need some help here: Copper cuff

Knifemaker87

Knifemaker87

Joined
Jan 2, 2006
Messages
1,073
hey everybody
i made this for the girl i am courting, for christmas. it didnt come out quite like i wanted.
how do i make it look less like a piece of crap? (the pics make it look really bad) i dont want it to look like it was made in pakistan (no offense to you Pakistanis reading this)

i need some help here... what is the best way to chisel out the metal to get nice crisp lines? also.. what is the best way to bend the metal without leaving marks one it? i assumed that it was easiest to carve it while the metal was flat..

help, and design critique please!
DSC02630.jpg

DSC02633.jpg

DSC02632.jpg

DSC02634.jpg

DSC02635.jpg


thanks for the help!
~chris
 
Chris, You have to stop being so hard on yourself. Sure those swords you have been making look like crap, but that bracelet is a peach.

OK, it is certainly handmade, but the work is not that bad. I am constantly amazed by how talented you are. She will be very glad to receive this (even if it turns her wrist green).
Stacy
Merry Christmas ,Buddy
 
I think Stacy is right here Chris. One of the best things about a good woman is that she will see more than what you see in that piece. She will see the time, effort, and care that went into making it. She'll love it. Don't be so hard on yourself man...

-d
 
Are you using proper graver's chisels ? They come in many shapes ,you can choose which is best for the job. Handling the gravers just takes practice keeping the graver at the right angle and to keep the graver in motion as you go around the curves.It's easier to engrave when its flat .To curve it should take much force as it's copper , just put a thick layer of cardboard or leather over it to protect as you curve it...It's not as bad as you think ! and you could always gold plate it if you don't want a green girlfriend !
 
Either plate it or use a trick I learned years ago. I used to have all colors of nail polish since I used to tie flies as a kid and I found that on copper jewelry that you can coat the underside with clear nail polish and that will keep it from turning the skin green. If you want it to always stay that same color you can also coat the rest of it in nail polish. On the top side all you need is a light coat. On the underside be sure and do 2-3 light coats. You can get a bottle of clear polish for about a buck or less. I think the cheapest brand is wet and wild. I know its sad that I remember a few nail polish name brands but I did buy a lot of it when I was younger. The clear was always used on the knots since it works just as well as the fly tying glue and the colors were for cork poppers and also other things. Also good to keep it on hand because if you get a scratch on your car you can just cover it with the polish. Hope this helps with the green part. For everything else I have no idea. On the name section tho you should flatten it out a bit. If you look at other bracelets they aren't perfectly round just like the human wrist.
 
indian george said:
I bet you had a Tutu too.:eek::confused::D
Click to expand...

I wondered what smart remark you would come up with. NO I didn't have a tutu. Besides it was BBBBBB Beaver who wore the tutu as a child and still does on Friday nights when he is alone. I think its like his comfort blanket. :barf::barf::barf::barf::jerkit::jerkit:::eek::eek:
 
thanks guys!
i will look into some gravers chisels. the chisel i was using kept chipping.. and i had to grind it down and sharpen it again.. and again.. gah
anyway.. hey pimp.. i had actually thought about using nail polish or something like that.. but that is cool that it does work.
i alos really like the idea of godl coating it.. how do i do that?
thanks for the feedback guys! i have a feeling grae is gonna get more than one.
~Chris
 
Hi Chris, in the interest of christmas, you could run the bracelet to your local jeweler, who with hand gravers or an gravermeister can put the flair you want into the engraving, also they can use an bracelet mandrel to shape it on, then contact me and I would be glad to help you get on your way to engraving, basic and advanced.
All this free of charge, from one craftsman to another.
I really like your work, and enthusiasam.
I noticed that some of the knifemakers here have an not too good attitude towards new guy's and they withhold their knowledge sometimes, oh well, their loss.
 
hey original!
well the deed is done, i gave her the braclet today as she is going away fro christmas.

