Gravermeister

[rhmc24]

Almost all my engraving I did with the Gravermeister I bought from Brownells in 1975 for $750. I needed to do my own engraving after disappointments outsourcing clients antique restoration jobs. They would engrave in their "style" rather than copy 17th century work. Over time I engraved about a dozen pistols, mostly mine -- my first below, copying Nimschke's designs --


The GRavermeister is pneumatic, like a tiny air hammer seen on the streets, capable of fine detail, force controlled with a foot treadle plus selectable stroke frequency. After about 20 years I sent it back to the factory, thinking it was time for an overhaul. It came back, no charge due no work done other than inspection & re-lube. I since learned a big use of them in archeology ---->

 

[Drm50]

I gave it a try once. I did a squirrel on a oak branch. When I
was done it looked like a rat on a out house board. So I hung
up my chisel, which was ground out of a old ice pick and quit
while I was ahead. When you eyes start to go you might as
well give up. Beautiful work on the C&Bs.

 

[italiansport]

That's really nice work. One of my regrets is that I didn't take up engraving when I had the eyesight to do it.
Jim

 

[Watchdog]

That engraving looks great!

I'll admit, I'd never heard of a GraverMeister, so I looked it up online. What a neat system...if only I had any artistic talent!

They sell for around $600 on up to around $1800 now.

 

[Bill Raby]

Nice work. I got one of the Lindsay Airgravers. Never tried the Gravermeister.

 

[2152hq]

Very nice!

I started with hammer & chisel in '72. Stayed with that till I was forced to change & use an air assist tool or give it up all together,
Nerve and other damage, broken wrists,ect from a couple of accidents in 05 and 06 was the start of the problems. It just got worse from there.

Went with a Lindsay shortly after that and it's worked out well.
Keeps me working. But I still miss using the old style tools of the trade.

I tried a GraverMeister in a shop I did some work for back in late 70's. Didn't feel real comfortable to me at the time. I did buy a GraverMax in the mid 80's but I didn't put but a couple dozen hrs on it and I never used it again.

 

[Bill Raby]

Very nice!

I started with hammer & chisel in '72. Stayed with that till I was forced to change & use an air assist tool or give it up all together,
Nerve and other damage, broken wrists,ect from a couple of accidents in 05 and 06 was the start of the problems. It just got worse from there.

Went with a Lindsay shortly after that and it's worked out well.
Keeps me working. But I still miss using the old style tools of the trade.

I tried a GraverMeister in a shop I did some work for back in late 70's. Didn't feel real comfortable to me at the time. I did buy a GraverMax in the mid 80's but I didn't put but a couple dozen hrs on it and I never used it again.

I don't miss hammer and chisel at all. It works so much better when I can use a ball vise and microscope. Lindsay is much better for deep relief or anything sculpted. I think that pneumatic is the only way to go with bulino or intaglio. But that stuff is hard to do. Need to sign up for some classes.

Here is a link for anyone wondering what I am talking about. HAND ENGRAVING TOOLS AND HAND ENGRAVING EQUIPMENT FOR JEWELERS AND ARTISTS. Learn to hand engrave with the patented Lindsay AirGraver Engraving Tools for Hand Engravers, Jewelers and Artists ~ Steve Lindsay

 

[2152hq]

Oddly enough, I still do the animal and figure scenes and detail with hammer and chisel. The chisel though being a tiny flat that I use to create criss cross shading. This I can do comfortably with both wrists steadied on the work and/or vise.
I can no longer do standard hammer & chisel scroll and line work as that has your arms and wrists suspended above the work. That's where the problems are,,I was to the point of actually missing the head of the chisel with the hammer the shaking and tremors are so bad.
(I always feared loss of my eyesight would be an end of the line, not that)
The Lindsay allows me to gently touch my right wrist and part of my hand on the vise and work as I cut with it, steadying it as I go.
My vise is a home-made affair, no microscope, I use an optivisor.

Here's a couple of pieces done w/the Lindsay for the scroll work,,but hammer and the chisel technique for the animal figures, their shading and the background. (Not the greatest photos)