What engraving tools are needed

[Scota4570]

I have decided to buy a Lndsay artisan handpiece and foot controller..........I think.  I can not get a hold of anyone at lindsay via telephone.  I can not regrister for their chat room.  I am getting very frustrated! 

Questions:
1.  Does the Artisan with foot controller throttle?  Or is it full blast or nothing?
2.  What tools will I need for basic long rifle engraving?  Ongolet, 90-degree, ??  Am I expected to grind all of the cutters from scratch?
3.  Sharpening rig.......... what to I need. 

I would appreciate any help you all can provide.  Lindsay's lack of interest in the customers makes me very nervious. 

Thanks,

scot
 

[Mark Elliott]

I can't answer all your questions, but I can answer some.   I have the Lindsay sharpening system and purchase graver blanks from them for tools holders I made.   Yes,  you do have to shape and sharpen your own tools, but Lindsay offers a very complete systems for sharping all sorts of gravers.  I don't have any need of anything other than a square graver at this point.  Using a full range of diamond hones/stones, that they sell, you can quickly shape and sharpen their graver bits accurately and repeatably.

I still can't chase engrave all that well, so I doubt my ability to control the pneumatic graver.    I would have to get a lot better before I made that investment, but that is a better question for one of the Lindsay handset owners to say.   Perhaps I am wrong about that.   

[T*O*F]

I can not get a hold of anyone at lindsay via telephone.  I can not regrister for their chat room.  I am getting very frustrated! 

Then the problem is yours, not his.  There is no finer, more courteous individual offering the highest quality customer service and products.  He's a one man show and as such can't turn off his lathes and other machinery to answer every phone call that comes in.  Leave a message on his answering machine and he will get back to you.

Also, there are numerous trade shows going on between now and the end of February, including FEGA, SHOT and others and he is an exhibitor at them.  As such he is most likely in Las Vegas preparing for them.

As for the forum, registering for it is no different than registering for this one.

[P.Bigham]

 Scot  You will have to buy the foot controller to operate and regulate the Artisan hand piece. It does not come with it unless you buy a package. It may come with one universal 116 deg cutter, I cant remember. The sharpening system is very good.

[P.Bigham]

 Basic engraving the universal 116 deg. cutter will cover 90 percent of basic engraving

[SuperCracker]

Basic engraving the universal 116 deg. cutter will cover 90 percent of basic engraving

very true. Although a 90deg will be a bit more forgiving of variances in depth. Which is what my hang up with was the airgraver.

[Scota4570]

I can not get a hold of anyone at lindsay via telephone.  I can not regrister for their chat room.  I am getting very frustrated! 

Then the problem is yours, not his.  There is no finer, more courteous individual offering the highest quality customer service and products.  He's a one man show and as such can't turn off his lathes and other machinery to answer every phone call that comes in.  Leave a message on his answering machine and he will get back to you.

Also, there are numerous trade shows going on between now and the end of February, including FEGA, SHOT and others and he is an exhibitor at them.  As such he is most likely in Las Vegas preparing for them.

As for the forum, registering for it is no different than registering for this one.

Maybe it is me.  I get horrible customer service most of the time.  My wife comments on it.  She and i joke about a curse or something. 

I'm sure he is a wonderfull individual.  I like art-sie mechanic types, I am one of those.   I  sent another E-mail.  Hope he gets back to me.  I really want the engraver.  I just have an issue dropping a thousand bucks on something without any human interaction.  I am a beginner, need help and hope he will provide it.  I am not going to drive to vegas in hopes of finding him.  The forum, I don't know,  I am on several forums, I have not had trouble before.  His answering machine is apparently turned off.  I let the phone ring about 10 times each time I call. 

[docone]

You actually need the handpiece.
The machine is great, but I prefer individual pieces. A regulator for 8lbs, a small compressor and 25 gal extra tank. I found the handpiece and foot pedal at Rio and made the rest. I got a Victor engraving ball, and made a shop to do the work.
I definately reccomend learning to sharpen those bad boys. That is pretty important. I use my faceter to do the sharpening.
Untill I have everything ready, I got small square files and sharpened a face angle, and set back. Those I Hammered to engrave. Crude, but I definately learned a lot.
I got a Foredom Engraving unit. Less than 500$ complete and it is not restricted to engraving. I use it in my shop for stone setting also.
Once you learn to use the foot pedal, it definately gets easier with more control.
Good luck. It takes learning for sure. But it looks great when done.

