Cutting gravers to fit Gravermaister QC holder

Patrice Lemée

Patrice Lemée

Joined
Aug 13, 2002
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I bought some hand gravers (at a very good price) in the hope of modifying them to fit my QC holders (Gravermeister). As you can see in the pic, I could even get 2 gravers out of one. I plan on cutting along the dotted line using cut off wheels on a Dremel, dipping often in water to keep the temper. Then do the shaping for the shank part on the wheel grinder, always keeping it cool with water of course.

graver_cutting.jpg
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Do you see anything wrong with this plan?
 
Isn't that what Stacy was talking about when he sold his graving kits? I think he had a post on it somewhere, if not engravingschool.com talks about it, among other things. I haven't tried to do that to mine but I'm just starting out and don't want to ruin them.
 
Yes, that is what you do.
You can use a cut off wheel or a diamond slitting wheel, but I just stick the graver in the vise and grip it with a pair of pliers. One quick bend and it is two gravers. Grind the tangs to fit the QC holders on a bench grinder or belt grinder. You don't want to get it super hot, but the tangs should be drawn softer than the tips anyway. Pre-shape the tip on the grinder, while dipping very often. Finish the tip shaping on your graver sharpening jig/lap/stone/machine.

When you make two gravers from one long one, remember that the one from the tip has to have the hardened area where you will grind the tang softened. The one from the tang piece will only need the tip shaped, as it has a soft tang already.

If in doubt about a gravers tip's hardness, just re-harden it like it was 1095. Temper at 350F, then draw the tang softer with a torch.
 
Thanks Stacy, sorry if this was in another post, I had completely forgotten. :(

Tatoo, it is for the dagger I am working on, engraving but mostly metal sculpting. I'll show it...if I don't mess it up too bad that is. ;)
 
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