| Gallery, Projects and General > How do I?? |
| Engraving/marking tools |
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| raynerd:
Evening guys, How do you guys engrave steel tools? I've a number of hand tools, many old tools purchased second hand and a lot of lovely names engraved on them or more importantly, things like cutters and such have dimension markings on them. How do you guys clearly mark your steel tools with a strong etch. I obviously know and have stamped things in the past but that just isn't always possible. I've attached a picture as an example. Chris |
| jcs0001:
I've used a electric vibratory engraving tool in the past but the results are not pretty. My writing is bad and it's a heck of a lot worse holding one of those things. It would be nice to figure out a way to fairly easily engrave things and have it look nice. John. |
| DMIOM:
Chris, I think that, as John mentioned, those were probably marked with a vibrating engraver. The extra deep 'dot' at the start/end of some of the strokes are symptomatic of these tools, where there has been a pause after 'landing' at the start of a stroke or a delay before lifting at the end of a stroke.. I have one of the Burgess hand-held models, they're still available (£40-£50 new, £10-£20 second hand) and you can get a wide range of points, typically carbide for engraving steel. The thing I like about the Burgess one is that you can vary the strength of the reciprocating stroke, although even on the softest setting I've never had the nerve (or to be honest the need) to try engraving glass with mine. The bigger kits also come with ball points so you can emboss leather/copper/pewter etc. and blades for cutting/carving. You can write freehand with them but I tend to write with a Sharpie & then follow those lines with the engraver. You mentioned engraving sizes on tools - the only thing to beware is that the reciprocating point does raise a tiny burr around the sides and if you needed it to retain a flat face you might have to stone it afterwards. Dave |
| Fergus OMore:
Frankly, Chris, you are trying to do something that takes long practice and commitment to do with correct graving tools. If you set off with the same shaky hands with something mechanical you still have the same shaky hands and get the same shaky result. I admit that I can't do anything better but I have a Staking Tool made to George Thomas's design called a Universal Pillar Tool that taps and rivets and drills and- well, a lot of things. The only other way is to invest in an engraving machine- that most of us used to convert to crude milling machines. Perhaps you could 'Reverse Engineer'? Norman |
| raynerd:
Thanks John, Dave - I've got quite a lot of stuff with similar hand written engraving so you have confirmed to me that it is a vibrating engraver. I will have a look at Burgess and see what I can find. --- Quote from: Fergus OMore on August 24, 2015, 03:20:37 AM ---Frankly, Chris, you are trying to do something that takes long practice and commitment to do with correct graving tools. If you set off with the same shaky hands with something mechanical you still have the same shaky hands and get the same shaky result. I admit that I can't do anything better but I have a Staking Tool made to George Thomas's design called a Universal Pillar Tool that taps and rivets and drills and- well, a lot of things. The only other way is to invest in an engraving machine- that most of us used to convert to crude milling machines. Perhaps you could 'Reverse Engineer'? Norman --- End quote --- Norman - not sure I'm really following you. This is a hobby so every single thing we do takes long practice and commitment. You admit that you can't do any better ?? Better than what - the image I posted is of something that I considered good! Call me sentimental but I think a bit of personality in these old name engravings tell me something about the tools and their pervious users. I'm not looking to engrave tropies - if I could write something like I posted in the pictures I'd be very happy! Maybe I took your message out of context. Just remembered why I don't post like I use to. Back into hibernation. Thanks for the info. So long for now! |
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