Engraving tips???

[DCM]

I want to start engraving. For now I only want to engrave calibers on barrels and personalize some stuff, eventually I would LIKE to do some of the fancy stuff, but my art skills are limited so I do not have high aspirations in that department. No I do not want to job this out. I hate shipping guns/gun parts if I do not have to.

So my question to anyone that actually engraves is what do I need to start out with to do block lettering on Sts., Al, steel, common barrels and receivers?

I have done a couple of searches and it looks like a very high speed rotary tool???

What about templates,bits Etc.?

Thank you.

[docone31]

Seriously, you start here.
http://www.lindsayengraving.com/
I use the Foredom system rather than an air handpiece.
This is a pantograph system.
http://www.kassoy.com/presidium-flat-engraver.html
Biggest hint I can give that made a difference, You move the piece rather than move the tool.
I use beeswax for layouts, then I use different gravers in the #15 Foredom hammer handpiece.
Best thing I can say, get some brass and just make mistakes! I have tried a lot of ways, but I found the hammer handpiece is the easiest for me. I have not used air yet, but I bet it is easier. More control on shading, etc.
The pantograph with diamond tips will do metals, letter barrels. You will need to figuire out how to hold the barrel. I have not used a rotary tool yet.
There are a lot of videos on U-Tube on engraving. They helped me a lot on some of the tricky stuff. Then practice, practice, then practice again!
Once you learn the tricks, it is fairly easy.
These are all tools I use,
http://www.lacywest.com/14agrsbm.htm#GRS%20Magnablock
I really like the Benchmate system. I can quick change from Pin, to clamp, to soldering station, ot engraving block.
All my benches are set up using this system. I can mount my PUK handpiece on the soldering station also. I keep the machine in the back of the bench, and pull the light forward to use.
Good luck. I enjoy it.

[waksupi]

For what you are going to do, I would stick with some simple gravers, and a nice chasing hammer. Walk before you run. The hardest part of engraving IS learning how to do the art work. I spent weeks just drawing designs before my instructors thought I could do anything but make scrap metal, and finally let me cut.

[gunnut14]

Was gonna ask pretty much the same thing.
I am getting ready to change calibers on a couple of guns and need to mark the barrels as such.
Need a cheapo way to do it that will not mess up the barrels.
What would be the best way to go as I am only going to do it once.


gunnut14

[JIMinPHX]

Was gonna ask pretty much the same thing.
I am getting ready to change calibers on a couple of guns and need to mark the barrels as such.
Need a cheapo way to do it that will not mess up the barrels.
What would be the best way to go as I am only going to do it once.


gunnut14

stamping tool.

You can buy individual digits or you can buy a 1-piece stamp with the entire caliber designation in 1 stamp head.

[gunnut14]

Then individual stamps is considered enough?
I want to designate a barrel for BP only so stamping it "BP ONLY" should be suficient?


gunnut14

[JIMinPHX]

It's my understanding that all barrels should be stamped with their caliber. Additionally, BP barrels should also be stamped Black Powder Only.

Individual stamps are enough to be legitimate. Getting them to look good requires either extreme craftsmanship or a bit of creative fixturing. I make up a fixture of some sort whenever I am going to use them somewhere that counts, like on a rifle barrel.

[smokingguns]

Was gonna ask pretty much the same thing.
I am getting ready to change calibers on a couple of guns and need to mark the barrels as such.
Need a cheapo way to do it that will not mess up the barrels.
What would be the best way to go as I am only going to do it once.


gunnut14



I do laser engraving
top of a g-23 slide
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii21/b00mer_2008/23slide.jpg
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii21/b00mer_2008/LatestReleaseofGripCatalog_Page_1_Image_0002.jpg
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii21/b00mer_2008/LatestReleaseofGripCatalog_Page_2_Image_0005.jpg
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii21/b00mer_2008/LatestReleaseofGripCatalog_Page_1_Image_0003-Copy.jpg