Contest #2 giveaway for a Classic AirGraver handpiece

[Steve Lindsay]

I used bulino dots to sign this knife. First I'm laying out the letters by scretching lightly and then I go over them and poking dots.



I'm using four techniques to make dots for scenes.

#1. A 3/32" square graver with its face sharpened at 45 degrees and without a heel. Without a heel, so that it will dig in quick. (I'd use Phil's or Dario's bulino point now though) Poke in and pop out a chip. It will make a diamond, oval or dash shaped dot depending on what angle it is popped out at. You will be removing a chip with this method.
#2 Same as above but don't pop it and leave the bur. A collector/customer once sent a Fracassi knife and asked me to repair a scratch that was through a scene on the bolster. In the piece Mr. Fracassi left the chips standing. Granted they were small but were above the surface. I have seen another piece he did that he must have popped the burs out.. so he must use several techniques.
#3. A pin vise, holding a 1/16" dental carbide bur that was sharpened to the shape of a needle. Held like a pencil, push in, pull out. It will displace the metal rather than cut it away like #1 does. This is the same technique for scriming dots.
#4. Same dental bur as #3 but held in the AirGraver with 3/32" round x 1/16" brass tubing. I hold the AirGraver similar to jewelers screw driver with index finger on the back of the handle. Held approx 90 degrees to the work and use it to lay down a lot of dots quickly in the less sensitive areas of the scene.

For dots with #4 in the AirGraver I'll use a dental bur ground to a point and inserting it into a piece of brass tubing.

The dot holder pictured for the AirGraver is a 3/32" OD x 1/16" ID x 7/8" long brass tubing with a sharpened carbide bur in it. For backing behind the bur shank is a second bur shank that is cut off. I'll slightly squish the brass tubing with a pair of pliers so that bur shanks fit with somewhat of a friction fit. K & S I beleive has this size tubing: Google search

The other item in the pic is a brass punch for hammering in gold wire with the AirGraver.


Here are past threads about bulino:
http://www.engravingforum.com/showthread.php?t=1102
http://www.engravingforum.com/showthread.php?t=2315
http://www.engravingforum.com/showthread.php?t=60
http://www.engravingforum.com/showthread.php?t=1409
http://www.engravingforum.com/showthread.php?t=1313
http://www.handengravingforum.com/showthread.php?t=60
http://www.engravingforum.com/showthread.php?t=319

[Ricky Follows]

Originally Posted by Scott Allred

Steve,
The giveaway idea is a great idea!!!! ,
I think a "newby" contest might be an idea as well, more for those who might own tools other than the Lindsay Airgraver or one of your older model airgravers or even an equipmentless person yearning to give it a try to win a new palm control. For instance newby might be someone that has yet to even engrave onto something other than a practice plate or even someone without engraving tools, perhaps a "Engraving Layout" contest as even a non engraver interested in engraving might practically overnight have the a helluva good start on equipment.
Just a thought. Of coarse the drawing would have to be something that could be accomplished by the "average-Intermediate" engraver. Then the winner would engrave the layout, Maybe I could get my Knifemaking father Elvan Allred to build a knife to design the engraving for and the winner could engrave it once they buy the other needed equipment Vice ect. and Keep or sell it. (Small straight knife, full metal or large bolster most likely)

What do you think?

This would be a brilliant idea for the likes of me and many others.
Most the other accomplished engravers could have most the competitions in the bag compared to the likes of my self who would have absolutely no chance against them but compare a picture of mine with there's?

You could do it on a learning base,who learns the most in a certain amount of time and a questionnaire PMed to the participants to fill out.

I still do not know a lot of the names for half the tools or any of the techniques.

I think you should aim some of the competitions towards newbies as newbies will tend to have nearly no tools or just basic tools or money to buy tools but not sure if they want to get into it or not or no money and would love to get into it and the average engraver probably already has your top hand engraver and earns money from engraving.

The last thing you want is,a winner who uses the tool once and never uses it again,so may be a,you have to show your work agreement should be put into place?
ATB
Ricky

[airamp]

Hi Rick,

This was a contest that was for all and had 3 classifications.

Thanks Steve for this and many other great contests, a great forum, and for making a state of the art tool.

I did a thread on exactly what you were looking for which was for a newbe to be able to start engraving with minimal tools up to using the Classic.

Includes vises, optical, H&C, transfers and links to many of the threads on Steves site that puts many of the other's helpful hints in one spot.

Visit it and check out links. This should give you a idea of where to start plus more.


Link:

http://www.handengravingforum.com/showthread.php?t=2365

AirAmp

[JRon]

Steve:
Ever thought of publishing a booklet similar to the McKinzie one, with the content on
tools, tips and techniques? I think with your expertice it would be on every engravers bench. JR

[Steve Lindsay]

Thank you JR, I'd like to maybe do that at some point.

[Daniel Houwer]

some .