Die sinker chisels....

[Birddog6]

I bought a set of die sinker chisels from Jerry Huddleston a month or so ago, just now tried them out.  Man.........     what an awesome set of chisels.  I don't know if his sharpening is so good or the chisels are so good or both, but these things cut metal like butter !  Makes me want to throw all of my gravers away & just use these !!   

Thanks Jerry !  They work GREAT !!

[Greg Field]

I, for one, am curious which it is. If it is the sharpening, please put aside your modestly, Mr. Huddleston, and say so. If the tools are just that good, please tell us where they might be procured.

[Acer Saccharum]

Brownell's and Gesswein carry them.

They are darn good, I can vouch for them. The steel is quite tough, and will hold an edge for a long time.
Especially good for heavy stock removal.

I am willing to bet Jerry's sharpening has a lot to do with their performance. Before you regrind them, try to measure their angles, or make sketches or take micro photos to document the tools you like. This is a great aid in trying to replicate that perfect edge.

Tom

http://www.gesswein.com/catalog/home.cfm?CFID=940277&CFTOKEN=21166757
http://www.brownells.com/

[jerrywh]

It's the shapening. When I try to tell people they don't believe me but Tom knows. It's hard to tell someone how to sharpen gravers. They need to do it hands on with instruction.

[David Rase]

I have been using die sinkers chisels to engrave for years.  You can't beat the weight and feel of them.  You can set the engraving in good and solid.  What I like about using a heavier graver like the die sinkers chisels is that when you want to widen a line you just tip the engraver up and go in a little deeper.  Using a deeper cut to widen a line adds a slight third dimension to engraving that you don't get when you simply lean the engraver over. 
And as Jerry said, tool geometry is everything.
DMR

[Acer Saccharum]

When I try to tell people they don't believe me but Tom knows. It's hard to tell someone how to sharpen gravers. They need to do it hands on with instruction.

This is the truth.

I have always been able to draw. I was learning to engrave, knowing the effect I wanted, but struggled for hours with poor cuts, broken tool tips, ragged curves.
So much of this is in the sharpening. You'd think you could just read it in a book, but how come there are so many books and DVD's out there, and people are STILL having trouble? To really learn it, you have to get the one on one, hands on experience. There are just some things that are difficult or impossible to convey by print or photos.

Courses are available at GRS:
http://www.grstrainingcenter.com/schedule/local.html

DVD's are rentable from SmartFlix:
http://smartflix.com/store/category/74/Engraving

If you seriously want to engrave, you must spring for the education. There is no quicker way to get yourself launched.  You can also write it off as a business expense.

Acer