AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Gun Building => Topic started by: draken on May 07, 2016, 08:48:01 AM

Title: My engraving is atrocious!
Post by: draken on May 07, 2016, 08:48:01 AM
Am building a rifle for a relative and looking ahead I would really like to give it a little "bling" in the way of some patchbox engraving.   Try as I may, however. I simply cannot engrave.     :-[

Is there anywhere that does custom engraving on something like a patchbox?
Title: Re: My engraving is atrocious!
Post by: P.Bigham on May 07, 2016, 01:39:14 PM
Contact Chuck Edwards 573-568-2075  wipingstick@msn.com
Title: Re: My engraving is atrocious!
Post by: flehto on May 07, 2016, 02:19:28 PM
Tim Adlam of Oshkosh, WI is a gifted artist and has done all my engraving, Shown below is his engraving on one of my Pboxes...Tel...920.235.4589...Fred

(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi658.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fuu306%2Fflehto_album%2FLancaster-IH014_zps2703a148.jpg&hash=666c50701a4d1804d5bb1b938c3aa4ce715ac5d5) (http://s658.photobucket.com/user/flehto_album/media/Lancaster-IH014_zps2703a148.jpg.html)
Title: Re: My engraving is atrocious!
Post by: J. Talbert on May 07, 2016, 08:55:29 PM
If it's not already too late, it's advisable to develop the patchbox and the engraving design simultaneously,
for best result.
Just sayin.
Jeff
Title: Re: My engraving is atrocious!
Post by: flehto on May 08, 2016, 02:43:53 PM
You're correct....otherwise the Pbox outline and engraving don't meld. Although I don't do the engraving, I do draw the engraving on the layout before cutting so there is continuity......Fred
Title: Re: My engraving is atrocious!
Post by: P.W.Berkuta on May 08, 2016, 06:20:57 PM
Am building a rifle for a relative and looking ahead I would really like to give it a little "bling" in the way of some patchbox engraving.   Try as I may, however. I simply cannot engrave.     :-[

Is there anywhere that does custom engraving on something like a patchbox?


I used Smitty's Engraving the last two times and the engraving was what I wanted also it was under $130 for patchbox. sideplate, & toe plate. Nothing special & not overly done - I was satisfied with the work & price.
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy15%2FBERKUTA%2F75%2520engraving.jpg&hash=3c17467ce288c459e35c8b1e9324333d17b01c8e) (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/BERKUTA/media/75%20engraving.jpg.html)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy15%2FBERKUTA%2FP1020443.jpg&hash=bbbea80e757298deceff308954b8d8e2f92d621f) (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/BERKUTA/media/P1020443.jpg.html)
Title: Re: My engraving is atrocious!
Post by: Chris Treichel on May 09, 2016, 08:03:12 PM
I would suggest taking classes. Engraving is really not one of those teach yourself things. So many things to get right.

Angle of the faces of the graver need to be just right, graver too long=bounce, hammer technique, hammer to heavy it digs in, angle of the tool to surface... etc

Title: Re: My engraving is atrocious!
Post by: oldtravler61 on May 10, 2016, 03:59:22 AM
Looking at both patch boxes. Both very well done. How is the shading done as on the first one. If I may ask?
Title: Re: My engraving is atrocious!
Post by: Chris Treichel on May 10, 2016, 05:40:03 AM
shading on that one is probably from very small light lines.
Title: Re: My engraving is atrocious!
Post by: flehto on May 10, 2016, 07:35:10 AM
The "shading" color is a rubbed out 44/40 cold blue application. #0000 steel wool is used. Tim also "shaded" some areas w/  very fine engraving. The 2 different "shadings" do produce a  nice effect....Fred
Title: Re: My engraving is atrocious!
Post by: draken on May 10, 2016, 09:38:48 AM
Thanks everyone for your input.  It's good to have several different recommendations.


I would suggest taking classes. Engraving is really not one of those teach yourself things. So many things to get right.

Angle of the faces of the graver need to be just right, graver too long=bounce, hammer technique, hammer to heavy it digs in, angle of the tool to surface... etc

I agree, Chris.  Should engraving classes ever become available in my bailiwick
I will definitely sign up!
Title: Re: My engraving is atrocious!
Post by: Pete G. on May 10, 2016, 03:26:12 PM
I would suggest taking classes. Engraving is really not one of those teach yourself things. So many things to get right.

