Hand graving tool

[Christophe Mineau]

Yes, Paulo, this is true, these flower motives are made with this technique.
But it can be done with this kind of tool (the simplest, but the one that requires the highest level of skill), or
it can be done with the hammer and chisel / burin ,this method is said to be the easiest for the beginner (that's what I want to practice first)
Then, experts all advice to switch to the pneumatic or electricity driven hand graver like the one your show above.
They say it has both advantages, the single handed work and curve control, and the security of the hammered technique, meaning you never have to push hard with your hand, thus avoiding any risk of big scratch across your 10 hours effort work !
(that's the drawback of the first technique).

I will see, maybe, one day, if I figure out how they are made, I will try to make myself a pneumatic version.
But I need the vice first, and a lot of practice !!
Thanks for the pictures !
Christophe

[DIYer]

DIYer yes another job, but resembles the video shown by Christophe, anyway this is beautiful.

Yes, that's amazing work, Hotz!

[kbalch]

That's gorgeous, but I don't think I could bring myself to use it much. Every time I brought that buttplate to my shoulder, I'd be thinking about how I was incrementally abrading the engraving. It would feel like removing a mint coin from its packaging and just rubbing it with one's thumb.

Ken

[DIYer]

I have that same problem with really nice things, Ken!

[Altair]

Great job on the chisels Christophe.

That buttplate engraving is just pure art. Beautiful stuff.

[olderdan]

Of course, this is theory, and I am far from being skilled enough to provide any advice about how to use it,
I am sure you are skilled enough or very soon will be, they must be a joy to use.

[mklotz]

Yes, I know the tool as a 'burin' as well. My dictionary lists the following as the definition of the word...

a tempered steel rod, with a lozenge-shaped point and a rounded handle, used for engraving furrows in metal.

[old_toolmaker]

Very nice work. It inspires me to make a few of my own!