Hand Engraving I

Learn to cut lines, curvers, waves, spirarl and ,circler engraving with background treatments — no prior experience required.

This beginner workshop builds core hand engraving skills from the ground up: bench and equipment setup, graver sharpening, design transfer, line-cutting technique, shading and background treatments. By the end of five days you'll have engraved your own mild steel and bronze practice plates covering every technique taught.

Class Details

• Duration: 5 days (Monday–Friday)

• Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (one-hour lunch)

• Class size: 4 students max

• Prerequisite: None — open to beginners with no prior engraving experience

• What's included: Tools provided for in-class use; materials and finished practice plates are yours to keep

Skills You'll Gain

• Set up and calibrate a microscope, pneumatic machine, and ball vise for precise engraving work

• Sharpen gravers to a clean, precise cutting edge using correct geometry and angle

• Transfer a design onto mild steel or bronze and lay out a composition for engraving

• Cut straight lines, curves, and intricate patterns, selecting the right graver and controlling depth and pressure

• Engrave running borders — continuous decorative edge patterns

• Apply shading and background treatments to add depth and contrast to a design

Day-by-Day

• Day 1 — Workbench and equipment setup: bench layout and ergonomics; setting up and calibrating a microscope, pneumatic machine, and ball vise; using work-holding fixtures to secure your piece.

• Day 2 — Graver sharpening and cutting geometry: sharpening technique and the correct angle and geometry for clean, precise cuts.

• Day 3 — Design transfer and line cutting: transferring a design onto mild steel or bronze, laying out a composition, and cutting straight lines, curves, patterns, and running borders with depth and pressure control.

• Day 4 — Shading and background treatments: techniques for adding depth, dimension, and contrast to an engraved design.

• Day 5 — Class project: apply line cutting, shading, and background treatments together on a final practice piece, with instructor feedback.

What This Class Doesn't Cover In-depth shading technique (this course teaches shading fundamentals, not mastery-level work); drawing or originating your own designs (this course covers transferring an existing design onto the piece, not creating one from scratch); and block, script, and decorative letter engraving, covered in Decorative Alphabets & Monograms.

What You'll Leave With Engraved mild steel and bronze practice plates demonstrating line work, running borders, shading, and background treatments.