GRS and Lindsay QC compatibility

[andrewtom]

Hi,

I want to buy a Lindsay Artisan these days and I'm researching it. I will use it mainly for jewelry stone setting and simple embellishments. I have a few questions for you:

1. Is the Artisan a good choice for what I want?
2. Since I don't want to spend a lot of time/money on templates (even though they are not expensive on their own, buying many will definitely add to the cost), are the GRS QC pieces compatible with the Artisan (pieces like this one)?
3. Does the Lindsay foot control come with the hose that will connect to the compressor or is that something I have to buy on my own?
4. Is a compressor with a 6 liter tank (1.7 gallon) of air enough?
5. Is the regulator that comes in this kit ready to be connected to a compressor?

 

[Roger B]

With apologies but have been away from the forum for a while.

As you plan to be setting stones have you considered the Enset? The ability to have individual strikes could be beneficial for setting. I suggest you list your location - there could be someone close by who may offer you an introductory afternoon.

Roger

 

[Memorymaker]

Check out the new machine put out by the Enset guys. I love mine. It gives you the ultimate in control and doesn’t need a compressor. They even have live video conference sessions on Tuesday nights to discuss settings or anything else you want to discuss concerning the machine. Jus sayin.

 

[jerrywh]

There is nothing that a GRS system won't do. I don't work for GRS either.

 

[Memorymaker]

There is nothing that any of the 3 major machines won’t do. It’s a matter of preference. I have all of the Lindsay’s, Gravermach AT and the Pulsegraver. They all have their strong points and advantages. I personally like the Pulsegraver but I am definitely not a pro by any means And I have very limited use on all of them..

 

[sam]

GRS sharpening systems are wonderful and one fixture can pretty much do anything you need as far as graver sharpening. They can be used on a stationary bench stone or on a powerhone.

 

[Takoyaki]

Hi there,

the artisan is a great tool! There is a new Handpiece as well from Steve, specially for jewellers, the benchjewl graver. Same price as the artisan !
Dont miss to order an aditional tungsten Piston with the stainless piston together! The tungsten piston is great for bezel setting, and move even thick bezels around!
You should have both pistons, stainless and tungsten!

About tubbing, it is all in the set, with the handpiece & Regulator!
Contact Steve for details!

The classic footcontrol is also a great handpiece, but if you are on budget, for the price of the Classic you get a great palmcontrol vise with Ring fixture, additional to the artisan/or benchjewel graver!
You don’t need extra collets with artisan or benchjewel graver, you can change/fix easy the graverblanks into the collets!

A GRS or Enset will do similar quality work! If you choose one of the 3 brands, you cannot go wrong!

I prefer the Lindsay, but also an e.g. older, classic, well used GRS Gravermax will do the same work for many more years (or even decades), for less the money!

GRS quick change collets are not fitting to the Lindsay handpiece or sharpening system!
The grs dual sharpening fixture take them all, graverblanks of different sizes and there is also an adapter available for the GRS-QC collets!
The Lindsay sharpening system is easier, with fixed geometries, but takes only the square graverblanks!
I do have, and use both! GRS Dual angle and Lindsay templates.
Both work well!


Best of luck

 

[sam]

The Lindsay sharpening system is easier, with fixed geometries, but takes only the square graverblanks!
Best of luck

To clarify, the GRS EasyGraver fixtures are the easiest and fast sharpening fixtures made, and because they use a tool post, graver length is not a concern.

 

[allan621]

I also use both. Like Takoyaki said the Lindsay system will take only square gravers. The templates are relatively inexpensive, but there are no universal templates aside from the one by Otto Carter. So for flat tools, round tools, script tools, they all have separate templates. Plus for the script tools there are separate templates for the different widths. Plus separate templates for shaping bulino tools and inlay tools. That's a lot of templates. The one drawback is that the sharpening stones has to be set to a certain height. I think its 1.25 inches, but could be wrong. So any stones you have must be that height. No big deal but something to keep in mind.

But also like Takoyaki I also have the GRS dual angle sharpening fixture with the post. The GRS takes almost any graver to sharpen. I use if it for primarily liner tools of almost any width and I use it alot because of the engraving I do. Like Sam said, with the post the graver length is not overly important. I have a few very short tools I use that are too short for the Lindsay; but the GRS sharpener holds them easily. Also if you use square tools with high angles its easier to get more precise measurement because of the guide marks which the Lindsay tool doesn't have.

Now if unlike me, you only have a couple of gravers to sharpen and at the same angles, just get the Lindsay templates. Its cheaper. If you have different gravers with different shapes and angles, get the GRS sharpening fixture. But if like me you work at engraving all day long
using bunches of different tools, get both. The reason is efficiency. I make money engraving, not sharpening tools; so whatever I can use to sharpen a tool in less time is what I'll use. They have paid for themselves many times over because I spend less time sharpening and more time engraving.

Allan

 

[pkroyer]

To clarify, the GRS EasyGraver fixtures are the easiest and fast sharpening fixtures made, and because they use a tool post, graver length is not a concern.

If you have both the 105 and the 120, the hardest part is grabbing the right fixture.

 

[JohnC]

I like the flexibility of the GRS dual angle fixture. Sam's Video makes use of this fixture easy to learn on a number of tool geometry(S).

 

[Winstonklein]

I agree. EasyGraver Sharpening Fixture is easy to use, accurate, no wobble or guess. you tighten it once and forget. Long or short graver , no problem.

 

[Mike576]

The lindsay system takes any graver blank up to .135 inch i use 1/8 round carbide blanks about 90% of the time. steve charges 25$ to adapt a fixture to 1/8 round from 3/32 square.

I dont have personal experience with stone setting but as for engraving and doing things like raised dot inlays etc I believe its the best system. The range of power from one hand piece (i have the classic foot control) is amazing. From the smallest shading line barely seen by the naked eye up to taking 1/8 inch deep cuts with ease. All with a slight increase/decrease in pressure or swapping out to the included tungsten piston.

Overall i dont think you can go wrong with any system though they all have pros and cons.