Why sharpen a graver on an oilstone? => 10 photos

 The most basic and least expensive technique for refurbishing the cutting surface is on an oilstone. There is 'no rhyme or reason' for buying a costly desktop machine to do this sharpening. 

 In Canadian funds, the costs are astronomical at $3,350.00 or a lower price of $1,450.00. (I never display the tool suppliers' names.)

 There is a possible way that your eyes should not get too close to the fast-rotating wheel.

THE SERIOUS PROBLEM IS THAT MINUTE SHARDS OF METAL FROM THE ROTATING BLADE COULD IMPACT YOUR EYES. 

The speed rheostat just doesn't let you to get too close to the cleaning of the graver. The whole mechanism also interferes with your arms and hands. 

 The engraving blade will have very limited contact with the rotating wheel. There must be a constant supply of a lubricant to keep the blade cool. If there is a power outage, OR THE MACHINE IS AT FAULT, does that mean that you can't resurface your blades?

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 On an oilstone, the blade can be sharpened by applying pressure along the surface of this 8-inch stone.

The retail price for this oilstone costs only $35.00 (plus taxes).

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The graver MUST BE HELD AT APROXIMATELY 45 DEGREES.

This angle will give the face of the graver the correct cutting angle, as well.

 Remember to keep the oilstone 'well lubricated'. With the technique of holding the graver, you can get as close as necessary. Now compare the limited 'closeness to this oilstone' as to the rotating wheel.

 How often would I use this oilstone? I wore deep gouges into the stone, and it had to be discarded from years of continual use. 

  The proximity is about 6 inches from my face to the stone. Careful examination of the 'graver shaping & grinding' process is essential.

 Examine the angle of the graver to the oilstone. Can you see the 45degree angle?

Here you can see just easy it is to move the oilstone without any mobility problems

Why is this "TUTORIAL BLOG" important?

 Since the second week of April in 2018, I've been writing tutorial essays into "OUR" blog. This information has been given to everyone FREE OF CHARGE. Consider this my 'gift' to the jewellery community.

 I have been a DIAMOND SETTER for the past 66 years. Instead of travelling to schools and small groups of students, I decided to create a blog, and in each essay, there can be as many as 15 photos to display. The photographic library now exceeds (estimated) 10,500 pictures throughout this extensive blog.

 As of January 2026, I've written 800 essays that have been seen in 126 countries. The total readership is now at 274,876 jewellers. Along with these essays are 45 videos. (I still have an additional 15 more videos waiting to be posted).

 The number of topics is vast, as I aim to document them for posterity and share with the next generation what Diamond Setting is like. I avoid discussing CAD (Computer-Assisted Designing) as when I started my apprenticeship (circa 1960), this technique was not known. Every ring was duplicated by hand.

Here are my tutorial essays that appear in this blog:

1) How to grind a graver?

2) What is "Fish Tail" setting?

3) How to do "Channel Setting"?

4) Channel Setting with Genuine Emeralds.

5) How to use Polishing Papers?

6) What is "Princess Setting"?

7) How to set stones in wax?

8) How to set Cabochon Stones with a 1/2 round bur?

9) How to do a Flush, or Gypsy Setting?

10 How to set Baguettes in an 'End Bezel'?

11) How to set Diamonds in a 4-Claw configuration?