The main engraving techniques are line engraving and drop carving. In the first case, cuts are applied to the metal surface in the form of contour lines or strokes. In the second case, the carving is a relief with a deep background and three-dimensional processing of elements. Line engraving with gravers (steel cutters) is one of the most popular ways to apply a pattern to metal.
It is necessary
- - metallographic cutters (shtikheli),
- - messerschtikhel for fine cuts,
- - Replicator for several parallel lines,
- - scraper
Instructions
Step 1
Make an engraving pad that you will need for engraving small items. Take a thick tarpaulin or leather, cut 2 circles with a diameter of about 200 mm. Leaving 5 mm for allowances, sew the circles, but not completely. Turn the bag inside out, sew along the edge again, leaving a small hole to fill in the sand. Take river sand, rinse and dry it thoroughly. Insert a funnel into the hole in the bag and fill in the sand. Sew the hole carefully.
Step 2
First, learn to hold the cutter correctly. Note: its metal part is called a blade. Take the cutter in your hand so that your index finger is on top of the tip of the blade. The thumb should be on the side, the rest (except for the index) press the handle of the incisor to the palm. Make sure that the tip of the blade protrudes from under the index finger no more than 5-7 mm.
Step 3
Hold the piece with your left hand and adjust the cutter feed with your right thumb. The cutter must always point away from you. If you need to make a curved line, rotate the product without changing the position of the cutter.
Step 4
Pre-grind the metal surface with fine-grained emery paper and polish with polishing paste or oil paint (chromium oxide). Now apply the drawing to the product with a glass-writing pencil or ink. Secure it with varnish. If the drawing is complex, scratch it with a steel needle, then rubbing oil paint into the lines.
Step 5
Get to work, but be careful, move the metal cutter smoothly. Remove the shavings immediately so as not to clog the workplace. If burrs appear on the metal, remove them with a scraper, which is easy to make from a triangular file, simply by grinding off a notch from the edges.
Step 6
Watch the position of the cutter - before starting engraving, you need to experimentally find the optimal sharpening angle, depending on the cutter section and the quality of the steel from which it is made. After finishing work, wipe the product free of dust and shavings.
