Hand Sharpening Gravers

A quick tutorial on sharpening gravers without the aid of a sharpening fixture. I used this method for many years. Sharpening fixtures consistently produce superior results, but this old school method still works. Keep in mind that a couple of degrees variation when you sharpen can change the behavior of the graver as it cuts. Expert engravers can often adapt to this change very quickly, while beginners may crash and burn. Practice makes perfect so strive for consistency.
I should underscore that I no longer sharpen my gravers by hand, but use sharpening fixtures manufactured by GRS.

[@brandysigmon9066]

I just tried this and it works great, now I have got about 35 messed up gravers to sharpen. Thanks for the vid Sam.

[@abrahamsilva2534]

Sam Alfano, your videos are wonderful! Thank you for sharring. You are a great craftsman. Hugs!

[@wadepatton2433]

Excellent. Having much experience hand sharpening chisels, saws, plane irons, knives, etc. and also shaving razors (four years now shaving only with bevels and edges I sharpened), I now feel like I can maintain the graver that is coming to me along with a sack of FEGA videos. Sure, I'll buy/make some fixturing later, but need to get to cutting metal in order to start getting a feel for it and building up the synaptic relationships in the gray stuff. Next order of biz--make a fixture I can turn, or remount my pedestal vise so I can run around it. Thanks Sam. I just found out that FEGA Master Engraver Scott Pilkington is less than an hour away. If I take a class, I'll have to try his first. I figure y'all have crossed paths.

[@FridayFrida]

Great info for a total beginner on a budget. 😊👍

[@GOLDSPACEVIDEO]

Thank You, Master. Dear, Sam Alfano, this is the great sharpening guide.

[@Fuyuko83]

Fantastic video!! I'm sure I will be watching this a zillion times.

[@catnelson3064]

I'd like to know how there could possibly be 13 thumbs down…your example video was so impressive. I want to grave, but haven't made the leap, as yet. At present, spending time researching. Thank you for your great tips on sharpening.

[@pijnto]

my grandfather was a hand engraver (that's all there was back then) never uesd a machine of any kind and won trophies for his work on shot guns etc.all his gravers had rosewood handels. he sharpened them on natural oilstones always finsished on a black surgical stone, if you ran your fingers over this stone it felt smooth with no grain, the gravers were like mirrors.

[@sovaydesitges]

Wood engraving

[@kennethpulliam3381]

thank you for sharing this. it has helped me get back to engraving.

[@Raeintheuk]

Thank you so much for making this video :)

[@CelticDreamsCoUk]

Thank you!. simple and to the point.

[@LaserGadgets]

I only got a 400/1000 stone. I don't have a handpiece though, I tap my graves with a hammer. Geometries should be the same right? My lines always have a stippled pattern no matter what I do. Do I need a finer stone?

[@andijvie3119]

Hi, does the stone need some lubrication when sharpen gravers?

[@raymondmirabal5879]

Where can you get a bigger deeper wider cutting engraving bit for larger engraved line's that are for bigger parts say a frame on a 69 ss nova !

[@MrDarwin-pn1cr]

Sir: what would you recommend on a profile for a graver that can do very tight, small radius cuts? I have always had issues with this with normal burin profiles. would increasing the angle of the face help?
Thank you.

[@pequodexpress]

I've got a variety of sharpening stones for my leatherworking tools. Now that I am getting into metal engraving, are there some sharpening templates available for manually sharpening gravers? I've seen the templates for the motorized disc sharpeners but none for manually sharpening.

[@zainulabdeen786]

where can I buy it online

[@MacherlaPrabhakar]

thanks

[@pequodexpress]

Where is the 120 degree and 105 degree measurement taken? Is this the degree of the bevel on the "stalk" of the graver, or is it the degree of bevel on the face?

[@victortsykunov]

Is it ok to have a tapered heal ?

[@kduferreira6298]

Good evening, I'd like to get the tools to get started on this art.
but here in Brazil do not find tools.
I would like to know if you could help me.

[@Sorin68]

We can buy the withe ceramic stone??????

[@drivass_11]

Bossu sorin amazon

[@trekranger]

where can i get stones ?

[@pequodexpress]

I found the following video to be an interesting addition to Sam Alfano's video:
ruclips.net/video/vyICo56IH8g/видео.html

[@LeslieKailVillarreal]

[@Sanjay_sanjay_soni-2007]

Steel tools me us please contact me. ...