I see a lot of people think that the Andu tool and the Lindsay are the same.. I recently tested an Andu and man, it´s not even close to compare. I can understand people are afraid to spend a lot of money starting out, but it´s just like buying a guitar that quickly goes out of tune.. The build quality is really bad compared to the Lindsay. I have also had several people contacted me asking if I know how to fix this and that on a Andu tool.. you get what you pay for, and usually buying cheap are more expensive in the long run..
I usually just tell people to go buy lindsay now days. At first he really put a bad taste in my mouth (threatened legal action over this video, which is absolute nonsense), but also I totally get it. I haven't used his, but over the years I've had my frustrations with this one that make me believe his must be better.
I was a jeweler 20 years ago in Brasil and I thinking about getting back as hobby. Back then I made my own engraver from some drawings I found in the Internet. Is possible to build one if you have a mini lathe. For blanks I used high speed steel 3mm square blanks also carbide (carbide is better of gold and silver). The square blanks are easy to re-sharp with a jig that you also can build in a mini lathe. Tools like that are inexistent or prohibitively expensive in Brasil so I had to built it all. I learned mostly buy doing it and it's a lot of fun.
Wow!!! Thanks, Caleb Kraft!! I have barely done any engraving, but, I had attended a couple of workshops, and found out many interesting details of the art, which you also mentioned. My instructor's name was/(is) Bob Maki, (however, I do not know if he is still alive, or doing this work. He did a lot of hand/chisel engraving on knives, guns, etc. He recommended some type of "crucible steel" blanks, (carbide?), and I've heard of some gravers who use "Hard" key-stock blanks.. (1095 spring steel(?).... He also recommended trying using "pitch" to hold irregular shaped pieces,... with the "pitch-bowl" was an old cast-iron frying pan, bolted onto 1/2 of a bowling ball, set onto an old go-kart tire. [Crude, but, it worked!].. Thanks, for your help, and encouragement!!!
Btw, engraving and pinstriping are way harder than it looks! I invested lots in tools but had no time and money to really start it. My ball vises are all vintage but the small one which came from China but it’s really bad. Victor ones are awesome and you can feel the difference in quality AND weight right away.
Hi Calib I’m just starting out great videos thank you so much. can you recommend a pneumatic base unit please? I’m eyeing the GRS HH-G01 unit 😳 Regards Ronnie
thank you so much im doing a project to apply as a portfolio for mechanical engineering. ive made birds out of cutlery. im looking for a good grade so im engraving the surface. your channel has answered a lot of questions, thanks again
Hi Caleb, did you know Steve Lindsay's patents are expiring one by one? I think most of the important parts of his gravers are in the public domain now.
Love the video! I've never engraved or carved anything, starting from "square one". I'm wanting to buy a pneumatic engraver however, I see several pneumatic engraving machines rated as 1400 RPM and others advertised as 2000 PRM or 400 to 8000 PRM. So, does it really make a difference for engraving hard steel such as an axe, hammer, etc. If so, which is better.
well what you're talking about are rotary engravers, things that spin with a burr (like a dremel or foredom). What I do is pneumatic but there's no RPM. There could technically be strokes per minute, but that's not really a measurement that is advertised or tracked.
I am a beginning engraver and looked at the expensive stuff and decided to go cheap for now. However all the equipment came with no instructions on how to put it together. The foot pedal has three openings and the cheap pneumatic graver has two openings on the back and one on the front. Is it possible to get an explanation on how to hook this all up. I'm not sure if the air supply goes to the pedal or the back of the machine. HELP!
my pneumatic graver only has one air attachment, so we have different devices. I would have been happy to show you how mine is hooked up but I'm afraid that won't help you much. You should go to engraverscafe.com and post there.
