Shaping round gravers

[Boomhower]

Hi everyone. I am new to engraving I have Ben working hard to learn to sharpen my gravers. I have Ben doing a lot of reading and searching the web I am not sure where I read it but they said you can use lathe tools to make gravers so I searched the grizzly catalog and found 1/8 " HSS square and round ones for very cheap so I went to there store and got a hand full. I found a lot of good info on square and flat gravers but got stumped on the round ones. I don't no what wood be the best face angle for them but I did get a idea to shape them down to a point. I just chucked them up in my drill to spin them on my belt sander with a fine belt. It worked great. After that I put a 45° face on them I am not sure that is the best if any of you can help me that wood be great. I did read where SAM says he used a 15° heel so I chucked it back in the drill to put a heel on them. So far they are my best cutting gravers I have I am sure I am not the first to use a drill to shape them but I hadn't read it any place so I thought I wood share it. I am steal a bit stumped on sharping the square ones I only have a crocker style sharpener. So I don't have the best set up yet. Are round gravers easyer to use or have I just not have the squares at the right angles. Sorry for the long post and the new be questions. And thank you in advance for the help it sure does mean a lot to have great help

 

[Gemsetterchris]

I'm sure someone will be along to get all technical with you, but basically...if it's cutting well then that's all you need worry about

 

[MICHAEL]

GRS makes a quick change adapter for round gravers that allows you to orient the round graver the same way every time you chuck it in your sharpener. I don't know if you can use them with the Crocker sharpener. Your problem with sharpenening could be you or the Crocker. I had a friend that tried to do hammer and chisel engraving. He used the Crocker sharpener and I couldn't figure out how to use it either and just sharpened all his gravers for him. Later we found out from a master engraver that the Crocker was not made correctly. Hope this helps.

 

[diandwill]

http://www.engraverscafe.com/showth...ake-the-Crocker-work-better&highlight=crocker
http://www.engraverscafe.com/showthread.php?230-Do-it-yourself/page2

Most of us have purchased tha Crocker, and beleive it to be a great weight for fishing. It can be fixed up if you have the tools, and it sounds as if you do. Here are some links from this forum. There may be more.

 

[Brian Marshall]

The Crocker will work fine. Just takes a little patience, understanding and some simple adaptions depending on your use.

You can even set them up to accept QC collets if you can do some simple metalsmithing with a saw, file and solder.

I've written a lot of stuff on them over the years.


It is economical and was the first "dual angle" fixture we had to work with. Templates came first, but back then no one wanted to have 20 or more cluttering their bench when one fixture would do the job.

Over the years the "McDonald's mentality" has prevailed. Instantaneous results involving the least amount of thinking and effort.

But - if you have more time than money - patience and a true desire to understand how things really work these little fixtures can teach you a lot.

Once you have mastered one and gotten some return on your investment, you can move up to the idiot proof time savers. (which you will find are not really idiot proof 100% of the time. Someone, somewhere can always defeat those too. I've seen it happen)


Brian

 

[Boomhower]

Thanks everyone. For the help.

 

[monk]

as far as the geometries involved, the geometry should be adapted to the material you're engraving. also it can become a matter of personal preference as to what configurations you use. only much experiment will lead you to what works best for you. best idea-- take your time and learn what your favorites are.

 

[Boomhower]

Thanks monk I will do that for sure. I have been using my starret protractor to check my angle's with so far its working better for me. I tock and made 2 more round gravers out of some square ones to give me different sizes. I am going to try and order some pre sharpened gravers next week the set my family got me was cheap off of amazon and only had knife and Onglette's in it.

 

[monk]

Thanks monk I will do that for sure. I have been using my starret protractor to check my angle's with so far its working better for me. I tock and made 2 more round gravers out of some square ones to give me different sizes. I am going to try and order some pre sharpened gravers next week the set my family got me was cheap off of amazon and only had knife and Onglette's in it.

making your own tools is a good thing- at least for me, a fun thing to do. used gravers can be obtained on the bay. now & then they are reasonable in price. flats ca be fashioned from sabresawblades. rounds from old, dull or broken drill bits. one thing for sure, the store-bought gravers are the best to get.