Hello

[Thompson]

Hi everybody

My name is Thomas and i'm a student at the French Violin Making School in Mirecourt, France.I'm very interested in learning hand engraving, before making violin i would have like to be a jeweller
I've started to learn how to make violin bows, it's between woodworking, metal crafting and jewelry and as you know there is bows that are engraved on their metal parts.This is the sort of things that i want to be able to do.

I'll read the forum and all the websites, when i'm ready i start to engrave some things

Thanks for all !

[Daniel Houwer]

bonjour Thomas,

Welcome here.
Hope you get engraving soon.

[Thompson]

i'm going to buy some nickel-silver and silver sheets for the bow making, i'll also buy copper sheets to pratice engraving ^^

[rbaptiste]

Welcome Thomas.
You try to engrave with push graver?
Maybe you can post some pics of your first trying.

[Thompson]

I'm now looking for making my own first tools then i'll begin first practice plates,and i have some engraving books to read

edit:
I have reshaped a triangular file to make a V-shaped graver and test it on a brass plate.




I think the angle was to wide because the tip has been used very fast, i'v reshaped the graver with a smaller angle and it works better but i think i will temper the blade.

any remarks or suggestions?

[Renee]

Greetings Thomas,

It is a wonderful craft that you've decided to look into!

I've just purchased some metal from a metal fabrication shop. I went in & asked if I could purchase any "drops". These are the pieces of metal that drop onto the floor when they are cutting metal to fabricate something else.

I was able to purchase over 40 pieces of 2 x 4 plates as well as some 4 x 4 or slightly larger stainless steel plates for practice for only $10.00.

I know that this is more than the metal fabrication shop would have been paid if the metal was sold for scrap, but it is such a bargain for me and should be for most of us who are just learning this craft. - Just call me a "swamp Yankee" who is always looking to get more value out of the dollars that I spend.

[Thompson]

Hi Renne thanks for your post !
I'm gonna purchase some copper plate, they are cheap, i found some metal plates in my stock of things that i stock
I've reshaped my graver with a heel it's more praticable and i'm cutting a flat graver in a HSS big saw blade.When my gravers are done will pratice seriously.I also buy a book named "the jewelry engraver's manual" and i've dowloaded google books, i'm now ready !!