Hey brother, i own an andu handpiece i bought straight from Vietnam for around $400 years ago with the air regulator and pedal. I tried it out a few times but my compressor at the time seemed not to be enough for it so i gave up and put it away. Would it be possible you share details about the air pressure you work at? Where can i get more quick change adapter for that handpiece? At the time it came with two and i was reluctant to buy many before testing the machine but feel bad i didn’t. Btw, the carbide graves are far better than the metal ones in longevity and time between sharpening them, just a little more prone to break off the tip if you don’t do the right geometry and try very sharp curves but far superior in durability and cut. Machinists use carbide a lot for that reason. I got some but they come in 1-1/2” to 2” lengths. Thank you for sharing your experience.
you can still find Andu on instagram and I'll bet he has more of the tips. instagram.com/anduengraver.vna/ For air I'm using a somewhat small compressor and I operate under 10lbs pressure. Clean your graver internals with alcohol and don't touch them with your skin afterward. Put it back together with no spring. Put 7lbs pressure through it and tap it handle side down on a workbench. That should get it going.
Cool. I don't know that I'll get into this but, it's nice to have the information. Thanks Caleb. FYI: You reminded me of Tim Allen in The Santa Clause before his beard went white.
@@CalebKraftmakes sure, that is only right. Thank your for sharing. It’s really awesome, I do have this obsession with giving it a go, but I’ve never been an artist. I feel like tracing is the only way I could even start learning proper scrolls
Thanks sir for sharing all these stuff detail on your video. I stay in Mumbai and belong to middle class. I like this engraving. I like to buy machine and all stuff. Can u help me.
I'm not experienced enough with guns to give you great advice on which gravers to use. I've started using glensteel from GRS.com for harder metals. The vise I linked should work, though you may want a bigger one.
@@EaselCat my cheap ball vise works fine and has for over a year now. Though I totally agree that you'd probably want a nicer one eventually. Nicer vises will get you smoother motion, and in some cases even better clamping.
China is pushing out some really affordable junk, that actually can get you going, but really has no durability but can get you thru a few projects to fund upgrading to nicer tools. You can get almost everything to get started for under $100 incl handpiece, a few gravers with handle and a stone. air setup will run about 50. will it be janky? yes. but you can get some nice work done on the cheap, just not a years worth. everything will be wore out by then, like 20 projects. Many people start out hand engraving just to save $
yes, it is basically the same as the lindsay bench jewel. similar to the cheapest ones at GRS as well. IT has worked fine for me, if you look at my instagram you'll see my results and I'm not particularly great. However, a nicer one, like a lindsay palm control would probably work better.
Thanks Caleb. Regarding the magnification, Don't scrimp on the price you pay as your eyes will pay the price over time. I've been using Donegan Optivisors for years. They're pretty good but I believe they have damaged my vision overall. Maybe though it's just the aging process. The Optivisor also has a drop down Loupe for 2½ times more magnification. Just be sure to keep both eyes open when using the Loupe. You'll know what I mean if you shut one eye. It's a horrible feeling on your vision.
I have been looking at gravers for 2 weeks now and then I stumble upon this! Gotta figure out how to get a hold of the guy for the graver since I don’t do Instagram.... would this hold up to do steel? I’m wanting to do parts on my harley... thanks for the info!
get on ebay search for air graver. I bought one for 26 bucks, made in China but look for a seller who has it here already and I modified my airbrush compressor it was simple
@@SnailHouseProjects ya i am thinking about selling it. Its very lightly use.. the air engraver and the foot pedal and air regulator as well... would you be interested in it.. i havent put it up for sale on any sites yet..
My question is : Why haven't you made a Homemade Hand Engraving Machine yet!! all the cool kids are having cheap thrills with theirs :) I like the video, film some engraving to monitor your progress ?
haha, yeah I really should! I started building a solenoid and 3d printed one, but saw Tierra Mitchels and kind of lost interest. I do have a few engraving videos on the channel but they're fairly heavily edited.
Love the 3d printed solenoid idea :) I managed to make a bodge up prototype a few years ago, and have decided I will have a competed version by christmas. I jst found clever people to help with the hard parts :) check out my laser printer hack, tiny detail vector transfers no problem,
FYI. Most of Mr. Lindsay’s patents have expired. Some last December (2022) and some this month (March 2023). However, the variable patent does not expire until 2024.
