Engrave by hand

[tca]

After seeing the video this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Awkec90eI5M (http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=68910.0) I tried to do the same but for drawings. My first attempt was this one



but it didn't go as  expected. My second run was this.



using this



powered at 9V with a 1.6mm drill.

It works great for hand drawing pictures but is hard do do straight lines and letters. I guess with some more experience I could do some lettering.

Cheers.

[gcme93]

Looks sweet! Maybe try something like this?

http://www.fiskarscraft.eu/Products/Craft/Embossing-Systems/ShapeBoss/ShapeBoss-Stencil-Script-Letters#

[fretzburner]

Did this using a portable drill freehand lettering.


upload tif

[R.G.]

If you're really into this, look up the real engraving process, done with a 'graver' - a hardened steel rod sharpened to a triangular point.

[davent]

A number of years ago Joe Gagan put up a video or maybe more, demonstrating using his Dremel to engrave enclosures.

http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=68910.0

[Gurner]

Pah hand engraving is for those that want their enclosures to look erhm 'hand engraved', piece together a few dollars & build yourself an easy-cnc machine instead  ...

http://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-to-Build-Desk-Top-3-Axis-CNC-Milling-Machine/

[tca]

> Did this using a portable drill freehand lettering.

Looks cool, freehand lettering is not easy, maybe using some handwritten fonts... they are error friendly and they have a natural look.

> If you're really into this, look up the real engraving process, done with a 'graver' - a hardened steel rod sharpened to a triangular point.

Yes I know, but that is not an easy task to work with those tools.

[roseblood11]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s9hOGwUF-s


Someone posted this at musikding.de:
http://forum.musikding.de/cpg/thumbnails.php?album=624

[R.G.]

> If you're really into this, look up the real engraving process, done with a 'graver' - a hardened steel rod sharpened to a triangular point.
Yes I know, but that is not an easy task to work with those tools.

I did say "if you're really into this..."

It's not easy at all. Probably takes longer than getting an EE degree to be really competent. It is, in short, a learned art, like painting paintings or making music, and takes talent.

But if you're really into that...

[Jdansti]

Pah hand engraving is for those that want their enclosures to look erhm 'hand engraved', piece together a few dollars & build yourself an easy-cnc machine instead  ...

http://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-to-Build-Desk-Top-3-Axis-CNC-Milling-Machine/

Pah! CNC is for sissies!   

People have been hand engraving since Fred Flintstone.

Of course, MY hand engravings would look like a 5 year old using crayons. 





BTW, this one sold for over $89k. 

[R.G.]

Now that's what I'm talking about!

I did in fact recently read the section on engraving in "Gunsmith Kinks" and some treatises on metalworking.

But it may take some time to build up the skills.  I'm pretty sure I'll never be a Picasso-equivalent or a Satriani-equivalent with a graver. Or guitar for that matter.

That realization was one of the great epiphanies of my life.

[joegagan]

tca, that is looking good. you arleady improved on your first 3

fretzburner, that is a nice looking result.

you start to pick designs or fonts that allow for a little bit of freedom for the runout to look intentional. like many artsy things, making one confident stroke  has a nice look to it. i try to use randomness in the design so it doesn't matter too much where the cutting head lands.




i use this one a lot lately, 1/8"


and yes, i understand the gravity of real engraving. mine is just a quick and dirty way of getting something done.

[Quackzed]

i know i've sat entranced by a few youtube vids of some fine engraving...
heres one with some traditional filagree shading type engraving. makes it seem so easy...

[drolo]

Someone posted this at musikding.de:
http://forum.musikding.de/cpg/thumbnails.php?album=624

nice design :-)

[ch1naski]

I thought I was on top of my game just using pre-painted enclosures. you guys are just sick with this.

[tca]

It's not easy at all. Probably takes longer than getting an EE degree to be really competent. It is, in short, a learned art, like painting paintings or making music, and takes talent.

I think I have enough degrees for a life time  

Mean while here is another run.



I'm still making some mistakes with the lettering but improving!

Cheers.

[Mike Burgundy]

You're getting good fast!
That iron man box is insane, love it. I keep hoping that guy is actually around here ;P