paul66
07-11-2008, 08:30 AM
(If you would like to comment on this submission, you may do so by posting a reply in this thread (http://www.engravingforum.com/showthread.php?t=1912). Thanks! Kaitlin)
First practice Design Plates
Well I have had about one hour practice with the airgraver practicing my foot and graver coordination, on lines and circles, in between work (sorry Kathy, ring should be ready next week ) And while this is expierience, I wanted to practice on an actual design on a plate just for fun.
I found the art work for a piece I engraved in trade school, and wanted to re engrave it with what I have learnt, and my new tools, so I can compare the difference
You may recognize this from my other thread (in gallery show and tell ), this was traced on the plate with copy paper and cut with a flat hand graver after about 4 days of practice.
Apprentice engraving
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o399/pjlee66/aprentimage.jpg
For the new plate I will transfer the image with the laser copier and acetone method.I have read on the threads how a lot of people have trouble with transfer methods, this may not work for real fine detail, as the image can bleed a little, but if you have a fine line, bold printed image, and are quick, it works very well, also its cheep, and costs almost nothing.
My image is not that great the lines are a bit thick, but i will show you how it works.
First make sure you have a reversed image you want to transfer, and make a few copys of it on a plain old laser printer with ordinary paper.
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o399/pjlee66/image1.jpg
Clean your metal with a wipe of acetone on a tissue and let it dry. Next hold the image (ink down ) on the metal
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o399/pjlee66/tran1.jpg
And the tricky bit, wipe a acetone soaked tissue across the paper, you should see the image clearly, wait a maybe a second then dry the paper by blowing on it, it will dry immediately . Now see how the transfer looks. sometimes a little experimentation is needed, less or more acetone , shorter or longer soak time, but once worked out, works for me most times, and if it didnt, well you have those extra copys dont you, to try again.
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o399/pjlee66/tran2.jpg
Now lets try and cut it, notice the classic in the picture for extra credit
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o399/pjlee66/trans3.jpg
And the final result.
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o399/pjlee66/birdplate1.jpg
But wait, one final touch, To mark this occasion of my first classic engraved plate It needs to be signed, its a special edition, a Classic No 1
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o399/pjlee66/lettering.jpg
Final Final result
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o399/pjlee66/birdfinal.jpg
I am extremely happy with this result, I know I have LOTS to learn but I can now see me getting there
This took about 1 hour total from printing to engraving Things I need to learn, better control of wide cutting, also this piece taught me I have even worse control cutting and turning the vice anti clockwise so now I will practice this, and the lettering mmmm , But overall WOW I am very happy.
First practice Design Plates
Well I have had about one hour practice with the airgraver practicing my foot and graver coordination, on lines and circles, in between work (sorry Kathy, ring should be ready next week ) And while this is expierience, I wanted to practice on an actual design on a plate just for fun.
I found the art work for a piece I engraved in trade school, and wanted to re engrave it with what I have learnt, and my new tools, so I can compare the difference
You may recognize this from my other thread (in gallery show and tell ), this was traced on the plate with copy paper and cut with a flat hand graver after about 4 days of practice.
Apprentice engraving
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o399/pjlee66/aprentimage.jpg
For the new plate I will transfer the image with the laser copier and acetone method.I have read on the threads how a lot of people have trouble with transfer methods, this may not work for real fine detail, as the image can bleed a little, but if you have a fine line, bold printed image, and are quick, it works very well, also its cheep, and costs almost nothing.
My image is not that great the lines are a bit thick, but i will show you how it works.
First make sure you have a reversed image you want to transfer, and make a few copys of it on a plain old laser printer with ordinary paper.
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o399/pjlee66/image1.jpg
Clean your metal with a wipe of acetone on a tissue and let it dry. Next hold the image (ink down ) on the metal
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o399/pjlee66/tran1.jpg
And the tricky bit, wipe a acetone soaked tissue across the paper, you should see the image clearly, wait a maybe a second then dry the paper by blowing on it, it will dry immediately . Now see how the transfer looks. sometimes a little experimentation is needed, less or more acetone , shorter or longer soak time, but once worked out, works for me most times, and if it didnt, well you have those extra copys dont you, to try again.
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o399/pjlee66/tran2.jpg
Now lets try and cut it, notice the classic in the picture for extra credit
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o399/pjlee66/trans3.jpg
And the final result.
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o399/pjlee66/birdplate1.jpg
But wait, one final touch, To mark this occasion of my first classic engraved plate It needs to be signed, its a special edition, a Classic No 1
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o399/pjlee66/lettering.jpg
Final Final result
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o399/pjlee66/birdfinal.jpg
I am extremely happy with this result, I know I have LOTS to learn but I can now see me getting there
This took about 1 hour total from printing to engraving Things I need to learn, better control of wide cutting, also this piece taught me I have even worse control cutting and turning the vice anti clockwise so now I will practice this, and the lettering mmmm , But overall WOW I am very happy.