How to make small cobalt graver blanks and punches.
By John Barraclough.
Some of you might like to try this.
Cut a short length of 3/32" X 3/32" square brass tube.
One inch is good for the older type spring loaded fixture.
You can make it shorter for the multi-angle or Hamler style fixture.
Cut it to a length to suit the type of gripping surfaces of your sharpening fixture.
This gives you four sided, indexable surfaces that makes shaping and sharpening very easy.
The tube I use is made by K&S Engineering, Chicago, Illinois. Stock #1503.
This tubing is also available from Micro-Mark Co, www.micromark.com #82634.
You will find it is available at many hobby shops for car, plane and train modelers.
The inside if the square tube is a perfect fit for 1/16" round stock.
Buy 6 inch long X 1/16 inch cobalt aircraft drills from Enco for $3.01 each.
These have only 7/8" flutes and are hardened from end to end, unlike carbon steel drills.
Cut the shank portion Into 1-1/4 inch sections using a diamond wheel in a rotary handpiece.
This will provide four pieces of blank stock.
Then soldier it into the short piece of the square tube, using StayBrite soldier.
Now you have a nice small, indexable graver blank without too much surplus metal to grind
to produce a very useful small graver.
These can also be made into small scrapers, scribes or burnishing tools.
For punches I soldier in used 1/16" carbide dental burrs with StayBrite soldier.
You can then index them in your sharpening fixture for any shape you want.
And the price is right. Hope you give it a try and like the results.
Current pricing of materials allows you to make a nice small cobalt graver for about $1.00.
NOTES.
The gravers described above are for general and light engraving and shading.
They are very economical, giving four graver blades from each 6 inch drill.
If the gravers are to be used for sculpture, background removal, heavy work with flicking out etc it is advisable to cut the shank of the drill into just three sections and to soldier them into the square brass tube to completely fill it.
This type can be made for about $1.25 each currently and will prevent any bending of the brass by heavy pressure.
By John Barraclough.
Some of you might like to try this.
Cut a short length of 3/32" X 3/32" square brass tube.
One inch is good for the older type spring loaded fixture.
You can make it shorter for the multi-angle or Hamler style fixture.
Cut it to a length to suit the type of gripping surfaces of your sharpening fixture.
This gives you four sided, indexable surfaces that makes shaping and sharpening very easy.
The tube I use is made by K&S Engineering, Chicago, Illinois. Stock #1503.
This tubing is also available from Micro-Mark Co, www.micromark.com #82634.
You will find it is available at many hobby shops for car, plane and train modelers.
The inside if the square tube is a perfect fit for 1/16" round stock.
Buy 6 inch long X 1/16 inch cobalt aircraft drills from Enco for $3.01 each.
These have only 7/8" flutes and are hardened from end to end, unlike carbon steel drills.
Cut the shank portion Into 1-1/4 inch sections using a diamond wheel in a rotary handpiece.
This will provide four pieces of blank stock.
Then soldier it into the short piece of the square tube, using StayBrite soldier.
Now you have a nice small, indexable graver blank without too much surplus metal to grind
to produce a very useful small graver.
These can also be made into small scrapers, scribes or burnishing tools.
For punches I soldier in used 1/16" carbide dental burrs with StayBrite soldier.
You can then index them in your sharpening fixture for any shape you want.
And the price is right. Hope you give it a try and like the results.
Current pricing of materials allows you to make a nice small cobalt graver for about $1.00.
NOTES.
The gravers described above are for general and light engraving and shading.
They are very economical, giving four graver blades from each 6 inch drill.
If the gravers are to be used for sculpture, background removal, heavy work with flicking out etc it is advisable to cut the shank of the drill into just three sections and to soldier them into the square brass tube to completely fill it.
This type can be made for about $1.25 each currently and will prevent any bending of the brass by heavy pressure.