Sam Salvati Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 Got the itch today while some stuff for work was heating up in the forge to make some engraving chisels. Got some 1/2" 1045 from Aldo and 1 heat and a grind later here we go.Kinda got lucky and nailed the angles all freehand on the first one, next one took some tweaking but I htink I have a good working understanding of a "blacksmith's" engraver angle setup (IE not to any exact angle just eyeballed). I want to engrave my whole layout table. It is interesting to work with such large gravers, much more comfortable to my blacksmith hands then tiny things I need a magnifier to see. I made the hammer, and the chisels hehe. Could this be considered kata-kiri? Let not the swords of good and free men be reforged into plowshares, but may they rest in a place of honor; ready, well oiled and God willing unused. For if the price of peace becomes licking the boots of tyrants, then "To Arms!" I say, and may the fortunes of war smile upon patriots Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesus Hernandez Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 Cute. The kata-kiri chisel has a different geometry. If you want to use a Japanese term kebori will be closer. Enjoy life! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hÿllyn Posted October 5, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2012 (edited) Not really, as it would have to conform to a whole lot of oriental painting conventions ( when it comes to strokes) which is why I was told to study a lot of it (much like in any aesthetical/artistic tradition), otherwise it doesn't do a convincing job to the trained eye. Engraved layout table sounds cool tho. Edited October 5, 2012 by Hÿllyn Grey hair and alopecia are signs of age, not of wisdom... Rósta að, maðr! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Salvati Posted October 5, 2012 Author Share Posted October 5, 2012 Japanese are so complicated. Be honest, there is alot of really good carvers on here, is this crap? trying to not do a total photo-like accurate thing, sort of like a suggested image without being too cartoonish. The whole thing was mirror shine inside til I rubbed oil on it and gunk got in there. Let not the swords of good and free men be reforged into plowshares, but may they rest in a place of honor; ready, well oiled and God willing unused. For if the price of peace becomes licking the boots of tyrants, then "To Arms!" I say, and may the fortunes of war smile upon patriots Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hÿllyn Posted October 5, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2012 (edited) Japanese are so complicated. Be honest, there is alot of really good carvers on here, is this crap? trying to not do a total photo-like accurate thing, sort of like a suggested image without being too cartoonish. The whole thing was mirror shine inside til I rubbed oil on it and gunk got in there. Sam, I don't think it's just about a Japanese thing. Say, for example, with Norse and migration era carvings (and I say this fully aware that some feathers might get ruffled), it's not just what you think you can do but how sincere your carving and interpretation is in its intent, and beyond a handful of people here who put in the time to wrap their heads around the whole thing and try to assume as best as they can what the Ethos of a craftsman of that time was, you cannot deliver convincing pathos to those who have spent any reasonable amount of time studying it. In fact most of it ends up being poorly thought out, laid out and contrived... And in the spirit of those times that is a wasteful attitude incompatible with the challenges of being able to secure the materials at the time (a recurring thing across all traditions) What I said was simply that no, this does not qualify as kata-kiri but that does not disqualify it from being an honest attempt at carving a stylised rabbit, whatever your inspiration for it might happen to be. Japanese inspired maybe, but in my opinion it's always best to make the distinctions to avoid creating a reputation one does not want. Needless to say, you should keep carving because you can only get better, and it doesn't look like you hesitated much in your strokes or required cleaning up, which funnily enough are desirable things in kata-kiri style carving. So are you going to add another 999 rabbits, to make it a version of the 1,000 monkey theme? Edited October 5, 2012 by Hÿllyn Grey hair and alopecia are signs of age, not of wisdom... Rósta að, maðr! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kelso Posted October 5, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2012 (edited) Really cool Sam. Not crap in the least. Just a beginners first steps. Looks like you got some good working gravers there. Nice accurate entries and exits. A little trouble, it looks like dragging the heal, on the hind foot. Would be considered more kebori(line engraving) as Jesus suggests, but shows pleasing line width variation especially on the ears. Also you show a good tendency not to connect every line. Good control. I think you’re on your way. Katakiri bori, or any engraving will not be any better than you could draw or paint it, so doing those things is essential to improve. Your cuts are well made though and that is a big step. Jim here's a quick little painting (edit) I did based on a Shibata Zeshin laquer painting Edited October 5, 2012 by Jim Kelso My website and INSTAGRAM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Salvati Posted October 5, 2012 Author Share Posted October 5, 2012 Thanks Hyllyn. I was honestly not trying for katakiri, just wondering if what I did could be considered