Thread: Finished engraved scales

Here is the finished product of the engraved scales I made. I plan to make more of these with different designs and pictures like maybe fly fishing or other patterns. I have a lot of ideas. Any suggestions?

Absolutely beautiful, Mack.

Very unique and classy!

David

Very nice work Mac!
Did you use a flat or a 90 degree graver?
How are you holding your scales to keep them from moving on you?
How difficult was the media to cut, esp. all those nice tight curves?
Finally, did you use a transfer or freehand the pattern onto the scales?
Beautiful work, I'm looking forward to seeing more of your stuff!!

Shutterbug. I used a 90 cutter and freehanded the pattern on the scales. I have a revolving engravers ball vise to hold them and I freehand the design. It is relatively easy to cut compared to metal, however the chisel has to be very sharp and polished with a very small point to prevent chipping the micarta. I have used transfers by making them on the printer on clear plastic sheets. Getting a good transfer is sometimes tricky though. I would rather just draw the design on.

Awesome! Thanks Mac, and keep up the good work!

Sounds like you know a bit about engraving. Have you ever done any. I belong to a couple of gun engraving forums. Some of the greatest engravers in the world are there. I have learned from them but I have a ways to go. The only problem with the site is they are all into the new air tools that cost thousands of dollars and they engrave under special microscopes that also cost thousands. Even if I could afford that stuff I still would prefer the old ways. The old way is how they all got to be where they are. I'm working on it.

Outstanding! I love the fact that they are all different. They really look great. Very nice.

Very nicely done!! Wish I had the patients to do such work. I'm looking forward to seeing your future work also.

Originally Posted by mackie

Sounds like you know a bit about engraving. Have you ever done any. I belong to a couple of gun engraving forums. Some of the greatest engravers in the world are there. I have learned from them but I have a ways to go. The only problem with the site is they are all into the new air tools that cost thousands of dollars and they engrave under special microscopes that also cost thousands. Even if I could afford that stuff I still would prefer the old ways. The old way is how they all got to be where they are. I'm working on it.

I've done a bit. I've got a small pneumatic engraver from GRS that I bought second hand, but it works wonderfully. I'm still working on getting my patterns down with good shading. I'd like to move into doing more knife and some gun work in the future.
The best thing that I invested in was a good honeing machiene with a calabrated stand to put the gravers in. No guess work on the angles.
I'm using a standard ball vise, but I've been using a product called thermolock to hold my pieces with. GRS carries it and it's not that expensive to buy, and you can reuse it over and over.
Here's a pic of one of the scales embedded in the thermolock and then clamped in the vise. It's not sticky so you don't have to worry about getting gunk all over your pieces as well.

cheers!