Would anybody be willing to bless a newbie with a old used engraver, equipment? Looking to get into the hobby any help would be great. If someone would be willing to pass along old used cheap equipment after becoming more advance could really help others. Thanks and God Bless.
@@niayahsmith369 from eBay sorry it took so long I didn't get notified of a reply until the last one. I'll have to look up what ebay store and I'll get back to you
Dude keeps saying cheap cheap cheap cheap cheap stuff😂 only thing I'm hearing that's even remotely cheap is his eye loupes and glasses that magnify... For me that would be my most expensive buy my eyesight is the most precious resource you can have
I could totally see this train of thought. I guess you have to know how much stuff usually costs for this type of engraving for that to not seem weird. This stuff is all relatively cheap compared to even bottom end gear at an engraving shop for pneumatic hand engraving. Go to GRS.com and look at prices, its wild.
I see a lot of people think that the Andu tool and the Lindsay are the same.. I recently tested an Andu and man, it´s not even close to compare. I can understand people are afraid to spend a lot of money starting out, but it´s just like buying a guitar that quickly goes out of tune.. The build quality is really bad compared to the Lindsay. I have also had several people contacted me asking if I know how to fix this and that on a Andu tool.. you get what you pay for, and usually buying cheap are more expensive in the long run..
I usually just tell people to go buy lindsay now days. At first he really put a bad taste in my mouth (threatened legal action over this video, which is absolute nonsense), but also I totally get it. I haven't used his, but over the years I've had my frustrations with this one that make me believe his must be better.
nothing compares to the precise machine that Lindsay makes
@@CalebKraftmakes shilling a 1000-3000 dollar minimum lindsay air graver in a "cheap beginner stuff" video is not the way
@@royalripoff I don't have a lindsay and he actually threatened to sue me because this video promotes a $600 knockoff.
I was a jeweler 20 years ago in Brasil and I thinking about getting back as hobby. Back then I made my own engraver from some drawings I found in the Internet. Is possible to build one if you have a mini lathe. For blanks I used high speed steel 3mm square blanks also carbide (carbide is better of gold and silver). The square blanks are easy to re-sharp with a jig that you also can build in a mini lathe. Tools like that are inexistent or prohibitively expensive in Brasil so I had to built it all. I learned mostly buy doing it and it's a lot of fun.
Wow!!! Thanks, Caleb Kraft!! I have barely done any engraving, but, I had attended a couple of workshops, and found out many interesting details of the art, which you also mentioned. My instructor's name was/(is) Bob Maki, (however, I do not know if he is still alive, or doing this work. He did a lot of hand/chisel engraving on knives, guns, etc. He recommended some type of "crucible steel" blanks, (carbide?), and I've heard of some gravers who use "Hard" key-stock blanks.. (1095 spring steel(?).... He also recommended trying using "pitch" to hold irregular shaped pieces,... with the "pitch-bowl" was an old cast-iron frying pan, bolted onto 1/2 of a bowling ball, set onto an old go-kart tire. [Crude, but, it worked!].. Thanks, for your help, and encouragement!!!
Fool
fascinating. Thanks for sharing.
you're welcome!
Thank you so much for share your equipment. I hope some day customize a Zippo Lighters
Btw, engraving and pinstriping are way harder than it looks! I invested lots in tools but had no time and money to really start it. My ball vises are all vintage but the small one which came from China but it’s really bad. Victor ones are awesome and you can feel the difference in quality AND weight right away.
Hi, thank you for sharing this very informative video. Can I use them for wood carving, please ? Thanks again
Hi Calib I’m just starting out great videos thank you so much.
can you recommend a pneumatic base unit please?
I’m eyeing the GRS HH-G01 unit 😳
Regards Ronnie
thank you so much im doing a project to apply as a portfolio for mechanical engineering. ive made birds out of cutlery. im looking for a good grade so im engraving the surface. your channel has answered a lot of questions, thanks again
Can't wait to get started. I love gun engravings and have a few ide like to make anyway. Can't wait to give it a shot, thanks for the video mate!
you're welcome! good luck.
