Western style practice

[Mike Cirelli]

I finally got some time to engrave. I really like western style, it's quick and flashy, and I like trying everything. So I grabbed a silver money clip and started cutting. I'll get the hang of this engraving someday. If it wasn't for clocks I'd have more time. Nothing against Watchmakers. It's really hard to photograph this shinny stuff even with a tent. So I thought I'd post the smoke also.

 

[Andrew Biggs]

Very nice Mike

Western style bright cut is an art form of engraving all by itself with different type cuts etc.

Diane Scalese did a FEGA seminar at Reno in 2006 about westren bright cut. I've watched it on DVD and it's very good. For anyone else that's interested in this style you can get it at www.fega.com for $30. I believe that GRS also sells a couple of videos on the subject as well.

Cheers
Andrew

 

[sam]

That's a very respectable job of western brightcutting Mike. Congratulations! I like the western engraving, and always admired those who do it well.

 

[KSnyder]

Mike , How did you grind, (what face angle) the flat tool? Will you add initials to the oval.Did you use a liner for shading? Sorry about all the questions.
very nice work, thanks for showing.
Kent

 

[Mike Cirelli]

Hi Kent I used a 45 face with a progressive heel, by rocking the sharpening fixture between 20 and 10 degrees. I think I'll give a 40 degree face a try for the softer metals. I just never had much luck with a 40 face, seems to go dull and chip on me fast. I'm not real proficient with a liner but that’s what I used 18/10. Here again I believe a bent liner may be easier to control mine are all straight. Maybe some others that cut a lot of this style or under stand it better than I may chime in. One thing I did learn is, if your cutting a left hand scrolls leafs (that would be like the center scroll above) you start with the right corner of the graver make a cut, then the left corner and make a flared wider one beside it, then the right hand corner again and cut around the top of the cuts about 2/3 up from where you started the other cut to finish off the leaf. It can be harder than it looks until you get the cutting in your head.
Thanks
Mike

 

[Glenn]

Shucks Mike yuall going tu need a horse soon to ride and show yur money clip and bright cut buckle.Nice work on the clip. Is the buckle your next project?

 

[Mike Cirelli]

Maybe a buckle next. As for the horse. I rode one by myself once and it scared the hell out me. It started on a gallop and didn't know what to do so I pulled on the reins and it went up. I'll stick to cars.
Mike

 

[Darren]

Looking good Mike, Practice, practice, practice.
Check your PM's
Darren