This morning I spent some time using the engraving vise I just constructed last week, upon the other two fine silver ingots I had on hand. The pictures say more than I really can…
My homemake engraving vise, ready to use.
First ingot in the homemade engraving vise...
EVOO isn't just for cooking anymore!
Results of ingot using carbide fly cutter after a few light passes.
The trick to a good finish is to make a few final light passes in the same direction...
Obverse side, final results after using carbide fly cutter and EVOO.
Reverse side of silver ingot after the same treatment...
I really like the results! I especially enjoy how using this vise causes me to waste a lot less silver. I have a nice, uniformly thick 0.08 inch blank that I derived from a 0.10 inch ingot.
Lessons learned:
1) A spacer between the jaws is absolutely necessary, failing to do so will cause the jaws to buckle, raising the entire ingot. A .009 inch feeler gauge is sufficient for my needs.
2) To get a nice finish before polishing, make at least a few very light (.001 inch) passes in the same direction. I do these passes in the -X direction so I can see what’s going on.
3) Before reversing the ingot, be sure the file the edges first.. I learned this lesson from making the aluminum vise jaws and applied it here: Why? Because unfiled edges will tilt the ingot as it makes contact with the jaws, ruining the levelling..