Who do you get your 2mm carbide from and what is the cost please . I can get it off eBay but it takes about four months to arrive.
How about sharing the type of compressor you use, there is a lot of confusion for me on what to use, thank you
What kinda regulator do you use for your pedal/graver? Would a compressor for an airbrush work?
The handpiece engraver what pushes it I know the foot pillow but what else do you need? Do you use the regular air compressor?
thanks for the demo trying to get into engraving myself but not easy need more practice all the best caleb from durham uk ....
thanks! yup, just keep practicing!
Thanks for the video. What size compressor for that machine?
Very useful, thank you Sir!
Cheers from Poland 🍻
I am producing this type. It will be available in the market early next year and will have good prices for retailers.
Hi Caleb, did you know Steve Lindsay's patents are expiring one by one? I think most of the important parts of his gravers are in the public domain now.
there's still the issue of build quality and from what I've heard, his are still the best
No air compressor?
hi ! The burner you have (which comes from Vietnam) is of good quality? Thank you
it's fine but others have said the Lindsay is much better
Love the video! I've never engraved or carved anything, starting from "square one". I'm wanting to buy a pneumatic engraver however, I see several pneumatic engraving machines rated as 1400 RPM and others advertised as 2000 PRM or 400 to 8000 PRM. So, does it really make a difference for engraving hard steel such as an axe, hammer, etc. If so, which is better.
well what you're talking about are rotary engravers, things that spin with a burr (like a dremel or foredom). What I do is pneumatic but there's no RPM. There could technically be strokes per minute, but that's not really a measurement that is advertised or tracked.
What provides the air for the engraver I've looked everywhere maybe I'm looking for the wrong thing but I can't find anything on it.
for this style of engraving tool, you only need a compressor. I would look at steve lindsay's tools for this style.
@@CalebKraftmakes awesome I will do that thank you so much
Great nice video brother, thank you,
Do you use a Grs or Grave Mate engraver Mechine how do you feed air to your foot pedal?
Do you have a website where I can purchase game graver and everything
short and funny - thank you from Germany
How have you found the carbide rods compared to the HSS?
Thank you! Great info.
What kind of air compressor do you use the link below isnt working im shoppin for a new one.
I use this one amzn.to/3IHnFQc it's a california air tools. They're super quiet compared to the cheaper ones. still loud, but quieter than the others.
I am a beginning engraver and looked at the expensive stuff and decided to go cheap for now. However all the equipment came with no instructions on how to put it together. The foot pedal has three openings and the cheap pneumatic graver has two openings on the back and one on the front. Is it possible to get an explanation on how to hook this all up. I'm not sure if the air supply goes to the pedal or the back of the machine. HELP!
my pneumatic graver only has one air attachment, so we have different devices. I would have been happy to show you how mine is hooked up but I'm afraid that won't help you much. You should go to engraverscafe.com and post there.
Hey brother, i own an andu handpiece i bought straight from Vietnam for around $400 years ago with the air regulator and pedal. I tried it out a few times but my compressor at the time seemed not to be enough for it so i gave up and put it away. Would it be possible you share details about the air pressure you work at? Where can i get more quick change adapter for that handpiece? At the time it came with two and i was reluctant to buy many before testing the machine but feel bad i didn’t.
Btw, the carbide graves are far better than the metal ones in longevity and time between sharpening them, just a little more prone to break off the tip if you don’t do the right geometry and try very sharp curves but far superior in durability and cut. Machinists use carbide a lot for that reason. I got some but they come in 1-1/2” to 2” lengths.
Thank you for sharing your experience.
you can still find Andu on instagram and I'll bet he has more of the tips. instagram.com/anduengraver.vna/ For air I'm using a somewhat small compressor and I operate under 10lbs pressure. Clean your graver internals with alcohol and don't touch them with your skin afterward. Put it back together with no spring. Put 7lbs pressure through it and tap it handle side down on a workbench. That should get it going.
Steve Lindsay apparently invented a piston, lol
Very well explained. Maybe one day I will get a air hammer. Until then tap.tap, tap. Thank you.
