Gravers

[JB]

This week I hope to order this Dvd-- Beginning Engraving on DVD,The Gunsmith's Apprentice Series, by Jack Brooks

I also want to order some Gravers and a handle at the same time.  What sizes do you recommend to started with?   I'm looking at these Carbon steel ones from track of the wolf.. Any suggestions?   I want to learn how to do some basic engraving..

any thoughts?

https://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/1034/2

[hortonstn]

Order the video first he shows how to make them

[L. Akers]

You only need a square graver to start.  With it you can do 99.99% of the engraving on a longrifle.  As you become more proficient you can add other graver shapes.

[Mark Elliott]

I would suggest that you order some M42 graver blanks from Steve Lindsay.  They hold an edge almost forever in brass or soft steel.   If you have a lathe,  make an aluminum holder for the bits.   Otherwise,  buy one from Steve Lindsay.    You might also buy his sharpening jig while you are at it.   You will also need a chasing hammer.   

[JB]

Thanks guys.!!.. I look forward to learning this new skill.

JB

[T*O*F]

[quote ] If you have a lathe,  make an aluminum holder for the bits.  [/quote]

No lathe required.  Get a piece of 3/8" or 1/2" rod in aluminum, brass, or steel.  Drill a hole in the end and thread a set screw on the side.

[M. E. Pering]

To be honest, I went over to Harbor Freight tools and picked up a 5/16th" round file, cut off the handle, and ground it into a square graver.  I then spent a couple hours honing and polishing it.  It is about 4.5" long, and I have been using it to engrave ever since.  I do have some 'real' gravers too that are mounted in wooden mushroom handles, but that cheap Chinese file graver is the one I use for 90% of my work.  Surprisingly, it seems to hold it's edges quite well, and I have yet to have it chip out on me.  I am more satisfied with that graver than any other I have, truth be told.  Granted, it took some work to fabricate, but it has served me well, and when it is too short to use anymore, I will probably make another just like it.

Matt

[JB]

Thanks guys.  I'm going to order the video tonight..... Then go from there.  I appreciate the input and I hope to be able to get good this.

[Clowdis]

Take a look at the things they offer here, anything you can dream about for engraving.
http://www.gesswein.com/c-180-engraving.aspx

[JB]

ok, I ordered the video.. ...Looking forward to this.

[Justin Urbantas]

You only need a square graver to start.  With it you can do 99.99% of the engraving on a longrifle.  As you become more proficient you can add other graver shapes.

What angles do you suggest on a square graver for most work?

[45-110]

Justin
have a look at John Schippers engraving book. He pretty much covers all aspects of getting set up to engrave. It is a fine ref. book.
kw

[goodtime7]

Do yourself a huge favor and be sure you have a properly shaped and sharpened graver.   It’s a given that it will be an uphill battle if you start without addressing this issue.    I’m just a beginning engraver but if I had to point to one thing that made the biggest difference in the learning curve it was this issue.    Good luck, try to practice a few minutes every day if you can!

[Hungry Horse]

My first gravers were made from a bunch of worn out chainsaw file I got for free from the local saw shop. I had noticed that the square graver shown in one of the books of buckskinning looked like the shank of a round file. So I went out to my shop and made a graver in about a half hour from an old saw file. I still use these gravers, but have since mounted them in hardwood dowel handles with one flat side for better control, and metal caps to prevent damage from the graving hammer. I made one from a file made by Pferd that was hard to sharpen, but has never needed resharpening.

  Hungry Horse

[rich pierce]

I had an awful time engraving till I took a class with Acer who provided HSS gravers and showed us how to sharpen them. I engraved a patchbox with a sharp graver and never needed to re sharpen. That never happened with my home made gravers before. E

[smart dog]

Hi Rich,
Even if you think your graver is still sharp from cutting soft metal like brass, sharpen it periodically.  I use the ritual of sharpening as a break from the tension of engraving.

dave

[rich pierce]

Tension?  Haha I have low expectations but with time that will change. I might get tensecengraving the nick and dot border on the buttplate. Last night I took a square HSS graver blank and ground and sharpened it as a flat graver. Started practicing borders. A couple more days and I should be good to go.

Will follow your sharpening advice.

[T*O*F]

Even if you think your graver is still sharp from cutting soft metal like brass, sharpen it periodically.

Another tip:   Brass has a tendency to build up on the face of the graver and will make it drag.  Lube your tip periodically to prevent this and you will also find that the lube makes it cut smoother.  I use a 35mm film can with a cotton ball in it moistened with 3 in 1 oil.  However, any light oil will work.

[Justin Urbantas]

How do you keep the line straight if the curl of metal you cut obscures the tip, so you can't see the layout line?

[rich pierce]

One trick so they tell me is to grind the face of the graver with a little more off on one side of the face.

[smart dog]

How do you keep the line straight if the curl of metal you cut obscures the tip, so you can't see the layout line?

Hi,
First, don't cut on the guideline.  Cut next to it.  Second, clear the curls periodically and make sure your lighting is shining on the front of the graver.  Finally, think of every 1/2" of line as your total project. Focus on getting each 1/2" perfect.

dave

[Pukka Bundook]

Good advice, Dave .
Years ago I found I was cutting next to my line, but was meant to be on it. Found I needed glasses for that stuff.
Next to the line  is a lot easier, but didn't know that then.

Handles I use are antler tips, with point off.  Seems to transfer shock well, but I'm no engraver.  Whatever pattern I lay out, my hands take no notice of my brain and it all turns out the same! 

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I bought several graver blanks from GRS quite a few years ago, and set them into brass and aluminum 3/8" dia. rod handles.  They are incredible steel they call "Glensteel" and hold their points far longer than the die sinker chisels I bought 38 years ago from Brownell's.  I will add another plug for John Schipper's book on Engraving Historic Firearms.  His teaching method and instruction is easy to follow and understand, and he demonstrates all of the cuts you will want for doing longrifles, and then some.  The book is chocked full of photographs of his work which I find inspiring and helpful.  Here is a butt plate I just finished shamelessly copying one from his book.  If I were to engrave more than once a year, I think I could get the hang of it.  But if you look at this quickly, through a piece of carbon paper or a welder's helmet, it looks fine.  Buy the book and be enlightened.

[louieparker]

Taylor it looks great to me and I have my bifocals on it..LP

[jerrywh]

Everything Taylor does looks good.