[Jewelry making - Article 00358] - Re: [Orchid] Graver sharpening tools

[Melissa Veres]

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>      Not having the GRS system, I looked at a Crocker pattern
>     sharpener. But- I was taught to only grind the face of a graver
>     with a forward-backward movement - not side to side like with the
>     Crocker. 

Hello Linda,

    A crocker is a great simple tool that is quite adequate for simple
    graver sharpening, and much less expense than the Power Hone. It is
    designed to be used with sharpening stones, and does sweep from side
    to side, not front to back. The advantage to using a crocker or some
    other holding devise is to keep the angle that is being sharpened on
    a single plane--to avoid rounding off the edges. which is a very
    common problem when sharpening by hand. (You have a natural tendency
    to lift up slightly at the end of your stroke, which rounds off the
    edge.) 

    I used the crocker with a plate of glass underneath to slide on,
    which helps to keep the strokes smooth and even. The graver doesn't
    care whether you sharpen side to side or front to back, as long as
    it is clamped tightly to avoid angle shifts. Go from coarse to fine
    stones (I put one on top of the other to maintain a level height,
    then switch. Changing the height in relation to the crocker will
    change the sharpening angle---simple geometry.) Then remove it from
    the crocker, and put a piece of 4/0 emery paper on the glass, and
    LIGHTLY polish the graver by hand. Observe the trail left on the
    paper by the graver, and keep the graver flat to the emery. Use
    short strokes (1/2 " or so), and be conscious of staying level.

    All graver sharpening takes some trial and error practice to get the
    feel of it, and to find what angles and techniques work best for you.
    The only graver that really works is one that is kept sharpened, so
    sharpen often! 

Melissa Veres, Engraver
mveres AT fast.net

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