You are quite right about the time needed to gain the skill. My big Sis is a "Grand Master Engraver" and watching her over the years has been really neat.
You teach very well Denis, seeing the product come together and then the resultant work along side your explanation is really useful...I too have done very little engraving but Ive done quite a bit of sculptural woodcarving and the process you just described is very famiiliar so if I give it a go I know now that I have a referece point already, (nice little confidence booster) thanks very much for sharing.
I've watched a number of videos about hammer and chisel engraving, from amateurs and full-time professionals alike, because I'm interested in learning the process. I have to say that your use of wood for an enlarged demonstration of edge geometry is the most brilliant, clear explanation I've seen yet. Thank you very much!
Hi Dennis, I use chasing hammers quite a lot. I like to make my handles from fruit wood. I happen to have access to pear wood. Trimmings from an orchard every fall. I make the handles about 5/16" to 3/8" in diameter. That lets the handle act as a spring. It really makes the work much less tiring. Somewhat like an anvil with good rebound vs a dead anvil. They break frequently but it's worth making them thin to save your wrist.
A small cape chisel, if you can find one anymore, makes a pretty good starting point for making a hammer driven graver. I never did much engraving, mainly putting my name on my personal tools, but it worked okay for that.
Dennis, Thank you for this video, I have been wanting to start doing this for some time know and I found it rather difficult finding info or videos relating tomaking your own chisels for graving. So thank you for informative video on making a standerd graving chisel.Regards, M/S Blacksmithing and Blades
You never disappoint. Brilliant object lesson with the pine board. For the slower ones out here, could you show using the board what the chisel/graver is doing in relation to the surface? Perhaps using a sandbox as the work surface... Just trying to be helpful.
Yeah, I don't know what I am ignorant of in this regards: I certainly don't know what you don't know. I was wondering if that board in some clay or sand might be able to demonstrate the gaps in my ignorance. I'm thinking you would need to seal/wax the pine. I intend to do this very thing myself, but you already have an audience. Of 14,000 or so, so congrats on that.
HI denis, Thanks for your videos, does the angle change if you are cutting copper ? have you had any experience engraving other metals. I know from drilling brass that you need to change the profile of your drill bits cutting edge. cheers Dominic
I've only worked in iron so I can't advise you on proper bevel angles for copper. Also it would be easy enough to just try different angles and see what works best.
Hammer head looks great. Hammer handle is too thick. It needs to be springy. Your heel on your graver is too long. .010 to .015 is plenty for most work. Longer if you cutting straight lines.
You are quite right about the time needed to gain the skill. My big Sis is a "Grand Master Engraver" and watching her over the years has been really neat.
You teach very well Denis, seeing the product come together and then the resultant work along side your explanation is really useful...I too have done very little engraving but Ive done quite a bit of sculptural woodcarving and the process you just described is very famiiliar so if I give it a go I know now that I have a referece point already, (nice little confidence booster)
thanks very much for sharing.
I've watched a number of videos about hammer and chisel engraving, from amateurs and full-time professionals alike, because I'm interested in learning the process. I have to say that your use of wood for an enlarged demonstration of edge geometry is the most brilliant, clear explanation I've seen yet. Thank you very much!
Very helpful video for understanding the edge geometry of the cutting chisel.
I've always wanted to learn engraving!! Thanks, Dennis!!
thank you Dennis for the detailed information about the grinding angles etc on the graver chisel. very helpful.
Thank you. I was looking for the the configuration of the tip of an engraving chisel, your description with the piece wood is perfect.
Great video! Outstanding illustration of the chisel edge with the piece of wood. Over all great
Hi Dennis, I use chasing hammers quite a lot. I like to make my handles from fruit wood. I happen to have access to pear wood. Trimmings from an orchard every fall. I make the handles about 5/16" to 3/8" in diameter. That lets the handle act as a spring. It really makes the work much less tiring. Somewhat like an anvil with good rebound vs a dead anvil. They break frequently but it's worth making them thin to save your wrist.
A small cape chisel, if you can find one anymore, makes a pretty good starting point for making a hammer driven graver. I never did much engraving, mainly putting my name on my personal tools, but it worked okay for that.
Dennis, Thank you for this video, I have been wanting to start doing this for some time know and I found it rather difficult finding info or videos relating tomaking your own chisels for graving. So thank you for informative video on making a standerd graving chisel.Regards, M/S Blacksmithing and Blades
Excellent video Denis! You will find it is much easier(relatively), if you wipe a smear of oil on the plate before engraving. Chris B.
Excellent, as always. Thank you.
Interesting, a great learning experience!
Thank you Dennis that was very helpful.
You never disappoint. Brilliant object lesson with the pine board. For the slower ones out here, could you show using the board what the chisel/graver is doing in relation to the surface? Perhaps using a sandbox as the work surface... Just trying to be helpful.
No problem - as soon as I know what I'm doing I'll make another video.
Yeah, I don't know what I am ignorant of in this regards: I certainly don't know what you don't know. I was wondering if that board in some clay or sand might be able to demonstrate the gaps in my ignorance. I'm thinking you would need to seal/wax the pine.
I intend to do this very thing myself, but you already have an audience. Of 14,000 or so, so congrats on that.
Great video! Thanks for that!
What if you increased the width of that engraving chisel and kept the angle it had. Would that be able to cut a wide trench into steel?
Looks interesting
HI denis, Thanks for your videos, does the angle change if you are cutting copper ? have you had any experience engraving other metals. I know from drilling brass that you need to change the profile of your drill bits cutting edge. cheers Dominic
I've only worked in iron so I can't advise you on proper bevel angles for copper. Also it would be easy enough to just try different angles and see what works best.
Thank you Dennis, forcexplainingcand demonstrating the processes so clearly that my 72year old brain can retain the "rules of thumb".
Presumably a diamond point cold chisel would be a good starting point if you have one.
I have a playlist on my channel page that covers how to make and use your own chisels.
more engraving videos please
Thanks
Hammer head looks great. Hammer handle is too thick. It needs to be springy. Your heel on your graver is too long. .010 to .015 is plenty for most work. Longer if you cutting straight lines.
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