Knife graver for cutting straight lines; do they need to be sharpened?

[HammerTitanGuy]

Hello,

My only goal is to cut bright lines into fine silver. 90% of my work is straight, thin, lines to get those shiny engravings. 10% is some minor curves. Basically, no deep cuts, only very fine cuts that are bright. Some curved, most straight.

Someone recommended that HSS knife gravers is good for straight lines and to avoid curves. They tip looks sharp as is. Do they need to be shaped? How do I shape a knife graver, if at all? Can't seem to find any information on my own.

My QC tool accepts 2mm tools and graver handle accepts 4.5mm QC. Basically my goal is to make straight, thin, bright lines in silver. Would appreciate any input.

 

[tdelewis]

Sharpen, then high polish on ,25 micron on diamond lap. My self I would not use a knife graver, if you want them to sparkle, I would think the line would need to have some width. I do bright cut engraving on belt buckles and bolos. I want to have bright lines cut with flat gravers. That is something different from what you are doing. Experiment on copper or scrap silver.

 

[monk]

like td-- i have no use for knife gravers. just a personal choice. the knife graver must surely be sharpened. if the point gets a bit rounded, it wont cut but will skip all over. if the point breaks, it will dig in. either way leads to using bad language !!

 

[mtlctr]

A 2mm square will cut a pretty small thin line & probably the best control. If you don’t put a heel on it , it’ll tend to dive in my experience, (any shape tool). I’ll join TD & Monk, no knife graver. A fine Onglette will cut very thin lines. You can polish on a succession of abrasive papers starting out at 500 grit. BTW, doubt ther is ANY graver or tool you don’t prepare in some way or other. You can see the heels on these. The photo with the crossed ones shows how the heel is achieved by rubbing the tool to be sharpened the long way guided by the blank.

 

[silverchip]

I think an onglette would work better for what you are describing , They come in various width too and would allow for some depth as well.