Very cool info thanks.
If Andu responds to my message I’ll buy one of his. He’s still around. Just gotta find him.
Oh i forgot to ask about what type of compressor you use and how many psi do you need. Thanks
any compressor should do. I have a little 5 gallon from california air tools. I think generally I'm operating at under 10psi
Cool.
I don't know that I'll get into this but, it's nice to have the information.
Thanks Caleb.
FYI: You reminded me of Tim Allen in The Santa Clause before his beard went white.
huh, I don't think I've ever had anyone say that one yet.
@@CalebKraftmakes
Sorry, but that was the first thing that came to mind. LOL
Hello and thanks for Good Will Sharing ,Appreciated!))
I followed the link and all the sets are $1k+, where can I find a $300-500 set?
Sir from where you bought that ball vice
there's a link in the description! I bought it on amazon.
Do you draw your own work? Is it considered like against a code for engravers if someone purchased scrollwork and used to trace with a graver?
yep, I draw my own. I think nobody minds if you use other folks art work for practice but when you start taking money for things it gets sticky.
@@CalebKraftmakes sure, that is only right. Thank your for sharing. It’s really awesome, I do have this obsession with giving it a go, but I’ve never been an artist. I feel like tracing is the only way I could even start learning proper scrolls
Thank You for sharing 👍
Do you have a website where I can purchase the engraver and everything else
I do not. I think you can purchase all you need at grs.com
Hi,
How do you find it after 2 years of using? Any issues?
it feels at times like using a jack hammer for delicate work. It is still working for me, but I'd like finer control
Tnx for video just start engraving, will be nice to here about darkening, shades on metal and liquids use tnx
I probably should. I get that question constantly
2020 Movie: Ben Affleck in “The Engraver”
Great video, subscribed!!
I knew i knew that você! lol you nailed it brother! Calleb really look and sound like been affleck! Super funny.
I'm ok with this
Thanks sir for sharing all these stuff detail on your video. I stay in Mumbai and belong to middle class. I like this engraving. I like to buy machine and all stuff. Can u help me.
I'm happy to point you to stores where you can buy the equipment
Thank you
Oh my gosh THANK you for this video!
What setup do you recommend me to start engraving on Guns
I'm not experienced enough with guns to give you great advice on which gravers to use. I've started using glensteel from GRS.com for harder metals. The vise I linked should work, though you may want a bigger one.
Google Lindsy Ball Vices and start there. Dont get that cheap crappy ball vice you will have to replace it with domething that works.
@@EaselCat my cheap ball vise works fine and has for over a year now. Though I totally agree that you'd probably want a nicer one eventually. Nicer vises will get you smoother motion, and in some cases even better clamping.
Great information! Thank you
China is pushing out some really affordable junk, that actually can get you going, but really has no durability but can get you thru a few projects to fund upgrading to nicer tools. You can get almost everything to get started for under $100 incl handpiece, a few gravers with handle and a stone. air setup will run about 50. will it be janky? yes. but you can get some nice work done on the cheap, just not a years worth. everything will be wore out by then, like 20 projects. Many people start out hand engraving just to save $
Can you send me links bro? Pls
Same here, @pauls5745 - do you have a link you can share please?
Does the engraver do work like an expensive one ?
No, dont buy cheap tools.
yes, it is basically the same as the lindsay bench jewel. similar to the cheapest ones at GRS as well. IT has worked fine for me, if you look at my instagram you'll see my results and I'm not particularly great. However, a nicer one, like a lindsay palm control would probably work better.
What's your setup?
Joking! But an extremely helpful video!
Came from reddit and just subscribed do you have a link to your ebay that you mentioned on reddit
just saw this, sorry. I rarely put things on ebay, you should follow my instagram! instagram.com/caleb_kraft/
Thanks Caleb. Regarding the magnification, Don't scrimp on the price you pay as your eyes will pay the price over time. I've been using Donegan Optivisors for years. They're pretty good but I believe they have damaged my vision overall. Maybe though it's just the aging process. The Optivisor also has a drop down Loupe for 2½ times more magnification. Just be sure to keep both eyes open when using the Loupe. You'll know what I mean if you shut one eye. It's a horrible feeling on your vision.
