How do you cut your scroll?

[KSnyder]

I can cut both ways but usually cut ccw. I'm right handed but cut "underhand" on occasion if situtation dictates. I'm a chisel guy.
Kent

 

[SamW]

I cut 'em! S

 

[JJ Roberts]

Rex,
When I first started out I tried cutting clockwise scrolls in the clockwise direction...it was very frustrating for me...plus I kept breaking the tips off my chisels, and started to cut all my scrolls and everything else in the counter clockwise direction, plus I engrave while standing at a pedestal. I can cut my scrolls in one pass without stopping which hammer & chisel or power assist...no wasted motion. On thing I could never get used to is sitting down except when laying out a job or working on a game scene. Keep up the good work.

Yours truly,
JJ Roberts
School of Artistic Engraving
Manassas, VA

 

[fegarex]

Thanks to all for the replies! I like Sam's response the best. I cut'em!!!
And I should mention he does it WELL.....
My biggest question was whether most of you would cut the scroll from the outside to inside regardless of direction. From the response, it looks like most of you "getter done" however works the best.

 

[sam]

Yeah, I don't think there's any hard and fast rule on scroll backbone cutting. I do get better results when cutting all backbones counter-clockwise, and I teach that way too, but there are many instances when I have to cut the opposite direction. For me I feel much more 'in the zone' when cutting backbones ccw. / ~Sam

 

[JJ Roberts]

Rex,

Keep an eye out in your snail mail..I am sending you some info on Colt engraving techniques from a old FEGA newsletter..seems the Colt engravers were going in different directions when doing their engraving. If, you could post this or portions of it I think the rest of the folks on the forum would like to see this. Also will enlose info on Magnetized Tools. I have a problem posting printed text here. Keep up the good work.

Yours truly,
JJ Roberts
School of Artistic Engraving
Manassas, VA

 

[fegarex]

JJ,
I'll keep an eye out. Lets hope the postal service does a better job of getting it here.
Thanks!
Rex

 

[SamW]

Rex, that was the short answer. The long answer is I cut 'em, and I cut 'em, and I cut 'em and if they don't look right, I cut "em again!! Like Marty and others, I start from a border, or where two scrolls come together and cut both ways. Otherwise I start where ever the mood strikes. I suppose I feel a bit more natural cutting cc, being right handed, but being left brained I get confused about what I am doing. S

 

[fegarex]

I feel much better! I really didn't give it whole lot of thought until Marcus questioned me about it. At that point I thought maybe I was the only one that cut scrolls from where ever..

 

[Big-Un]

Rex I never thought about it before, but I cut whichever way is more comfortable at the time. Being somewhat ambidexterous, cutting from either direction never gave me any concerns.

 

[Brian Hochstrat]

Bill that ambidextious thing must come in handy, when you stab yourself in one hand you can switch hands and stab your other. , Just giving you a hard time buddy, I could'nt resist. Brian

 

[fegarex]

Oh, you are cruel Brian!!!

 

[Big-Un]

Oh Brian! And I thought the incident had been forgotten! Thank goodness for good bone mass, otherwise I would have had a graver stuck through the whole hand! Seriously, I've been working on using my other hand to see what I can do with it....not much so far. But, it isn't all bad, so maybe it will come in useful sometime. Good to hear from you. You too Rex...and thanks for not making me a class example of what NOT to do!

 

[Ron Smith]

And oh, do those bone jabs hurt!!!!!