I have made my own tool for sharpening gravers without the power hones. It is a take off of the James Meek's tool with some improvements for angle control. I will try to post a picture of the tool. The angles are easy to read and is quick to set up. I engraver as a hobby for myself and use a diamond steel plate from Walmart with a fine ruby stone set next to the plate for a fine hone. I use the Ngraver power hand tool to checkering bolt knobs for custom guns.

Les Brooks
4/15/2007 10:02:26 AM

Picture post for the above message. I had forgotten how to post the picture on this site.

Ron, glad to see you are up and running again!!! Les

Les Brooks
4/15/2007 10:15:26 AM

Hi Lester.
It's good to see your post on the forum, and thank you.
Your sharpening tool is a little jewel.
I remember seeing it and some of your other beautifully made tools when you taught at Trinidad State College in Colorado.
For those folks that have not had the pleasure of meeting him, Lester is an all round gunsmith, a world class stockmaker and inventor too.
Among other things,he made and taught the students at Trinidad how to fabricate their own low cost, portable gunstock duplicator.
This enabled them to do the rough out work from a stock blank before the fine hand finishing began.
The whole machine folds up and can be stored anywhere, leaning against the wall. These usually are huge and very costly machines.
I'm glad to see you looking in on the forum Lester, and know that you can advise and help many of us.
Take care my friend, John.


John Barraclough
4/15/2007 11:33:03 AM

Hi Les

That's a great setup for sharpening you've got there.

I'm quite surprised that there has not been a commercialy made hand sharpening tool like your one with clearly readable angles and movement.

I tried the crocker sharpener for a while but lacked the technical expertise to modify it to the point that it would be useful so I ended up getting a power hone/ dual angle sharpener.

If you get a chance, a photo of the gun stock duplicator would be great to look at just out of interest. It never ceases to amaze me how clever some people can be at inventing things.

I hope that John B. didn't lead you too far astray at Trinidad. Or was it the other way around :-)

Cheers
Andrew

Andrew Biggs
4/15/2007 5:05:21 PM

John, it good to hear from you. I haven't taken work in for several years now. My sight is not good any more, but I can still see the end of my fishing pole. Ha Ha

Andrew, here is the other shot of the tool. I have tried to get someone to manufacture the tool, but no one seems to be interested. I have offered the information for free!!! Marty R was teaching at TSJC last summer so I showed him the tool and he ask me to write it up and send it to the FEGA for the magazine. If you want to put a little radius on the bottom of the heel just run it up a angle plate and it will put a little radius there.

If anyone would like to make this tool I will furnish the dimensions.



Les Brooks
4/15/2007 6:32:57 PM

Hi Les

It would definatley make a great article for the Engraver magazine. There's a lot of people out there that can't afford the power eqipment. If you could please e-mail the dimensions that would be great.

My e-mail address is biggschristchurch@xtra.co.nz.

Cheers
Andrew



Andrew Biggs
4/15/2007 6:46:47 PM

Hey Lester you rascal,
How are you doing? Long time no see, buddy. What are you up to these days.Your sharpening device looks like one I made years ago. I still do a lot of sharpening by hand however. Are you still doing gun work? how is your engraving coming along? Like everything you do, I bet it is excellent. wow, i didn't think you were a computer geek!Look at me, I'm finally on the in ternet, with internet, email and everything. Good to hear from you. Looks like your sharpener will do the job.

Ron S

Ron Smith
4/15/2007 8:59:59 PM

Dear Mr. Brooks,
Your tools is exactly what is needed, imvho. Thank you for offering to share the directions for making it; would you send a copy? mielcat@hotmail.com
Michael

Michael Smart
4/16/2007 2:23:20 AM

Hi Les.
Sorry to hear about the eye thing.
But fishing sounds good if engraving and stockmaking are out!
Hope you can still enjoy travel in your motor coach too.
I'm still pecking away at it, but not as fast as I used to.
It's good to have a couple of my Texas buddies on the forum, you and Ron.
These computers are great for keeping in touch.
Now if I could only learn to type!!!!!!
Take care of yourself, John.



John Barraclough
4/16/2007 11:30:52 AM

Michael & Andrew

I will be making new pictures of the tool and write this up so most can make their own tool. You will need a lathe and a 4 jaw chuck to make the parts. It may take a couple of days to complete.


Ron

I bought a place down on the swamp. The hardest work that I do now is clean fish. No more guns!!! I'll call you in a few days when get back close enough for the cell phone to work. Maybe come up to Ft Worth and stay a few days in the park where we usually stay close to your location.

John

I will be sending a PM to you about TSJC.





Les Brooks
4/16/2007 10:00:08 PM

my thanks to you sir. i'd like a set of directions to create one of these.
if you're still inclined monk45@verizon.net

j.d. swartzfeger
4/25/2007 4:05:28 PM

Mr. Les Brooks, just joined. If you still have info on you duplicator, I would appreciate a copy. I would like to try building it myself and see how I do making a few stocks for friends. I am retired and looking for a possible small home business. Thank you, John saylor e-mail: cajun_46@yahoo.com

John Saylor
9/4/2008 11:22:14 AM

Had some time on my hands today and checked in on the fega forum and found it very interesting. I was original started in many years ago working under a die cutter as years passed most of the die work was done on the three dimentional machines I then graduated to doing some coat of arms work for some jewelery engravers and also practiced to do lettering and did get into that. althouth most of the lettering work was being done on the panograph machines because it was cheaper. 'so later on I got acquainted with a gun engraver and with his kind help i was able to do some scroll work with his help and then came the grs gramiser into the scene i picked one up and found it just great i was able to do quite a bit of work for this engraver worked part time and did quite a bit of practing until i could get along fairly well. I at timees had to take other work to make a living thru the years. Due to circumstances I sold my house and moved to a mobile home. I sold all my equipment to John Barraclough about six years ago. I'm approaching 90 yrs now but still have engraving in my bones. Met some very fine engravers at the meetings Reno thru the years and attended quite a few of the siminars held on mondays. I'm unable to travel now for my wife needs me at home and i'm not up to it now fega is a great outfit and have done so much to enlighten the public about the art of engraving wish you all the best John Doyle

John Doyle
11/23/2008 8:08:42 PM

Hello to Mr.John Doyle,

John it's good to hear from you and to know that you and your wife are OK.
You did some beautiful work on guns, rings and dies.
The equipment I bought from you was passed on to some of the students.
I remember that the Gravermeister went to a student from Maine.
After a while I got it back and then it went to a knife maker who wanted to learn to engrave. It was all put to good use.
I'm glad to joined in on Les's post as he is another old and dear friend of mine.
Take care of yourself. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your wife.
John.

John Barraclough
11/24/2008 1:56:49 PM