unclejohn
Member
Good idea, would be nice to see a professional.
Announcement: 1st hand gun 4 mo. work yes cheap gun just wanted to see if I could do it. cratique!
- Thread starter unclejohn
- Start date
unclejohn
Member
Wow it is nice to finally hear something positive from someone. I do need to hear about my mistakes like you said and I already know that if I want to improve, I need to know what I did wrong. But I think it is a shame when someone goes beyond telling me what is wrong, which will help me improve my craft and make it a little to personal. Thank you very much.
unclejohn
Member
Thank you, they were my first and second and I am still working on the third which is one the barrell and hope it even turns out better. After all, like I said, it will by my third. I still learn something every time I sit down and work..... Thanks again...
unclejohn
Member
Thank you, My problem seems to be that one of my talents is not in the area of art work so I just seem to have a hard time drawing anything. So I turned to my computer for help. That is where I tried to design the best that I could. Now im not sure what to do. And yes I already have engraving scroll work by Sam. Watched it a dozen times or more, Wow is that guy ever good.. I will never become as profeciant but thats ok. I really love engraving and plan on doing so for a very long time. Thaks again.
unclejohn
Member
Thank you very much. I have only been engraving for almost one and a half years so with everyones help I think I will improve, besides I love doing it.
atexascowboy2011
Elite Cafe Member
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2012
- Messages
- 997
Dear John
For starters, you asked for critique. My posting to you was NOT bashing you, just trying to tell you to master each segment , BEFORE attempting the whole.
As in painting, you master, or at least get decent, at each stroke, BEFORE you paint the Mona Lisa.
Just get some steel PRACTICE plates or pipe and copper wire/sheet and practice cheaply!
Go to a good sized gun show and inquire about engravers . Most are low keyed, and who knows, the guy OR GAL
living two doors down could be a world class engraver, willing to pass on his or her knowledge.
My bud ,Al, took an engraving and pointed out ONE line/cut.
He asked IF I could cut that one line JUST like on the plate.
Yep.
OK, what about this line.
Yep.
And on and on, until I realized we had run through most lot of the engraving on the plate and alls I had to do was make one perfect cut and then another ....
Just read your profile. I plan on spending the summer camping out, sorta, in Colorado this coming summer. You are invited to pitch a tent/RV and spend a few days swapping ideas/working. I will have a full shop available for fabrication/engraving.
For starters, you asked for critique. My posting to you was NOT bashing you, just trying to tell you to master each segment , BEFORE attempting the whole.
As in painting, you master, or at least get decent, at each stroke, BEFORE you paint the Mona Lisa.
Just get some steel PRACTICE plates or pipe and copper wire/sheet and practice cheaply!
Go to a good sized gun show and inquire about engravers . Most are low keyed, and who knows, the guy OR GAL
living two doors down could be a world class engraver, willing to pass on his or her knowledge.My bud ,Al, took an engraving and pointed out ONE line/cut.
He asked IF I could cut that one line JUST like on the plate.
Yep.
OK, what about this line.
Yep.
And on and on, until I realized we had run through most lot of the engraving on the plate and alls I had to do was make one perfect cut and then another ....
Just read your profile. I plan on spending the summer camping out, sorta, in Colorado this coming summer. You are invited to pitch a tent/RV and spend a few days swapping ideas/working. I will have a full shop available for fabrication/engraving.
Last edited:
graniteguy52
Elite Cafe Member
Unclejohn,
I applaud your technical skill. Inlaying metal on metal is not as easy as it looks. You've done an admirable job of it.
Spending time with an instructor is some of the best money you can spend for learning to engrave. And one of the best teachers of engraving is Ray Cover. He is more than a fine engraver, He is an experienced teacher that really cares that his students learn.
Ray is about a 4 hour drive away from you. I spent a week with him back in 08 and it did more for the quality of my work in a much shorter amount of time than a big stack of books and DVD's did (books and DVD's work, but I would say not nearly as quickly).
Keep up the effort,
Gordon Alcorn
I applaud your technical skill. Inlaying metal on metal is not as easy as it looks. You've done an admirable job of it.
Spending time with an instructor is some of the best money you can spend for learning to engrave. And one of the best teachers of engraving is Ray Cover. He is more than a fine engraver, He is an experienced teacher that really cares that his students learn.
Ray is about a 4 hour drive away from you. I spent a week with him back in 08 and it did more for the quality of my work in a much shorter amount of time than a big stack of books and DVD's did (books and DVD's work, but I would say not nearly as quickly).
Keep up the effort,
Gordon Alcorn
Personally, I liked it. Perhaps it isn't "technically proficient" by industry standards, but the important thing is that you thought it, you did it to begin with, and then you ended it. That sets you apart from the many, many who looked and walked away out of fear.
I also like that when you ask for feedback on this board you get it, clear and unvarnished.
As to the art thing... Yeah. Me too. I'm intimidated by the gruff "learn to draw well or you'll never amount to anything" attitudes I've seen elsewhere. I'm 'learning' to draw, but in the mean time, I have to depend upon crutches. A Taig CNC mill, 2L and some other engraving software, and a whole bunch of humility, creative and loud wordsmithing and just plain try, melt and try again got my daughters some pretty intricately pierced sterling bracelets for Christmas that have garnered quite a bit of interest among their friends.
Funny thing is, the main draw is the fact that you can't get one in a store, and the small "imperfections" they find when they compare the work just makes the bracelet even more happily theirs. Next year, pierced *and* engraved.
As to how good Sam is... He is. So are a bunch of others. It's like magic to me. Why do I try to be like Sam and others? It's like the Imp says on Game of Thrones: "Staying drunk is hard. If it weren't, everyone would do it!" Honestly, I think I do it because I know I have no talent for it. I'm just plain contrary and cantankerous by nature, I think.
unclejohn
Member
I was born and raised in Colorado and miss camping in the mountains so much. Even did a little prospecting a couple years ago, and yes I did bring home a little color. Mostly just had fun.. Good luck.
unclejohn
Member
Thanks Gordon appreciate the advice. I have never had the opprotunity to talk with another engraver and the only thing I know about it is what I have learned on my own over the past 15 mo. There is a man named Rex who is now working for
GRS tools and he is about 1 and 1/2 hour from me. I am planning on running up there and taking some instructions. I know it will help me alot. And I would also like to thank EVERYONE who took the time and so graciously provided me with exactly what I needed to know in order to improve my work. I've been self employed my whole life and I have some pretty tough skin so if someone believes it necessary to add a little rude personal comment, then that's on them. But it sure doesn't bother me.... and remember, this life now is just a rehersal for the real thing. Hope all are ready. John
GRS tools and he is about 1 and 1/2 hour from me. I am planning on running up there and taking some instructions. I know it will help me alot. And I would also like to thank EVERYONE who took the time and so graciously provided me with exactly what I needed to know in order to improve my work. I've been self employed my whole life and I have some pretty tough skin so if someone believes it necessary to add a little rude personal comment, then that's on them. But it sure doesn't bother me.... and remember, this life now is just a rehersal for the real thing. Hope all are ready. John
unclejohn
Member
Sounds like we have a great deal in common! And thank you for your post. John
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