it to the tips section so we don't loose track of it.

 

[Ray Cover]

Great job Brian, thanks!

This is very helpful instruction and the step by step examples on the plates are a big help. THis has given me more pertinant info than I got from the Jeremiah Watt video I paid $80 for.

Ray

 

[rod]

Thank you so much for your bright cut postings, Brian!

I think you will agree that Diane's FEGA dvd on western style bright cut is excellent value for $33, and perhaps something for your library, Ray? I just received it, and I like her teaching style on the video. I have signed up for her course in combination with Ron Smith to be taught at GRS later this year.

Ray, I very much appreciate your postings on the Lindsay forum, and your wonderful photographs sharing your current work, thank you!

best

Rod

 

[Marcus Hunt]

Brian, that was fantastic. Thanks for taking the time to show us step by step, it's very kind of you. As soon as I'm fit again I'm going to give some of this Western stuff a try!

 

[sam]

Brian: This is a great contribution to the Cafe, and I appreciate you taking the time to do it.
Many thanks!! / ~Sam

 

[Mike Cirelli]

Great demo tutorial. Time well spent you just taught a lot to quite a few. You may never know but you did.
Mike

 

[KSnyder]

Brian, excellent teaching! most appreciated & well explained.
thanks,
Kent