Bench Jewelers Tools Gravers

When shaping gravers on a grinding wheel take your time.  Hurrying will only cause the graver to overheat and/or cutting edges to be misalign.

 

Always grind a graver with the cutting edge of the graver making first contact.  As a grinding wheel grinds away metal heat is generated.  If the wheel grinds from the heavy portion of the graver first, heat is generated towards the tip.   By grinding the cutting edge first, heat is generated away from the thin tip of the graver.  The difference is minimal; however, when shaping gravers every little bit helps.

For articles on Stonesetting go to: http://AboutStoneSetting.com
Bench Tips and Tricks for Bench Jewelers, Stone Setters, and Goldsmiths

Comments

[Kevin]

when grinding do you quench the graver or should you let air cool? if you quench would you suggest oil, water or cooling oil (lapidary grinding oil)?

[Brad Simon]

I quench the graver in water when doing the initial grinding cutting the top of the graver down and grinding to length. When I do the fine grinding of shaping the face of the graver I let it air cool by touching the graver face to the wheel briefly and then pulling it away just enough so it doesn’t touch and let the air flow from the wheel cool the graver.