How do you grind your graver for stone setting. => 12photos

  I've covered this topic many times in 'our blog'. One of our readers thinks that this topic should be explained again. I will display photos and text in detail. I'll write as if I am shaping each graver for myself. 

 This photo shows that the very end of the graver is being reduced in length, as it must enter the handle easily.

  

 The preliminary shaping as seen here must be carefully carved. It must be kept cool at all times as to prevent overheating, lest the steel gets softened. We don't want this to happen, do we?

 Already you can see a tint of 'brown', that is where the graver got overheated. 

 Thankfully, it won't interfere with the rest of the shaping against the high-speed rotating grinding wheel.

 All of my gravers are HSS, namely "High Speed Steel". These ID letters it lets me know that this FLAT graver (GLARDON) was made in Sweden. The number "10" refers to the (thin) width.

               KEEP YOUR GRAVER COOL AT ALL TIMES.

 After a few graver shaping, you will notice the wheel is slowly being shaped. This is quite normal, as it will make your own shaping a lot more easier. Don't forget to keep your blade COOL.

 Always wear a pair of Latex gloves and of course wear protective glasses. The shards of steel being thrown off are your constant enemies. 

   The time of this process, still takes me about 1/2 hour, from start to finish. Plus another 1/2 hour for the oilstone finishing. Speed is not the most important aspect, but preparing the graver for the months ahead.

This graver is like a surgical blade, as the front of the tool is used to cut precise designs in metal.

 This photo is the epitome of "Flat Graver Cutting". All metal sculpturing was done before any stone went in.

 This photo shows the 'before & after' shaping on the bench grinder.

 This my assortment of gravers being made ready to be inserted into various 'adjustable handles'. Instead of having a large number of handles in my bench, I'll just have 2-3 that will be used or exchanged. Clutter is the arch enemy of a 'setters bench'.

     I hope that essay was informative and as well as educational.