Does anybody here try engraving?

[re-enactor]

Hi,
I'm pretty new to the forum, but I have to ask if any of you try your hand at engraving on your rifles? I would like to incorporate some basic engraving on the steel parts just for the heck of it. I can't take up engraving as a new hobby, but it seems that a bit of engraving adds a bunch to the experience of building. Any thoughts?

 

[M. De Land]

I have a couple of engraving tools but have never given it a try as I generally don't care for engraving much.
I am going to give it a try after reading your post just because of curiosity. I have read a bit of how to do it but just never tried before.
I think it is usually done after laying out a pattern on the steel with marking fluid and following the pattern lines.
I can't draw for beans but can checker reasonably well so probably could follow some lines laid out in a pattern on steel. Don't know I guess until it is tried. MD

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

Its a slippery slope.

No engraving is far better than poor engraving on any given day.

Here are a couple web sites that can offer some insight to the work,

Engravers Cafe

Engraving Forum

Essentially if you can draw it you can cut it.

 

[mikemeteor]

http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showpost.php?post/1135658/

you might say Jerry Huddleston has tried his hand at engraving.... :shocked2:
/mm

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

And in the case of Jerry Huddleston it can be extream. just depends on how far you want to go with it.

 

[jdkerstetter]

I "try" to engrave. Let's just say I'm practicing.

The most enlightening read I've seen on the subject of engraving is John Shippers new book:
http://www.airgraver.com/Engraving-Historic-Firarms-John-Schippers.htm

In it he focuses on the engraving of period longrifles and fowlers so there's not a lot of wasted information.

Enjoy, J.D.

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

If your serious about engraving you will not find a better resource than the Schippers book mentioned by JD,

Good Call There.

:hatsoff:

 

[re-enactor]

Thanks everyone for those comments. Wow that is encouraging. J.D. that reference looks cool and one to save up for.

It is fair to say I'd practice quite a bit before engraving some muzzleloader parts. I agree with you ApprenticeBuilder about no engraving is better than poor engraving and thanks for those photos. Beautiful work and something I'd like to work toward. Kinda like woodcarving too, you want to make sure it adds rather than takes away from what you are building.

Blessings on your day!

 

[M. De Land]

Wow, not bad for his first project! :rotf: I have no idea where one achieves such skill! Fantastic is the only word that comes to mind. MD

 

[kaintuck]

YUP...i tried it, I diassembled my parts, the carefully packaged them up and mailed them off to a fellow.
I just no time they returned, and I re-assembled them, and now the rifles look just wonderful.....

:surrender:

MY way of learning how to engrave...... :grin:

 

[ohio ramrod]

I tried it once. Not good! :idunno: :idunno:

 

[jdkerstetter]

No offense to Tom, but much original American/Colonial work is pretty crude by his and and today's standards. While it is great to aspire to that level you don't have to be great to duplicate early work.

Looking closely at the engraving on these guns you can see how simple much of the work was. Layout counts for a lot so that when all the "simple" work is taken as a whole it comes off quite nice.

Enjoy, J.D.

 

I've been both a professional and hobbyist wood worker. I've sold some items for a pretty penny. A lot of people asked me about engraving. I tried, I really tried, and I suck at it.

Then I bought a laser. Technically it's not engraving on metal but you have color options.

I can make a computer do things that I could never do by hand.

I doubt I'll engrave metal but a laser on wood can do some pretty cool stuff.

 

[Chowmif16]

I just ordered Schipper's book, and can't wait to give it a try.
I'm about to start work on a Chamber's Early Lancaster and would love to do some basic engraving on it. Needless to say, I bought several brass practice sheets and I'm pretty sure I'll find out that I suck at it!
I will post my progress on this forum.
Cheers,

 

[LRB]

Learning to draw is the most important part of the learning to engrave process. No matter how well you learn to cut, it will look no better than what you draw. Mild steel is also very good for practice plates. Some even prefer them.

 

[re-enactor]

Please post your work. My expectations are that a simple design might be the slight enhancement I'm looking for. I'll probably be greatly humbled by some practice.
Thanks

 

[Pete G]

Learn how to do some curves on a few practice plates before anything else. Also study the old rifles. Very few had what would be called good engraving today. A little bit of engraving can add a lot to a rifle, even if it is not perfect.

 

[re-enactor]

I'm with you about practicing on mild steel. Thanks. Does anybody have preferences on chasing hammers? I suspect that the cheap ones might have some limitations, but would it matter at the beginning stage?

 

[jdkerstetter]

Almost anything will work for a chasing hammer.....small ballpeen, a rachet....even the box end of a combination wrench and if you want to be fancy run a bolt through the hole, smooth the head and put a nut on the other side to hold it in.

Anything you are happy tapping with. Enjoy, J.D.

 

[Chowmif16]

re-enactor,
I will certainly post my results, starting with my practice plates. It will take some time, I am out of the country right now, so I expect it'll be at least a month before I can get to working on it.
My biggest problem is likely to be that I can't draw for manure.... I've been practicing, but have a long way to go.
My plan is to keep it simple. I figure that I can always keep practicing and do the engraving later if I need to.
Cheers,
Chowmi