Looking for some help/suggestions

[takedeadaim]

Hi, Im a new guy here and to engraving. I was trained as a machine tool rebuilder in the late 70's and have done a lot of hand scraping, filing shaping of metal. Worked as a Paramedic for a long time but now find myself disabled due to multiple back injuries.

Ive always had a small machine shop at home and done gun work and national level competition slot cars. Always been drawn to detailed precision work. I can spend hours at the bench hand fitting and finishing parts.

I want to try engraving and am looking for some help in getting started. How to start, what to buy, who to get it from. Im so glad to have found this forum where it seems members are helpful and friendly.

Im in SE Wisconsin, land of cold icy winters and short hot summers.

[MoldyJim]

Welcome,
Nice to meet another machine tool rebuilder.
Scraped a few ways back in the day...
New here myself, best advice, start watching the videos and reading, reading, reading.
Anything and everything you can.

[pmace]

I'm a newbie myself but I'll share what I've found so far. To begin cutting metal you need some practice plates (copper to start because it's softer), a couple of graver blanks and a handle. You can get the gravers and handle from Steve. I use speedymetals.com for my practice plates. The biggest investment is sharpening because without a sharp graver you can't do anything. Steve's template system is magic. Read the forums and learn how to transfer images to metal and hand push for a while. If you get the bug then start investing in all of the other stuff. There is a good thread on here for beginners that is helpful.

[MoldyJim]

I picked up some Chinese (counterfeit) old coins, silver plated steel.
At 50 cents a piece, they were cheap and cut really clean and bright.
Good size at around 2 inches dia.
One side has a cool dragon, the other old emperors.
Run thru the rolling mill or chisel the old guy away and you had a nice practice piece.