However.. i am going to maker her at least one more. so i i would really be intrested in learning about engraving. i just got a real graver.. and i have the HSS to make some more. i really would appreciate your help. i like the sound of a little "flair"

as for the other people here on the forum, most have been very helpful to me, and that is why i am where i am today.

thanks so very very much
~Chris
 
Chris, this website is fun to poke around. It's by one of the premier American engravers. http://www.engravingschool.com/ It will give you a look at part of what's possible with skill and practice. You can look at some of his actual engraving process with the videos. He uses a pneumatic engraver but superb work is done with hammer/chisel.

Very kind of Original to offer to help. If needed, I would be happy to loan you a couple tapes and a DVD, also.

Original, I'm surprised at your comment. This has always seemed a very helpful place, and I've never seen anyone say that they knew something they wouldn't share. Perhaps you'll feel different once you're here awhile.
 
Good deal Chris, you did very well on her first piece and she will be able to see you rapidly improve, as you more than likely have the "touch" which will be much enhanced with the proper gravers. Hammer gravers are the easiest to start out with for most folks, I'll see what I can find for you. I sold my spare graver block, but you don't need one right away.

Fitzo, awsome link, Heck, Chris being a self starter can go to town with lindsey's schooling.
I do agree that 95% of the gent's here are helpful to newbies, just that small 5% we don't have to worry about anyway. I will help anyone, anytime, as we all go on our own merits in any trade. Happy Holidays Gent's.:D
 
Chris, If you want to study up on engraving, I have most of the engraving books and many videos. You are welcome to borrow them. I probably have several extra gravers around that you can have, too. I have switched most all of my standard gravers to GRS quick change mounts, as they will fit in a hand ball, my powergraver, or my Gravermeister. I also still have an extra monster ball vise for knife and gun engraving for sale if you want one. It has a 6" vise and a 50 pound ball.

As to the graver chipping a lot:
The point angle, shape, and sole relief are very important, or the fine point will just chip right off. Too sharp is a minus not a plus.The steel type and temper are also critical. There are several options, from HSS, to Carbide, to tungsten. There are even diamond gravers for certain uses.

Stacy

Origoinal: I haven't noticed many of the old timers here being close to the collar with info. Most seem to go out of their way to help.
 
bladsmth said:
..... I also still have an extra monster ball vise for knife and gun engraving for sale if you want one. It has a 6" vise and a 50 pound ball.......
Click to expand...

Oh my, what a large ball you have! The other one is smaller, I take it? :D
 
Merry Christmas Mike.
I actually do have two of these monsters. They are about 100-150 years old. They were used in gunsmithing originally.They were fitted with shaped wooden blocks to clamp the workpiece in. I replaced the blocks with a 6" quick vise fitted with rubber jaws. It is mounted on a 6X9" block of wood. You could cut a fitted pair of blocks on the band saw to hold a knife handle for silver wire inlay, or use the vise. They have the original base rings,too. The rivets that hold the leather in place are struck in a die that marked the heads with "CRESCENT REGD." in a circle around "L-10" .
Stacy
 
hey guys!
thanks so much for the help!
i didnt see these replys till right now!
VERY VERY helpful...
as for my older graver not working.. well.. that would be becasue i was using a wood chisel... oops!

for right now.. i have to vise at all.. i clamp stuff to a 2X4 which is clamped to my workbench. what is a ball vise anyway? i really look forward to exploring the links!


All of yall helped so much in showing me how to make it better. well.. here are the results.
the bracelet is copper again, but i annealed it this time and tapered it a bit to make it lighter.
also, i made a real graver using an old HSS cut-off bar.
The lines i used a chemical blacking and then polished the flat.
also.. the other braceet was polished using and electric buffer.. this one was hand rubbed to 2500
i am going to kote it, but the Kote hasnt gotten here yet.

critique and comments are greatly appreciated!

DSC02731.jpg

DSC02733.jpg

DSC02734.jpg

DSC02735.jpg

DSC02736.jpg

DSC02737.jpg

DSC02738.jpg


thanks so much!
~Chris
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top