Flat Templates

[Peter_M]

Can anyone tell me the differences of the different flat templates that Steve has?
I got the Flat & Knife combo so I am familiar with it. I am wondering about Ray Cover Brigit Cut and Background Flat.

The Flat & Knife has the second template to ground the sides the ones from Ray don't. Looks like the Background would have a steeper face and the Bright cut might be similar to than the Flat & Knife.

Peter

[Ray Cover]

Peter,

The big difference between my two templates and Steve's Knife/Flat template is that mine are designed to make a flat with vertical sides that are 90 degrees to the belly where as Steve's taper from the back tot he belly like a knife graver does.

I personally prefer the 90 degree sides.

On the bright cut graver (45 face 15 heel) the 90 degree corner is easier to control than a wider angle when cutting script, flare cutting, or cutting brightcut groups

On the background graver (55 face 30 heel) that 90 degree allows me to get a nice vertical wall on my leaves and scroll parts and keep the background next to the parts flat. The high heel angle gives a lot of clearance to move around and work in small background areas.

With the taper template you can get a nice long taper on the sides to grind the face to the width you want and keep those 90 degree sides.

Ray

[Peter_M]

Thank you Ray,

You only have to grind the face and heel if you need a narrower graver grind the sides down.

Then the register pin in the template looks off by 45º http://airgraver.com/images/RayCover%20templates-web.jpg.
Of course I may be off in my assumptions.

Peter

[Ray Cover]

Peter,

The pin is not off. I make my flats caddy-corner. The only difference between my flats and my square gravers ids the shape of the heel.

By making your flat with one corner down and one corner up you get more clearance under the tool when maneuvering in small spaces removing background. Doing it this way you only have one corner on the bottom of the tool that has to clear any obstacles. If you put the flat side down you have two corners on the bottom 3/32" apart that has to clear everything. That gives much much less clearance.

Just put the blank in the template, grind it, and see what you get. It will work.

Ray

[Peter_M]

Thank you Ray,

I think I got it now. I don't have the template so that is why I was confused only got the flat/knife combo.

I also need the taper template in combination with the flat so grinding your flats is the same process as with the flat/knife but you get straight sides instead the tapered ones.

Peter

[Ray Cover]

That is correct

Ray

[Peter_M]

Thank you Ray

Peter