Silver Bracelets (Part 4)
Graver shape determines much of an engraved piece's overall look and feel. A
square graver narrowed to less than 90 degrees (80, for example) is excellent
for fine bulino scenes because the narrow cuts reflect less light giving the
engraved image a wide range of gray tones for good contrast.
On the other
hand, a widened square graver (for example 120 degrees) with a polished heel
makes highly reflective cuts that nicely complement lettering and similar
work.
But the special field of Western Bright Cut Engraving mainly uses a
graver quite different from any square or point graver; it's the flat
graver, of course. And it's the precise way the flat graver is prepared and
used that gives Western Bright Cut Engraving the bold, polished appearance
that really stands out.
As shown in these photos, well done flare cuts and double cuts can reflect a
great amount of light. They give a sparkling effect which people love,
without the cost of adding a lot of stones. This silver bracelet by Manny
Gonzales is a wonderful example of professional grade Western Bright Cut
Engraving.
Using a fairly wide flat graver (#45 is often typical) with a
highly-polished and properly formed heel, an expert like Manny can produce a
remarkable amount of smoothness and reflection in silver as clearly shown
here. Besides a flat graver, Manny also used a wide liner for shading and a
narrow flat for his wriggle cuts. Of course this piece still needs to be
bent into its bracelet shape before the job is done.
Experienced engravers repeatedly emphasize to beginners that accurate
sharpening is crucial. A dull or broken graver point, an incorrect angle, or a
less-than-perfect heel make the tool harder to control and the cuts not as
clean. GRS offers a practical and precise graver sharpening solution for
most any engraving job. You can learn graver sharpening by teaching yourself
using books and videos, or attend a GRS Training Center class to receive live expert
instruction.
DVD: The Expert's Guide to Graver Sharpening by Sam Alfano
DVD: Easy Step-by-Step Graver Sharpening
VHS: Cowboy Engraving by Jeremiah Watt
VHS: Cowboy Bit & Spur Making by Jeremiah Watt
VHS: Cowboy Silversmithing by Jeremiah Watt
Products: GRS PowerHone and Sharpening Fixtures
