Tools, Glorious Tools! #8 - Learning To Engrave

Hey! Nice work Chris! Just thought I'd add that there are several different designs for shop build power engraving machines as well. Can be built for not much at all! Search youtube and you shall find.

Karl Mansson

Hi Mike, I tend to lightly scratch a main guide directly onto the metal, I don't use any waxes etc, just a very gentle touch of the sharp scribe against the grained surface to catch the light. This forms a guide to cut that main line, and then the other shading lines are dropped in adjacent to that key line at various widths and cut depths to give the illusion of depth - I will certainly be doing more engraving as the projects unfold - Cheers :)

Clickspring

Hi Chris, great work. I‘m starting to try machine powered push-cut engraving after working on wriggle cut for the last year. I’m wondering what you’re doing with the scribe pre-shading. Is your scribe dipped in something and you are sketching your shading lines? Or are you scratching/creating a slight guide to assist your tool’s path? You’ve gotten really good, keep at it. Would love to see more videos on the subject.

Mike Borkovic

This one won't be going out publicly on YT Marc, but I'm very happy for you to share it with him privately - Cheers :)

Clickspring

Hey Chris, are you ready for that video to go out into the wild world of youtube? I frequently use your videos as standards and examples and have a gentleman asking about getting started in engraving.

Marc Banks

Ha ha! Thank you mate!

Clickspring

I'm using the GRS dual angle fixture, I like the ability to play around with different angles to see what I get, but Steve Lindsays templates look excellent for set and forget sharpening, very practical - Cheers :)

Clickspring

I like Ron's books, but you're right there are many to choose from. I'd run with whatever can get you started practicing the soonest - Cheers :)

Clickspring

The table is rotated by hand, theres a quick shot of it at 9:57 - its just a very slow rotation of the table to feed and orient the cut.

Clickspring

Cheers mate :)

Clickspring

The putty is called Thermoloc, excellent stuff, really versatile for workholding. I tend to use "engravers brass" for all brass sheet requirements, its a staple for most non-ferrous suppliers - Cheers :)

Clickspring

Terrific to hear that mate :)

Clickspring

Many thanks Emma :)

Clickspring

I was also curious Chris have you looked at Steve Lindsay's graver sharpening system/templates or are you use hand cutting your gravers?

Robert D

What makes the Ron Smith books so good? I've seen that the first book is supposed to be a short 40 pages for a hardback and that looks like an awful lot for a very short bit on the subject matter. I myself recently picked up a book by Rachel Wells on Engraving from her classes on the subject and while I haven't finished it yet for its price it looks to be a fair resource. It's a mere $10.25 and while its just a loose leaf print and fairly bad photography it's fairly inclusive. It can be found here: https://www.bkstr.com/yavapaistore/course-materials-results?shopBy=discoverShop&divisionDisplayName=&departmentDisplayName=GST&courseDisplayName=291§ionDisplayName=30044&courseRefId=&merfnbr=218&termDir=201930

Robert D

So the table provides rotation and the ball vise adjusts for work piece angle? How do you rotate the table as you are working, is that with your legs or other hand?

Clifton Ballad

Absolutely amazing work as always Chris, not something I'd have the patience (or the wallet) for. =^.^=

Spadge Fox

A couple of questions though: Specifically for engraving what are you using to glue the workpeice down (shellac then some kind of putty?) and on the much broader scale what kind of brass do you use?

Joshua Fairhurst

Fantastic to finally see! The whole TGT series has me eagerly awaiting this move and setting up the home shop

Joshua Fairhurst

enjoyed very much. the hrs on the sketchbook are a very real thing. youre starting to get some pretty nice results and the hours show! nice work i think by anyones standards.

Emmas Spareroom Machineshop

I felt exactly the same about the sketching, definitely worth having a go mate :)

Clickspring

Ha ha! Cheers Ralph :)

Clickspring

Cheers mate :)

Clickspring

The sketching part... I have almost 0 artistic inclination or skills... Like im not even sure where to start. Guess ill have to get some books, or maybe bug some of my artistic friends for some pointers.... That being said, have you tried engraving steel and bluing it like you would with screws or clicksprings? I know it wouldn't look quite the same but I'm curious what it would turn out like...

Clifton Ballad

Chris, so this art took you 1 year, so you are a mere mortal. Ralph

Ralph McCoy

That's absolutely stunning. As said above by Mike Michelizzi, these crafts seem to be so easy, until you try yourself. Sketching one hour a day for half a year is really something, and then another half a year to practice, practice, practice... But the results are really impressive. Thanks, as always, for sharing Chris.

Joris van 't Land

So pleased to hear that mate :)

Clickspring

Thank you Chris! Seeing your beginner sketches and cuts and then further improvement really encoureged me to try to learn this amaizing skill. :)

Boguslaw Smalec

Thank you mate :)

Clickspring

Terrific to hear that Leonard, and you're very welcome :)

Clickspring

Very pleased you enjoyed it mate :)

Clickspring

Ha ha! Cheers mate :)

Clickspring

Thank you Jochen!

Clickspring

You're welcome mate :)

Clickspring

Terrific to hear that Graeme :)

Clickspring

Cheers Mike :)

Clickspring

Thanks Chris :)

Clickspring

Cheers mate :)

Clickspring

Very interesting. Years ago I bought a glass engraver and it took me months to get that to look like anything but a mess but I am curious how different metal engraving can be. For sure glass it less forgiving of small mistakes but it also is not as reflective as metal and so you can cover up things with some diamond paper if careful. Great overview Chris and happy you have learnt another skill and been able to bring it to your high quality work. It is fascinating watching your builds and engraving is just another aspect that is mesmerizing.

veritanuda

It is impressive that when you embark on a new learning project, you go for it hook, line, and sinker! And I am grateful to you for the way you break it down for the rest of us, so succinctly. I have been making sporadic attempts at learning engraving for a few years now, and just watching your previous couple of videos on the subject has given me a quantum boost. Now with this more in-depth study, and list of source materials, you have cut my work out for me; it's time to get my hands dirty again. Thank you for what you do.

Leonard Solomon

Awesome way to start a Friday with a Clickspring video!

So the process is crawl, walk then run, and in your case you might be Usain Bolt.

Peter Kransz

Astonishing, as always!

Jochen Heuser

Thank you much for the video.

Samuel Irons

Really interesting Chris. You've inspired me to start studying some of the basic sketching books. Thanks mate.

Graeme Zimmer

Watching talented people working at their crafts makes things look so easy, mainly I think because you see the finished product or at the most the process once it has been figured out or practiced for many hours. I fall for this sometimes and thought for a brief moment that maybe engraving isn't as difficult as I thought, but seeing how you've progressed really puts things into perspective. I know that there's no chance I have the patience to put in the amount of work that you have to get to where you are. All this to say: thank you for sharing the advice and your progress from the beginning to help those who may want to get into this!

Mike Michelizzi

Amazing as always Chris. I always stop what I am doing so that your videos are the focus of my attention. Great over morning coffee :-) .

Chris Muncy

I'm envy! To have a free hour each day for practice your hobby… Ouch.

Lev Serebryakov

Been wanting to learn this for a long time. Now i have no excuse. You saved me a significant amount of time just researching how to start. Thanks.

Brian fisher

Ha ha! Thank you mate!

Clickspring

Glorious!

Drew