Question: Hammer and Chisel Engraving

[BunLevittron]

Hello all! I am an amateur, self-taught graver, new to the hobby. I mostly learned it so that I could pave set gems for the rings I make. I have made all my gravers from old screwdrivers, and have a couple of bits I ordered online that I stuck in handpieces. I am also going to make some more gravers from some O1 tool steel I bought. I'm a college student, and as you can probably tell, my stuff is extremely low-budget. My question for anyone here is, what kind of magnification do you like to work with? I currently have a magnification visor that I'm not a fan of, and a basic bench magnifier that I use a lot, but tends to get in the way. Any recommendations?

 

[JJ Roberts]

BunLevittron,Try to get with an engraver who can guide you and save you from making mistakes and there are better steel for making gravers then screwdrivers. J.J.

 

[BunLevittron]

BunLevittron,Try to get with an engraver who can guide you and save you from making mistakes and there are better steel for making gravers then screwdrivers. J.J.

Mister Roberts,

I appreciate the insight! I have moved on from screwdrivers and have picked up some O1 tool steel. The reason I was using old screwdrivers is because it was all I had, and I've had plenty of blacksmithing experience. Unfortunately, there really aren't many engravers out in Arizona that I am aware of, even less so that would take an apprentice.

 

[John B.]

BunLevittron, please add your general location to your bio.
There may be an engraver nearby who could help you.

 

[JJ Roberts]

BunLevitton, Rachel Wells master engraver Prescott Arizona teaches hammer & chisel rachelwells@cablene.net. J.J.

 

[monk]

the chosen magnification would depend on your eyesight as well as what it is you're working on. hobos require more (for me ) and maybe none for a guitar pickguard. micromark sells loupes that are adjustable from .5 to 4x. i don't know the working distances. they look like ordinary eyeglasses.