New member saying hello!

[Mike576]

Hello everyone, my name is mike hughes and I'm new to engraving as of the beginning of this month. Been researching it a while and finally made the plunge to buy my foot control classic after trying out a friends grs setup. On my profile is an album with my very first pieces after these 3 weeks. Been really enjoying my time doing it. I work as an aerospace tig welder by day and want to get into firearm engraving on the side. Im one of those people who always has to be doing something! Hopefully i attached the photo correctly! Done with the lindsay classic and HSS gravers. The stainless on this flask was wicked hard! I appreciate any feedback and hope everyone has a great day!

[paulsph]

Hi Mike576, welcome to the forum! Your flask with dragon head looks great! I see you've got the right feel for it

[Steve Lindsay]

Hi Mike! Welcome! I just saw your email too. Great glad you are liking the classic. Nice job on the dragon! What kind of stainless did you cut it on?

[Mike576]

Thanks for the compliments steve, im not sure the grade of the stainless steel. I bought a set of 6 cheap stainless steel flasks off amazon (18$ for all shipped) thinking it would be good pieces for practice. But oh man! The HSS gravers did not enjoy it. It helped slightly to fill the flasks with water to eliminate some of the "bouncyness" of the metal. I also today tried the m42 that i ordered from you and it lasted much longer the first time i sharpened it. Once i had to sharpen after about 15 minutes the tip would crack off quickly. I noticed the stainless was much harder towards the edges on all of the flasks. So i assume that was the issue.

I was using a 116 degree parallel point jig and brought the gravers up to 1200 grit with about the same length heel as comes on your presharpened carbalt graver.

[Mike576]

Originally Posted by paulsph

Hi Mike576, welcome to the forum! Your flask with dragon head looks great! I see you've got the right feel for it

Thanks Paul! I find its easy and enjoyable to get lost in my work no matter what i do so engraving is right up my alley.

[Steve Lindsay]

Okay, a lot of stainless items made by manufactures is pretty tough stuff. 304 stainless for example is like trying to engrave hard bubble gum. Two stainless that cut nice are 303 and 416.

[Mike576]

Makes sense thats what it felt like to engrave. For example stainless slides on say a 1911, are they easy to engrave or gummy?

[Mike576]

Makes sense thats what it felt like to engrave. For example stainless slides on say a 1911, are they easy to engrave or gummy?

[Savage]

The flask looks great!

[Mike576]

Originally Posted by Savage

The flask looks great!

Thank you!