My first real practice plate.

[dgibbens]

I bought Steve's classic handpiece about three months back and I have filled up 8 plates with scratches just trying to get the hang of engraving and the handpiece. I finally felt I could get some good results and tried Steve's Practice plate design he posted, and have attached the results. Any feedback would be helpful and appreciated.

[airamp]

Hi,

The engraving on the plate looks very good.

How did you remove the back round and what did you use for making it black?

The Classic really is a great tool!!! Speeds up the learning process

PM me if I can help in any way, I am in Scottsdale.

I took a few Classes with Bryan Bridges (in Tempe) that really helped me get started.

AirAmp

[Matson]

Very nice. As a newbie myself, it is nice to see other new guys post some of their work. Your first plate was WAY better than mine.

[Daniel Houwer]

Wauw!,
this doesnt look like newby work at all! You must have talent.
Thanks for showing.
Really amazing work for three months

Daniel

[Mcahron]

Excellent.Im particularly impressed with the shading.

[dgibbens]

Originally Posted by airamp

How did you remove the back round and what did you use for making it black?

I sharpened a blank to roughly give it the same geometry and angles as the Carl Bleile's background removal tool. I had to do it by hand because I dont have the template yet.

(http://airgraver.com/sharpening.htm 3) background removal tool with special side grinds to get around main area without nicking (blue template). )

It worked really well. I then textured it by grinding a round stock of HSS that fits in the Classic to a point (35 degree included angle). I then set the stroke to about half of the total available length then gave it a lot of air and just grazed the surface to give it a matte finish.

I used a sharpe for the blacking. It let me see what it looks like with blacking but I would not recomend it because it comes off too easy and as you can see it does not have consistant coverage. I have since purchased some printers ink and I will re-ink it to see if it works better.

Thanks for all the encouraging comments and compliments!

[josephnmora]

Great, I need to finish that tutorial, awsome cut and shading techniques.

[Steve Lindsay]

Originally Posted by josephnmora

Great, I need to finish that tutorial, awsome cut and shading techniques.

[MoldyJim]

SHARPIE makes a professional version with more permanent ink.
I'm not sure if it would last forever, but its pretty good.
I wrote on a chrome plated wrench to test it. It hasn't rubbed off yet.

[Steve Lindsay]

Originally Posted by MoldyJim

SHARPIE makes a professional version with more permanent ink.
I'm not sure if it would last forever, but its pretty good.
I wrote on a chrome plated wrench to test it. It hasn't rubbed off yet.

Cool on the sharpie with more ink! I'd like to try it.

[MoldyJim]

SHARPIE
Industrial
Super permanent ink.
Item.13601 black, fine point

I assume other colors are available.
It even works on glass.

[takedeadaim]

Milwaukee Electric Tools makes, or perhaps sells would be a better word, permanent marker they call the Inkzall. It comes in different colors and tip sizes, Black packs of 5 sell for about $8 on Amazon. I get mine at the last remaining real hardware store near me and they always seem to be on some sort of sale. They will write right though coolant or oil on metal and keep going. Ive had to use something to get the ink off when I don't want it on any longer. My guess is MET did not go into the marker business and someone is making them for them but their distribution of them may be better than the industrial sharpie and price is better than McMaster.

[Rojas_ness]

Sweet!