Hello to all,
I'm a new member to FEGA and I was very grateful to recieve the packet in the mail yesterday. I've been a goldsmith for all of my career and I am very excited to finally take engraving seriously. I'm presently rounding up all of the equipment to start working on some practice plates and I have a question about the engraver's bench. Which bench do you folks find that works the best for engraving? Are most folks engraving under microscopes? The bench I've had for many years now is great for jewelry making and measures 36"H x 48"W x 22"D. Taller benches are available, in the 38" to 39" range. Could someone recommend an ideal engraver's bench?
Thank you,
Carver Tripp

Carver Tripp
5/9/2007 3:03:09 PM

Welcome aboard Carver!
The trend is for most folks to use a scope. Those over 40 REALLY like the scopes!!
I assume you are talking about a typical jewelers bench? That can be used but the best thing to do is to "hang" the ball vise lower in the front. GRS classrooms use a set up like this. It works well but does render the lower drawers useless. Many (like myself) use a drill press stand that is adjustable and can be put under a standard workbench or modifed into a self contained engraving stand. John Barraclough has a nice set up like this and it was pictured in a post somewhere on the Engravers Cafe on iGraver.com.
Hope this helps.

Rex Pedersen
5/9/2007 8:51:59 PM

Carver, I expect if you visited 10 engravers shops you would find at least 9 different approaches. What ever position you are comfortable for long periods is what you should use. My bench is high, I sit on a tall stool with a back rest and use foot rests, and I work wearing an optivisor (#10 lens) so I am fairly close to the work as the focusing distance for that lens is something like 4 inches. My lighting is a 3 bulb 4 foot flourescent fixture about 2 1/2 feet above and maybe half a foot behind my ball vise. I also use an airgraver. I have a microscope and do occasionally use it for really fine detail such as sculpting an eyeball on an inlay or other really small stuff. Otherwise it is too confining for me. Others will swear by their microscopes. I have used the same setup for nearly 30 years now and it evolved not so much from a thought-out design but from parts on hand(if it's free, it's me). Just lucky it fits me so well. And no, I am not in a rut, I am in "the groove"! I am sure you will get more input and with your experience you should be able to come up with a setup that will suit your needs. Regards, Sam.

Sam Welch
5/9/2007 8:55:19 PM

Hi Carver

I think Sam & Rex are right. There is no "one bench fits all" arrangement.

Some people sit, others stand, microscope, optivisor, etc all make a difference. Once you have all your gear togeather and played around a bit you'll find what's comfortable to you. Rex's suggestion of having a look on www.igraver.com engraving forum is a good one as you'll see all sorts of different ideas.

Welcome to FEGA you'll meet some very nice people here.

Cheers
Andrew

Andrew Biggs
5/9/2007 9:17:33 PM

Thanks guys for the warm reception and advise. Your right Andrew, I've just meet 3 very nice folks here! I've been using an Optiviser,7X, all my career, (38yrs), And I can still see very well. Yes, there is a sitting position that I can sit for long periods of time, maybe I should stick to that for now.The scope looks awkward to me, but I thought if it's nessesary I'll get used to it. I'll take a look at the Graver's cafe. Thanks again for your help. I'm located in San Diego,CA, so if there is any way I could be of help to you from here,please let me know.
Carver

Carver Tripp
5/10/2007 2:07:37 PM

Sam, I am with you on the scope. I got to push that thing out of the way so I can get some work done. It is handy for the small stuff like you said, but other than that I hardly use it. Of course wearing glasses adds another little frustration to it. Take 'em off, put 'em on.......... Do you work at a tilt? I remember your shop, but didn't remember you working that high.

Carver, I work at a regular desk. I like lots of room around me. At times, being a firearms engraver too, I have to swing a barrel so it is a good idea to not have things around you above vise level. This wold be one objection to the jewelers bench approach. I engraved about everything you could imagine, often having to hold items in my lap to engrave them. I don't know that that would work with the pneumatic tools or not. Never tried it. My lighting is two eight foot flourescent bulbs coming to a point over my head like an arrow head going the way I am facing. They extend beyone my shoulders behind me so that i have light coming from all directions. I supliment that lighting with one that I can move around and it is flourescent too, but it is well away from anything I have to swing. You needd to have your arms at a comfortable, natural position for long hours and it is good to have an adjustable chair. That is my two cents...........Ron S

Oh, by the way, it is not necessary to stand unless you use the hammer and chisel. All palm tool work was customerily done sitting. Best of luck!

Ron Smith
5/11/2007 11:54:24 AM

there's no answer to that. if you look thru sam alfanos' forum (igraver.com) there are fotos of a variety of bench setups there. they are as individual as are the men and women using them. not using a scope, not too many constraints other than the obvious, or for those who may have a physical impairment. scope users find there are requirements borne of the scope that must be met. my bench is like a bottle of wine. as it ages, it just keeps getting better. sometimes a tiny little change in the bench can make a world of difference in doing the work. think of the bench not as a work bench- but as a work center. look at the folks doing the high end stuff. more often than not, their work center is like being in the cockpit of an aircraft. everything within easy reach, the most used is the nearest, etc. the place looks uncluttered and an inviting place. the work must be done in comfort, and with as little tension and fatigue as possible. the work is demanding enough. if you add neck and back ache, and a lot of tensed up muscles,maybe throw in some eye strain, you are headed
for some less than desirable engraving. hell, for a couple years i modified a chair and vise support that allowed me to engrave leaning backward several degrees. my back bothered me so bad, it was do that or quit. fortunately i was able to go back to conventional seating. hay, good luck

j.d. swartzfeger
6/13/2007 11:57:57 PM