Bronco78th Posted May 4, 2018 Report Share Posted May 4, 2018 Hi Guys and Gals. Need some advise. I do some glass engraving, about 5 pieces a week along with much more standard drag engraving on metal. The glass is moulded 'crystal' glass as well as Lead Crystal (harder and Softer respectively). Recently ive noticed a slight deterioration in the cut quality and assumed the cutter (11/64 .003 faceted Diamond Tip) was on its way out, while I made adjustments the tip failed completely.....wouldn't cut into the glass at all. Having replaced the tip with a brand new tip from J&M Diamond in the States. This tip has lasted for literally afew glass jobs and its dead.... won't penetrate the glass. I used Pledge Furniture polish previously as a coolant, but its messy and ive not been convinced for awhile how good it is.....its what the previous engraver used....But have recently tried upgrading to Mastergraves Glass Engraving oil and have only used that with the new Tip. The previous engraver has a stash of dead tips, all faceted 11/64 .003 Glass (and one dead drag tip ) which suggests I am/ we were doing something fundamentally wrong and probably to do with heat/lack of cooling. My general engraving setup for glass is as follows - Machine - Suregrave Rotation S Speed - 17500 RPM Tips - 11/64 .003 faceted Diamond Coolant - Pledge Furniture polish/ Master Grave Glass Engraving Oil Any Ideas on how I can reduce my attrition on Cutting tips when engraving glass and where I might be going wrong in my set-up please. Kind Regards, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray Posted May 4, 2018 Report Share Posted May 4, 2018 Pledge or Mr Sheen is fine. Are you using a light touch cutter knob? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted May 4, 2018 Report Share Posted May 4, 2018 I prefer the composite diamond for glass, and keep the feed rate down to about 0.3m/min Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Dude Posted May 4, 2018 Report Share Posted May 4, 2018 I just use water with a spot of washing up liquid in it for lube, I use an 8 faceted diamond and get great results, though they do tend to go from brilliant to dead with no warning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronco78th Posted May 4, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2018 Thanks for the swift replies. Im not using a light touch cutter knob...just standard spring. I might try the composite next time......my feed rate is currently that. Happy Dude, where do you pick up your 8 facet diamonds from if you don't mind me asking...not sure ive seen 8 facets? Kind Regards, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray Posted May 4, 2018 Report Share Posted May 4, 2018 3 minutes ago, Bronco78th said: Thanks for the swift replies. Im not using a light touch cutter knob...just standard spring. I might try the composite next time......my feed rate is currently that. Happy Dude, where do you pick up your 8 facet diamonds from if you don't mind me asking...not sure ive seen 8 facets? Kind Regards, John Try a light touch cutter knob then. I use the faceted .003 diamond and it lasts me ages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CotswoldEngraver Posted May 4, 2018 Report Share Posted May 4, 2018 51 minutes ago, Mr Bargy said: Try a light touch cutter knob then. I use the faceted .003 diamond and it lasts me ages. Agree with Mr Bargy, definitely light touch cutter knob and slow down the feed rate to about 0.3 m/min. I also run the speed at about 10,000 - 12,000 rpm. 17500 seems a bit fast to me thus causing skipping and possibly heat issues maybe. Mr Sheen for lube, magnolia & cherry blossom at the moment (makes the workshop smell nice too!!) Finally, agree that when a cutter goes it just goes without warning. Pantograph services can also re-lap faceted diamonds, not had one done myself but always worth knowing. Kind regards Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronco78th Posted May 10, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2018 Will get a Light touch knob and see what happens! Many Thanks, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryHeffernan Posted May 16, 2018 Report Share Posted May 16, 2018 Do you use that diamond just for glass or are you using it on other items too? I keep a sharp one just for glass and nothing else then have separate for hard and soft metals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronco78th Posted May 16, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2018 Yep I have the cutters separated as im aware switching between glass and metal utterly kills them so I make sure I use the right cutter allocated to the right material! Ive got a Light touch cutter knob now.....stupid question what is the difference between the Light touch and standard spring knob? the pressure seems similar? light touch holds its pressure more consistantly or something? Kind Regards, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beware Posted May 17, 2018 Report Share Posted May 17, 2018 You can alter the spring tension on a light touch by turning to knob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marino Posted June 4, 2018 Report Share Posted June 4, 2018 Have you try my special designed diamond for glass engraving? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronco78th Posted June 8, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2018 Care to elaborate Marino? What cutters are they. Cheers John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray Posted June 8, 2018 Report Share Posted June 8, 2018 On 6/4/2018 at 8:58 PM, Marino said: Have you try my special designed diamond for glass engraving? What makes them different from the usual 0.003 diamonds. How much are they and do they last? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marino Posted September 12, 2018 Report Share Posted September 12, 2018 Those diamonds are made using really diamond stones. Much more strongest then the usually synthetic type normally available. The shape is also designed to work on glass. I am sure if you try this one you never buy anything else Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marino Posted September 12, 2018 Report Share Posted September 12, 2018 Just now, Marino said: Those diamonds are made using really diamond stones. Much more strongest then the usually synthetic type normally available. The shape is also designed to work on glass. I am sure if you try this one you never buy anything else Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Dude Posted September 20, 2018 Report Share Posted September 20, 2018 On 5/4/2018 at 3:08 PM, Bronco78th said: Thanks for the swift replies. Im not using a light touch cutter knob...just standard spring. I might try the composite next time......my feed rate is currently that. Happy Dude, where do you pick up your 8 facet diamonds from if you don't mind me asking...not sure ive seen 8 facets? Kind Regards, John Sorry for the late reply Bronco, here's the place I get my 8 facet diamonds from, if you buy one make sure you ask them to package it up securely, the first one I got from them they just threw it in a jiffy bag, it was OK but I did say to them it could get bent and useless on a light touch knob, next one was taped between a couple of bits of stiff carboard. http://www.dnsons.co.uk/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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