[Scota4570]

Thanks all,

He returned my last e-mail.  He gave me the secret password so I could register on the engraving forum.

[clockman]

Scott,
I've got a Lindsey with the foot control and love it.  But you need to know you are on a slippery slope for tool acquisition.  Most everyone here already understands that.   You will need a good quality air compressor and maybe a filter for it. Pneumatic engravers don't like oil or moisture that most compressors can put out.  If you' re only going to engrave muzzle loaders (brass and soft steel) you won't need carbide graver tips (they're brittle and will typically break the tips until you learn to handle them).  Stick with high speed steel, you can sharpen them on stones you probably already have. Get several extra so you won't have to keep sharpening the same 2 or 3 that come with the engraver.  You will DEFINITELY need the Lindsey sharpening system, it's the secret to getting the same angles every time in order to engrave.  Get the Universal, it's all you'll need.  You will also need a pocket microscope, cheap at HARBOR FREIGHT.  You'll need it to check the tips as you shape them and to see when you need to resharpen those tiny heels on the engraver.  Next you'll need some type of vice that you can easily and smoothly rotate 360 degrees while you are engraving.   Most engravers use a ball vice, the bigger the better.  Finally you will probably need some type of  optivisor to see your work.  Check out the websit called Engravers Cafe, look for the button "Tips Archive" and look for Tool List for Beginners.  This web site has everything you'll need to get started into engraving, ...except for one thing....   You really need to get someone to give you at least a short lesson(s) on sharpening and using the Lindsey engraver.  I'm not saying you can't figure it out on your own, but it will definitely increase your learning curve.
    Best of luck.   Watch out you might get bitten by this bug.

[Dphariss]

I have decided to buy a Lndsay artisan handpiece and foot controller..........I think.  I can not get a hold of anyone at lindsay via telephone.  I can not regrister for their chat room.  I am getting very frustrated! 

Questions:
1.  Does the Artisan with foot controller throttle?  Or is it full blast or nothing?
2.  What tools will I need for basic long rifle engraving?  Ongolet, 90-degree, ??  Am I expected to grind all of the cutters from scratch?
3.  Sharpening rig.......... what to I need. 

I would appreciate any help you all can provide.  Lindsay's lack of interest in the customers makes me very nervious. 

Thanks,

scot
 

You need some square gravers and maybe A couple of flats. Lynton McKenzie's Beginning Engraving disk explains this. It is still available for purchase or rental at https://smartflix.com/store/category/74/Engraving
It will also explain simple sharpening techniques.
Dan

[Captchee]

 I too have the Lindsey classic with foot control .
  For a compressor , you don’t really need anything big . I actually use my  Bausch air  brush compressor .  I ask Steve about this  when I first got my classic and he told me it would be fine .
The Classic run fine on it  with enough power  that have have had no real issues cutting even savage and colts .   If your planning on doing relief work , the little compressor is a little lacking  but does just fine .
 For a pressure regulator I picked one up off of flea bay . Basically for the water trap more then need to regulate pressure as my Bausch  was not tank and wont build over around 20psI at the very most   .
 Yes the foot controls the speed . The cullet on the hand piece regulated the length of stoke for the piston. So in a since even though your using a pneumatic hand piece , that hand piece is really just a pneumatic hammer  with a  graver attached . IE you can adjust  the hammer to strike hard or soft  on the hand piece  and then fast or slow by pressing on the foot control .

As to gravers . Start out with Steve’s Universal  point  it’s a great point  and his template  makes it easy to maintain .
  I would also recommend getting a set of diamond  hones from steve . They are of good quality and will last a long time . For a while he offered a set of hones , Universal template  and a small pack of HSS gravers  as a package ..

 You will need some type of vice .  A basic  vice will work . But as you grow , your going to find  the vice will also change  and eventually you will most like end up with a Ball vice of sorts . Get you a set of loupes so you can see your work .
 From there its reading , practice drawing , more drawing practice  and  cutting practice .

IMO Steves forum is  A+ . get registered  and ask  questions all you like . I have never seen a cross or  reply with attitude .
 You also will find that Steve has a program where those of us with his products  sign up so as to let those  near us try out his  items . So don’t be afraid to check that option out . There maybe someone close to you .

Also when you receive you package and you  see the size of the  hand piece , you maybe alittle taken back .  don’t be . Its worth ever penny