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120 Degres Sharpening

The document describes how to sharpen a 120 degree graver. It involves two main steps: 1. Reshaping the graver blank from 90 degrees to 120 degrees by grinding each side of the bottom at a 30 degree angle from the center. This changes the front shape from a square to a wider V-cut. 2. Sharpening the heel of the graver at a 15 degree angle on each side, completing the 120 degree graver. The wider graver cuts broader lines with less effort than a 90 degree graver, making it useful for engraving jewelry or for beginners.

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joan roma ortiz barnes
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127 views2 pages

120 Degres Sharpening

The document describes how to sharpen a 120 degree graver. It involves two main steps: 1. Reshaping the graver blank from 90 degrees to 120 degrees by grinding each side of the bottom at a 30 degree angle from the center. This changes the front shape from a square to a wider V-cut. 2. Sharpening the heel of the graver at a 15 degree angle on each side, completing the 120 degree graver. The wider graver cuts broader lines with less effort than a 90 degree graver, making it useful for engraving jewelry or for beginners.

Uploaded by

joan roma ortiz barnes
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The 120º Graver

BOTTOM
VIEW
TAPERED TOP

45º FACE

2.5º RESHAPING
GRIND
15º HEEL

Making the 120º Graver

The 120º graver has different cutting characteristics than the usual 90º tool.
Since it's a much wider tool, it incises a wider V-cut, although the differences
can be subtle. One advantage of the 120º is that the graver point is extremely
strong and resists breakage. Another advantage is that it can produce wide,
bright cuts with very little effort. This can be welcome for those engraving
jewelry.

The behavior of the 120º graver takes a bit of getting used to, especially if
you're accustomed to rolling a graver to produce wide cuts. Just the slightest
bit of tilt is all that's required, and it's easy to overdo. The 120º graver can add
boldness and character to scroll engraving and script lettering, and might be a
bit easier to handle for beginning engravers. It has been my experience that
someone engraving for the very first time can cut cleaner and neater lines with
the 120º graver than the 90º.

1.) RESHAPING THE GRAVER BLANK - With a graver blank mounted in the
Dual Angle sharpening fixture, set the tool post angle to 2-1/2 degrees (or
about halfway between 0 and 5 degrees). Now rotate the fixture head to 30º to
the right of zero and sharpen back to about ½ inch. Rotate the fixture head to
the left of zero to 30º and sharpen the other side the same way. The object
90º here is to create two symmetrical grinds on the bottom of the graver which will
change its shape from 90º to 120º. The length of these grinds is not very
important, as you are just changing the graver's front end from a 90º square to
120º.
Front view showing
90º and 120º gravers. 2.) SHARPENING THE HEEL - Change the toolpost angle to 15º (or whatever
amount of lift you normally use) and sharpen the left side of the heel as you
would any other graver. Rotate the fixture past zero to 30º and sharpen the
opposite side of the heel, and the 120º graver is complete.

120º

©Copyright 2001 by Sam Alfano


GRS Hand Engraving Class
120° Graver Sharpening
with the Dual Angle fixture

Face Reshaping Grind

45
0 45 30 30

2.5

2.5
Toolpost angle
45

Between 0° and 5°

Face Right Reshaping Left Reshaping


600 grit Grind - 600 grit Grind - 600 grit

Heel

30 30
15

15

Right Heel Left Heel


- ceramic - ceramic

©Copyright 2001 by Sam Alfano


GRS Hand Engraving Class

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