Addertooth
Member
I appreciate all of the great information found in this forum. To a newbie it is invaluable. Over the past few days I have read through a lot of what this forum offers, and it represents a great kick-start for people, who like me, know little about the nuances of hand engraving.
I am a self-professed hobby-0-holic. My typical pattern is to learn and struggle with a new hobby, start with basic tools, slowly advance and upgrade my tools as my skills merit. I have, in the past, started some hobbies with the highest end tool/goodies, only to realize I dramatically over-invested for my given skill level. And although the great tools allowed me to progress at a faster rate, in the end I felt it was more the tools than my native skill which advanced me.
Back 40 years ago, when I started knife making, it was started on a fan motor with an arbor which supported a basic grinding and buffing wheel. The motor would overheat after 15 minutes of grinding and would need to rest for a half hour. But, concepts such as straight grind lines, clean hollow grinds, working with the correct area of the wheel and basic safety were learned. Fit and finish concepts were taught well on such basic equipment. Later an Olympic square wheel sander was purchased, a real knife maker's tool. Everything was easier on it. It was easier to get clean lines, rapidly remove stock, and get precise shaping with less effort. It was faster. As a high schooler, I worked as a "machine" diamond stylus engraver, not what I consider true engraving. After high school I worked as a machinist, so the free-hand engraving of cutting tools was a well learned skill.
Over the years I have learned that very few tools come off the factory floor as I like them. It is very commonplace for me to highly modify tools to match the purpose. Enhancements of tools which are close to the mark is common as well.
Along comes hand engraving...
I didn't start this interest directly. I recently have started down the path of restoring and upgrading swords made by others. This work mostly leveraged skills which had already been established when making knives, just on a larger scale. However, I saw areas where the results could be enhanced by hand engraving. Frequently some of the details on old swords are very worn. For example, the handle decorations (menuki) on Japanese swords would be worn to the point where they could not be recognized. I realized some modest re-shaping, and re-application of the appropriate patina would really enhance them. The blade collar on the swords (habaki) would frequently have similar issues. It was clear there was a useful niche for engraving skills as it applies to either upgrading or restoring swords.
I have read the threads on equipment. There is the general consensus that the Chinese knock-offs are a bad choice. What is unclear is the specific problem areas with the knock offs. For example: Is the stroke length adjustments problematic? Is the hammer rate problematic? Do the hand pieces have a problem with the piston seizing? Do the units fail after a couple hours of use? Do they use a lot more air? etc.. ..
A lot of these kinds of problems can be remedied, some cannot. Are the knock offs worse than starting with a graver and a chasing hammer? At this early stage, I don't feel the need for a machine which is a 100 times better than my basic skill.
Yes, I am aware we have used units for sell on this forum. The 800-1500 used prices are a bit steep for the "learning phase" which I am currently in. I have no problem with spending that much money, once my skill merits it, but for now my skill would not demand such tooling.
Where I am at today:
The goal is to develop the skill over the next decade, so when I retire some supplemental income can be earned.
I am a self-professed hobby-0-holic. My typical pattern is to learn and struggle with a new hobby, start with basic tools, slowly advance and upgrade my tools as my skills merit. I have, in the past, started some hobbies with the highest end tool/goodies, only to realize I dramatically over-invested for my given skill level. And although the great tools allowed me to progress at a faster rate, in the end I felt it was more the tools than my native skill which advanced me.
Back 40 years ago, when I started knife making, it was started on a fan motor with an arbor which supported a basic grinding and buffing wheel. The motor would overheat after 15 minutes of grinding and would need to rest for a half hour. But, concepts such as straight grind lines, clean hollow grinds, working with the correct area of the wheel and basic safety were learned. Fit and finish concepts were taught well on such basic equipment. Later an Olympic square wheel sander was purchased, a real knife maker's tool. Everything was easier on it. It was easier to get clean lines, rapidly remove stock, and get precise shaping with less effort. It was faster. As a high schooler, I worked as a "machine" diamond stylus engraver, not what I consider true engraving. After high school I worked as a machinist, so the free-hand engraving of cutting tools was a well learned skill.
Over the years I have learned that very few tools come off the factory floor as I like them. It is very commonplace for me to highly modify tools to match the purpose. Enhancements of tools which are close to the mark is common as well.
Along comes hand engraving...
I didn't start this interest directly. I recently have started down the path of restoring and upgrading swords made by others. This work mostly leveraged skills which had already been established when making knives, just on a larger scale. However, I saw areas where the results could be enhanced by hand engraving. Frequently some of the details on old swords are very worn. For example, the handle decorations (menuki) on Japanese swords would be worn to the point where they could not be recognized. I realized some modest re-shaping, and re-application of the appropriate patina would really enhance them. The blade collar on the swords (habaki) would frequently have similar issues. It was clear there was a useful niche for engraving skills as it applies to either upgrading or restoring swords.
I have read the threads on equipment. There is the general consensus that the Chinese knock-offs are a bad choice. What is unclear is the specific problem areas with the knock offs. For example: Is the stroke length adjustments problematic? Is the hammer rate problematic? Do the hand pieces have a problem with the piston seizing? Do the units fail after a couple hours of use? Do they use a lot more air? etc.. ..
A lot of these kinds of problems can be remedied, some cannot. Are the knock offs worse than starting with a graver and a chasing hammer? At this early stage, I don't feel the need for a machine which is a 100 times better than my basic skill.
Yes, I am aware we have used units for sell on this forum. The 800-1500 used prices are a bit steep for the "learning phase" which I am currently in. I have no problem with spending that much money, once my skill merits it, but for now my skill would not demand such tooling.
Where I am at today:
The goal is to develop the skill over the next decade, so when I retire some supplemental income can be earned.