Angle of the faces of the graver need to be just right, graver too long=bounce, hammer technique, hammer to heavy it digs in, angle of the tool to surface... etc



In the meantime get John Schipper's book.
Title: Re: My engraving is atrocious!
Post by: bama on May 10, 2016, 04:46:16 PM
This is a rifle that I built last year. The box is hand made and engraved by me. I started trying to learn engraving on my own but after 2 years and a lot of ruined brass I decided to take some classes. I took classes from Wallace Gusler and Mark Silver at the NMLRA WKU classes and they were great but the best classes I took were from GRS in Emproium Kansas. I have been engraving since 2007 and I enjoy it almost as much as rifle building. I hope that if you want to engrave that you will invest in some classes, it will save you a lot of time and aggravation.

(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi632.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fuu45%2F123parker%2FGary%2520Ables%2520Lancaster%2520Rifle%2F1b.jpg&hash=1c00979d2ea51bc3222edbc7269566d98209a525)

(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi632.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fuu45%2F123parker%2FGary%2520Ables%2520Lancaster%2520Rifle%2F91.jpg&hash=8f1aa028dc448b6529448b5460b3851b65c167de)

Title: Re: My engraving is atrocious!
Post by: P.W.Berkuta on May 10, 2016, 05:16:37 PM
Nice work Bama. I was scheduled to go to a engraving school here in Stockton, CA a while back but they closed the school - never did get to sign up for another school.
Title: Re: My engraving is atrocious!
Post by: oldtravler61 on May 11, 2016, 03:14:19 AM
Also thank you for the info on shading. I admire all those who can engrave so well.
Title: Re: My engraving is atrocious!
Post by: 1836 Blacksmith on May 26, 2016, 07:11:00 PM
You might check out John Schipper's engraving class at Conner Prairie

Here is a link:

http://www.connerprairie.org/Things-To-Do/Events/Arts-and-Arms-Making-Workshops
Title: Re: My engraving is atrocious!
Post by: Curt Lyles on May 26, 2016, 07:20:07 PM
  Chuck Edwards or Jerry Rice are both 2 that I have dealt with and they are execellent.Curt
Title: Re: My engraving is atrocious!
Post by: jerrywh on May 26, 2016, 10:36:22 PM
 I bought Shipper's book just to see if it was any good. It is very good. I recommend it for anybody doing antique guns. Much of the designs are English style but we were English colonies. 
Title: Re: My engraving is atrocious!
Post by: Acer Saccharum on May 26, 2016, 11:12:16 PM
Bama, that is a very nice job on the patchbox. It's genuine 'Kentucky engraving', which means it's spot on for the gun and the time period (in my opinion, ok?). Good job.
Title: Re: My engraving is atrocious!
Post by: Boompa on May 26, 2016, 11:18:39 PM
   ::)My engraving is very amateurish looking as well.  Wish I knew someone close by that could show me the ropes.
Title: Re: My engraving is atrocious!
Post by: Acer Saccharum on May 27, 2016, 04:53:27 PM
I'm going to be demonstrating simple engraving sharpening and hammer techniques at Dixon's Fair this year. I'll bring my engraving ropes and show them to you.
Title: Re: My engraving is atrocious!
Post by: RFindley on May 31, 2016, 03:54:50 PM
Am building a rifle for a relative and looking ahead I would really like to give it a little "bling" in the way of some patchbox engraving.   Try as I may, however. I simply cannot engrave.     :-[

Is there anywhere that does custom engraving on something like a patchbox?


I used Smitty's Engraving the last two times and the engraving was what I wanted also it was under $130 for patchbox. sideplate, & toe plate. Nothing special & not overly done - I was satisfied with the work & price.
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy15%2FBERKUTA%2F75%2520engraving.jpg&hash=3c17467ce288c459e35c8b1e9324333d17b01c8e) (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/BERKUTA/media/75%20engraving.jpg.html)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy15%2FBERKUTA%2FP1020443.jpg&hash=bbbea80e757298deceff308954b8d8e2f92d621f) (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/BERKUTA/media/P1020443.jpg.html)

P.W.Berkuta:   Do you have any contact information for Smitty's Engraving.  I have some simple designs for a trigger guard and butt plate but I know I don't have the skills necessary to do it myself.  Thanks
Title: Re: My engraving is atrocious!
Post by: Roger B on May 31, 2016, 11:54:24 PM
Smitty does machine or rotary engraving and does a very nice job.  I've had him do a lot of stuff for me over the years and the results and prices are good.

Smitty's Engraving
21320 Pioneer Circle
Harrah, OK 73045
Telephone: (405) 454-6968

Roger B.