ENGRAVER'S PADS
at
moderate cost
An Engraver's Pad is made by sewing two disks of leather together,
and then filling them with sand.
When hand engraving flat material (e.g. sheet steel, copper, or
plastic), as for example when making masters for a Cronite Engraving
Machine, the use of an engraver's pad lets you have your hands
below
the height at which the work sits. It also lets you rotate the work
while engraving lines into it, and to spin the work rapidly to
reposition it to the most convenient orientation for further work.
If you try to do this type of work with the material flat
down on a desk, you will find it extremely frustrating, although you
may not
recognize why right away. If you then try doing the same work on an
engraver's pad, the increased ease of working isn't something you'd
gradually come to see was somewhat of an improvemt – it is a HUGE
improvement that would be immediately apparent to you in the first 10
seconds of use.
When I first needed an engraver's
pad, about 10/12 years ago, a ready-made one was about
US$80. (Now, so far as I can see, they are not even
offered.) I therefore made my own engraver's pad by hand sewing
two 8" diameter leather discs together with two rows of saddle
stitching – several hours of tough, tedious work.
The photo below shows my pad, with a hand cut master and my shop-made
graver for cutting same. (Not that it is important, but I have
gone over the engraved lines with a pencil to make them stand out more
for this photograph.)
(Click on the photo to see a
larger
image.)
Engravers have used pads like this for over 500
years, and probably for much more than 1000 years.
I have mentioned the desirability of having an engraver's pad to
several guys I've talked to as a result of them having seen the
"Engraving Machines For Sale" page on my
website, and all of them
seemed to want one.
I have therefore had a few made up for me by a friend who owns a heavy
duty sewing machine. You will have to fill it with sand when you
get it, and then finish off the last 2" of sewing. Holes for this
last bit of sewing are pre-punched and thread is provided, so this will
be easy to do. See photo below.
(Click on the photo to see a
larger
image.)
Note: It is a good idea to get the finest sand particles out of your
sand before putting it into the engraver's pad. Full instructions
for removing the "fines" from your sand, and for filling the engraver's
pad, will be sent with each unfilled pad.
Price: US$ 47 postpaid
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