I actually got a cheap microscope and I LOVE it. I should do another video.
Thank you
Believe it or not
This video is alot of help
Would you sale this set up am all over Houston looking for one right now
I have been looking at gravers for 2 weeks now and then I stumble upon this! Gotta figure out how to get a hold of the guy for the graver since I don’t do Instagram.... would this hold up to do steel? I’m wanting to do parts on my harley... thanks for the info!
yeah, it would do fine. It would depend more on the gravers that you choose(the little chisels that actually cut)
get on ebay search for air graver. I bought one for 26 bucks, made in China but look for a seller who has it here already and I modified my airbrush compressor it was simple
Hey man if your still looking for an andu engraver i have the kit.. i bought it directly from mr.andu himself.. he shipped it to me awhile back ago...
Eddie Tapia do you know how to get in contact with him? Or were you looking to sell yours?
@@SnailHouseProjects ya i am thinking about selling it. Its very lightly use.. the air engraver and the foot pedal and air regulator as well... would you be interested in it.. i havent put it up for sale on any sites yet..
My question is : Why haven't you made a Homemade Hand Engraving Machine yet!! all the cool kids are having cheap thrills with theirs :) I like the video, film some engraving to monitor your progress ?
haha, yeah I really should! I started building a solenoid and 3d printed one, but saw Tierra Mitchels and kind of lost interest. I do have a few engraving videos on the channel but they're fairly heavily edited.
Love the 3d printed solenoid idea :) I managed to make a bodge up prototype a few years ago, and have decided I will have a competed version by christmas. I jst found clever people to help with the hard parts :) check out my laser printer hack, tiny detail vector transfers no problem,
Cheap beginners stuff...nothing cheap about Steve Lindsay's gear but you pay for the quality.
yeah, I didn't buy steve's. but the person I used is ripping him off I guess. good luck!
Great video thanks. This is something I'm starting to get into
FYI. Most of Mr. Lindsay’s patents have expired. Some last December (2022) and some this month (March 2023). However, the variable patent does not expire until 2024.
You may grow a beard but ... The Town was great . How do you fit it all in ?
easy, I'm batman.
you have missed to tell where the air is coming from
Would anybody be willing to bless a newbie with a old used engraver, equipment? Looking to get into the hobby any help would be great.
If someone would be willing to pass along old used cheap equipment after becoming more advance could really help others.
Thanks and God Bless.
Guilty of questions! lol, thanks for the video.
you're welcome!
Mere ko is machine chahie
I rather shit myself than go to Steve's page...
yeah, it's a serious delimma. I think he makes great stuff but he's not easy to like.
Can't be cheaper than my $0.69 cent engraving pen from temu lol IDK how to even work it
that is a different method called rotary engraving. totally different stuff
Funny I would not call $120.00 cheap
The most Laid back vid ever In a nice way
I bought a hand piece for 26 bucks and it works great
From where?
@@niayahsmith369 hi.. are you looking for an engraving set.. i have a andu engraving kit for sale if your interested in it..
yeah, i'm curious as well!
@@niayahsmith369 from eBay sorry it took so long I didn't get notified of a reply until the last one. I'll have to look up what ebay store and I'll get back to you
@@CalebKraftmakes ebay I'll look up what ebay store and share it
Dude keeps saying cheap cheap cheap cheap cheap stuff😂 only thing I'm hearing that's even remotely cheap is his eye loupes and glasses that magnify... For me that would be my most expensive buy my eyesight is the most precious resource you can have
I could totally see this train of thought. I guess you have to know how much stuff usually costs for this type of engraving for that to not seem weird. This stuff is all relatively cheap compared to even bottom end gear at an engraving shop for pneumatic hand engraving. Go to GRS.com and look at prices, its wild.
Steve Lindsay is selling the same thing for $2800. Fuq that guy
Nothing like the same, not even close! I have tested it and the build quality is really bad.