Wanting to try engraving - What is all needed..??

[Brian Marshall]

Sam, There was an even bigger, stronger handpiece for the early GraverMeisters.

It was a straight tube, about 1' in diameter by 8" long. Weighed a ton, awkward as hell to hold onto.

Not at all suited for engraving purposes... only thing I could ever use it for was chipping away old window putty.


It got sold, to someone at the SF Museum of Natural History or I'd put up an image.

They now use it for chipping stone away from the delicate fossilized bones of various prehistoric birds, fish and reptiles...

Dinosaur for dinosaur bones.


Brian


Saving one dog may not change the world - but it forever changes the world of one dog.

 

[J.Hayes]

One of these Brian?

 

[Indy Joneds]

"Honestly ,,, Someone could pick up an engraver tonight & be better than you tomorrow -- even if you've done it for decades...... "

Not even if you went into a Hyperbolic Time Chamber over night mate

plus picking up an engraver rather than a graver it is a bad place to start .. funnny to picture you though, swinging some poor bloke about.. trying to sharpen his head and all

 

[Indy Joneds]

standard engraver geometry

............. hahaha

 

[oiseau metal arts]

LOL!!

just curious... you use ceramic or cast iron lap to get that polish?

 

[Brian Marshall]

J. Hayes,

Bigger than that even. One inch in diameter.

The one you've posted was the very first handpiece offered. Maybe only 5/8 or 3/4" in diameter?


Those two 8" long handpieces pretty much discouraged the acceptance and/or advancement of power assisted engraving for many years...

Kinda like trying to use a full length shovel where what you needed was a small hand trowel.


Brian


“Of all the things I have lost over the years, I miss my mind the most.”

 

[J.Hayes]

Brian

5/8 on the long one, good memory!

 

[BlueberryBob_T]

Its guess it not a question about the system 3 anymore - Its more or less the substrate & a machines capabilities.... I'm working with car rear differentials/reinforced control arms/ect - ALOT of excavation or trenching you could say... I just know what I'm trying to personally achieve as a start.

I have read the beginners threads , I search for whatever info I've been given so far - So I don't have to bother anyone.. Thanks , I appreciate it......

 

[BlueberryBob_T]

When I do look around - Many people say that the Lindsay & the more expensive tools cannot do what I'm lookingbto achieve because they're for fine detail.... Therefore I made an edit with a video... I'm not here to go thru the banter bs like every other forum - I'm straight forward / fast learner / naturally talented & dedicated... What more can I say ?


Maybe in time I will give real engraving a shot - until then I'm looking. for the cheesy stuff as seen in the video for my own personal car parts. Once again , Thanks.

 

[BlueberryBob_T]

I hear you ,, I've watched a few of your videos on YouTube & just put 2&2 together... I'm notbhere for the bs - I just need to get into the right equipment needed for my needs because nobody else out there is willing to do what (I) want on my car parts - They want to do what they want.... But that takes away from MY vision of how I want it.... IF ,, I take to REAL engraving - Then we'll see what I can produce..... I've carved a lot of pipestone & wood when I was younger & I have a pretty extensive hands on art background so - I feel it will come fairly natural... Of course I'll be prowling around / watching videos with an acute attention to detail ... The only way I've ever learned how - was to just do it..!!! I'm sure someone out there can concur

 

[BlueberryBob_T]

I've pretty much come to the conclusion that the 3 won't be able to trench out as much real estate as in the video.... I appreciate the reply ,, I believe in buying the best possible tools & that's why I edited this with a video so that a better understanding of what I'm looking to do.... Its different than what you guys do - the fine detail would be covered up by copper & chrome .. Hope this helps/ Not trying to offend anyone - just trying to get into the correct tools right off the bat......

Bob: There are no roadblocks here and this forum and its members have done more to inspire and help more beginners than you can ever imagine. Never in the history of hand engraving has there been a single place where information has been so freely shared than The Engraver's Cafe.

Thierry gave you proper advice whether you like the advice or not. There are some basics you're going to have to learn and there are no shortcuts so you might as well prepare yourself for the steep learning curve ahead.

I will attempt to answer your question: As Brian pointed out, the handpiece in the video is a dinosaur made by GRS that works on all of their machines except the Gravermeister. I don't believe there was a Gravermeister version of that one, but I could be mistaken. That said, you could get an older GRS machine such as a Gravermax or Graversmith or GraverMate, find one of those handpieces, and you'll be off and running (after you learn to sharpen and engrave). It's possible GRS might have one in stock. If not, you'll find one if you beat the bushes. An old GRS 710 handpiece might work just as well but I'm not certain how it compares power-wise to the handpiece in the video.

The System 3 might work, but you'll not often see me recommend that because I simply don't like them and think the money would be better spent investing in one of the systems I mentioned above.

 

[Gemsetterchris]

Lyndsay nitro might be more your thing for heavy cutting.
That, a template system for sharpening & the regulator to go with your compressor.
All you need, not cheap but a good investment.