With the advanced level of steel gravers, we've dealt with the preliminary steps of cleaning the steel blade. Now comes the 'finishing stages' to this delicate and exacting process.
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We will be dealing now with only the very fine paper that has a texture as smooth as silk. But I go one step further by rubbing a graphite drafting pencil across the surface of the paper.
This technique will advance the paper texture from #1,200 grit to at least #1,600+ grit. There is no cost to this improvement to the 'polishing paper'.
You can easily see how shiny the surface of the #1,200 grade of paper is. This is simply the graphite lead being impregnated within the pores of the paper.
After the basic cleaning of the steel graver, we are not finished, but much more work is left to be done.
I WILL CAREFULLY RUB MY GRAVER ONLY WHERE THE PAPER HAS BEEN TOUCHED.
As this is an Onglette graver with a bevelled (semi-rounded) surface, it is important to gently rock the steel blade across the ultra-smooth paper. An #800 grit paper is still good, but not as smooth as a #1,000 grit paper.
Even if you have only a #1,000 grit paper, you can still achieve a 'soft surface' by rubbing the paper with the graphite pencil.
Here is the graphite pencil being used to increase the texture of the grit.
I never leave any graver untouched or not modified. This technique is very important in the first step of "Bright Cutting".
In this photo, you can now see where the steel blade has been used.
I've been using this procedure constantly on all of my new graver blades. Even if the blade has been recut, I will again polish the steel where required.
You can easily see where the fresh, new blade has been improved after the grinding has been completed.
This essay is a 'review' of earlier tutorial essays, but it's always good to review with newer photographs.
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