I'd like to learn to engrave some simple borders on triggergards, ect...

[Rolf]

Richpierce, thanks for your kind offer. I'll do some math and get back to you.

Best regards

Rolfkt

[smart dog]

Rolf,
We deal with shipping problems and outrageous costs here in Alaska.  Some suppliers simply won't spend the effort to take packages to the local post office and ship USPS.  They want them picked up by Fed Ex or UPS for their convenience regardless of what it costs you.  We simply don't do business with companies that refuse to use USPS priority mail.  If is costs them to get the package to the PO then simply add a handling fee to the shipping, which will still be much cheaper than UPS.  Are there no engraving or knife making suppliers in Europe?  Where do all the fine engravers in England, France, Belgium, Italy, and France get their supplies and tools?

dave  

[T*O*F]

Rolf,
I would extend the same courtesy to you as Rich offered with the exception that I have a PayPal merchant account and could bill you thru it.  This might alleviate the money problem.  You would only have to pay a 3% upcharge on the total to cover my PayPal fees.

[Rolf]

TOF, thanks for the kind offer. I'll take you up on it. I've used paypal a lot and it's definitely the easiest and cheapest way for me to send money. I've sent you a PM.

Dave, we live in a funny world. The countries you mention belong to the European common wealth, Norway does not. And that opens a new can of worms. It's cheaper and easier for me to by stuff from other countries outside the common wealth. Eks. it costs more to ship a book from amazon.uk.co(England) than the same book from amazon.com(USA). And the shipping time is the same.

Best regards

Rolfkt

[Rolf]

I found out whats "wrong" with my sharpening jig. It was a Norwegian jewelery supplier that showed me. It's for sharpening the heels on gravers, not the face. The tear drop holes hold the gravers rock steady when doing heels, but wobble like crazy when trying to do the face. They don't have jigs for manual sharpening  of graver faces.

So I'll be buying the Lindsay sharpening fixture. It comes with the Universal 116 degree V template. A lot of people on the igraver forum recommend that beginners  should start with the 110 degree uniform- parallel templat instead. What's your opion?

I want to do silver wedding bands and name plates on gun barrels. For undercutting, should I get the flat & knife template or the Roland Baptiste gold inlay point template?

Best regards
Rolfkt

[jerrywh]

rolfkt.
  A knife graver is almost useless. Undercutting is not done with a graver. It is done with a special chisel. You done't need any kind of template for a undercutting chisel. Also I think you are going to find that a 110° will be very hard to control unless you are an experienced engrever.  Your template will work fine for the face on gravers if you go to a square shank bit. The type of gravers you have are not generally used by gun engravers. They were intended mostly for hand push engraving of silver and copperplate. When I was a beginner I made the mistake of buying the same type.
   

[engravertom]

I would think the 116 template would be fine. Anything that helps you get consistent sharpening results will help you immensely, no matter the details of the point style.

Knife gravers are very fragile, but you can under cut with narrow onglettes also. I have found the pre shaped gravers from GRS to be very useful, especially the various rounds, onglettes, and small flats. learning to sharpen an onglette free hand is not too hard. You may want to look into the template Steve Lindsay has for an undercutting chisel. I'll probably try one soon myself.

The Lindsay templates are a great help. I think you will be happy with them. you may want to order some square tool blanks also.

best wishes for success!

take care,

Tom