Gravers

[TinStar]

bob243

I got Jack Brook's "Beginning Engraving" DVD and noticed he mostly used a square graver made from a lathe tool bit(Momax/Cobalt) with a nice lagre type handle. The graver looked to be 1/4" by my estimate. So I went online to MSC Industrial Supply and ordered one bit and a hand grind tool holder for it. (They only have a few dozen left and told me the co. is not making them anymore)
Anyway I ground it down to 30 deg. DIAGONALLY and then put the 45 deg. end on it with the two 15 deg. angles on that as the DVD described and it works great. He did almost an entire patchbox with it on the DVD.

TinStar
Soli Deo Gloria!

 

[ozrkreb]

Save yourself some money and just get a square graver and a Crocker sharpener. You can get the square graver at any of the places people have mentioned and you can get the sharpener off ebay. Here's a hint on the sharpener: search for Cocker sharpener. Yes, that should be Cocker, rather than Crocker. There's a seller that spells the name wrong and sells them for only $35.

I did every bit of the engraving on this rifle (and every other rifle I do) with a single square graver.

Az

 

[bob243]

Thanks for confirming this.. I will order a couple on my next MSC order (I'm cheap, I usually pick everything out of the sale flyer and wait for a free shipping email :haha: ) and give it a try. :hatsoff:

 

[LRB]

Sorry, but the name is CROCKER. Look it up.

 

[ozrkreb]

Wick....I think you missed the point of my comment.

I know the name is Crocker, but the guy on ebay doesn't. So if you want to get a good deal on one, search ebay for COCKER.

Az

 

[bob243]

I think what he was saying is the person on ebay selling a cocker jig is $35 and the other person selling a crocker jig is selling it for $65 :hatsoff:

 

[LRB]

Sorry. Read too fast. My mistake. :redface:

 

[Packdog]

Has anyone any hands-on experience with this sharpening jig for the occasional engraver?
Lindsay Graver Sharpener

Thanks,
I need all the help I can get. I will add another question. Can you use the Lindsey sharpener on Die Sinker chisels? They see to be fatter than the average engraving chisel. No sure if the shank will fit the sharpener.

The Die Sinkers will not fit in the jig. In fact not much else will fit in the jig except the gravers they sell. I think it is 3/32". The jigs work great but they are specialized and you'll end up with a lot of $$$ tied up in them by the time you get a couple of different ones. Your sharpening stones also need to be exactly 1/2" tall for the jig to keep the same angle each time or you can buy the jig they sell for a drill press.
I'm very much a beginner engraver but I recently had a chance to use the Die Sinker type gravers and fell in love with them compared to others I have used. They do not come shapened to my knowledge and that's a big minus. I think it was Mike Brooks that pointed out the importance of sharpening early in this thread. I think you will find out, Sharpening is more important that the type of graver you use for normal KY style engraving.

 

[Steve Boyleston]

Hey JD- yes I hand sharpen without a jig, you get used to doing it with a little practice- Jack Brooks is an old friend of mine since 1980 and he is an awsome engraver- that Video will really help you out. Construction is still in the tank. After close to 40 years of the Trades I was forced out and now all I do is make Rifles- Tomahawks and Horns, funny 40 years ago I thought someday I would be fulltime- its here, take care have fun engraving, The Great Pinyone- "Legend in my own mind"

 

[Lonstar]

Thanks all,
Going with the Die Sinkers #9-10-11- and 12 as recomended by Birddog. I have a square graver just can’t get it sharp. Just spent the last hour trying to get the COCKER ordered on Ebay. Keeps telling me I have hit a speed bump and to try again later. d#&*t :cursing: . I guess ya gota work a little harder for a good deal.