simplified katakiri. My desire is to do stylized carving, not really follow any path to a tradition. It is my desire to develop a "blacksmith" or simple version, a casual expression that is not heavy on investment of tools or money, and yields an attractive aesthetic. Like a "blacksmith knife" is a forged yet mostly rough blade type yet quite attractive when done well. Jim thank you! Your eye is quite astute I did drag on the hind foot. I am trying to look at an engraving as both the lines I am following from the sketch I do on the steel, then figuring out how to vary the line's width to accent that line. Then also trying to sketch and cut to the negative space as well as the line itself to make the image. Thanks for the advice. Let not the swords of good and free men be reforged into plowshares, but may they rest in a place of honor; ready, well oiled and God willing unused. For if the price of peace becomes licking the boots of tyrants, then "To Arms!" I say, and may the fortunes of war smile upon patriots Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kelso Posted October 5, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2012 Sam, I think your idea of a "blacksmith" expression is great! We've seen in other threads that a rough-hewn but elegant look can be harder to achieve than might be assumed, but I think you have all the tools necessary. Practice is the key along with looking at good work. As you get even more control of your tools you will sense as you are designing what is possible and how to achieve that during the cutting. My website and INSTAGRAM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Salvati Posted October 5, 2012 Author Share Posted October 5, 2012 I understand just what you mean, Like was said, anyone can do rough looking work, but doing it right takes practice. I very much enjoy engraving, and I like my large size tools a little better (fits my personality better hehe) for making bold lines. Thanks for your painting! Now I need to source a VERY large ball and vise. Let not the swords of good and free men be reforged into plowshares, but may they rest in a place of honor; ready, well oiled and God willing unused. For if the price of peace becomes licking the boots of tyrants, then "To Arms!" I say, and may the fortunes of war smile upon patriots Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N. Runals Posted October 5, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2012 Great man! Can I see a line of specialty hammers with cute little rabbits engraved in them? http://www.etsy.com/shop/NateRunalsBlacksmith?ref=pr_shop_more&view_type=gallerynaterunals.com My Instagram Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herb Kettell Posted October 5, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2012 (edited) From someone that struggels with embelishment of any kind it looks great to me. How about a transmition jack with a well weighted base for a macro blacksmith's engraving vise. ~Herb Edited October 5, 2012 by Herb Kettell The few surviving Samurai survey the battlefield. Count the arms and legs and heads and then divide by five. TMBG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted October 5, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2012 Off to a good start, Samothy! To vary the line width with that diamond point graver, roll it to one side as you're cutting. That is, start the cut with the graver point, and while it's moving through the steel gently roll it to one side or the other. It will take a wider cut that way, and as long as the point is still under the surface it won't shoot off to the side. Until you snap the point off, that is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kelso Posted October 5, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2012 I did drag on the hind foot. Sam, you'll find that another tool with a shorter, steeper heel will cruise around tight corners. Harder to control that corner tool on longer cuts though. My website and INSTAGRAM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karl B. Andersen Posted October 6, 2012 Share Posted October 6, 2012 Cool, Sam. I wanna see some naked women..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Salvati Posted October 7, 2012 Author Share Posted October 7, 2012 Great man! Can I see a line of specialty hammers with cute little rabbits engraved in them? YES and other things From someone that struggels with embelishment of any kind it looks great to me. How about a transmition jack with a well weighted base for a macro blacksmith's engraving vise. ~Herb That's a good idea Herb! Off to a good start, Samothy! To vary the line width with that diamond point graver, roll it to one side as you're cutting. That is, start the cut with the graver point, and while it's moving through the steel gently roll it to one side or the other. It will take a wider cut that way, and as long as the point is still under the surface it won't shoot off to the side. Until you snap the point off, that is. That's how I change it and up or down angle also Sam, you'll find that another tool with a shorter, steeper heel will cruise around tight corners. Harder to control that corner tool on longer cuts though. I will make one like that and try it Jim thanks. Cool, Sam. I wanna see some naked women..... Yeah oh yeah Let not the swords of good and free men be reforged into plowshares, but may they rest in a place of honor; ready, well oiled and God willing unused. For if the price of peace becomes licking the boots of tyrants, then "To Arms!" I say, and may the fortunes of war smile upon patriots Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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