How to Use Lathe Gravers

Hold the lathe in your dominant hand, in the same way you would hold a pencil. Use your other hand to guide the tool, using your thumb to push the back end of the tool and your forefinger to steer the tool from its side. As you hold the graver, the metal point should face away from you, toward the metal shaft you want to cut, which is held in place with the lathe. The metal shaft should be perpendicular to the graver. Use the T-rest to help steady the graver.

Move the graver in slowly, toward the metal shaft, to begin your cut. Slide the graver from the edge of the metal shaft toward its other end. The speed at which you move the graver impacts the depth of your cut. A slower speed creates a deeper cut than a faster speed. As the graver moves along the metal shaft, metal shavings peel away as the graver makes its cut.

Alter the angle of the tool as necessary by moving it slightly up or down at the end, where your nondominant thumb rests. If you find the graver isn't cutting easily, alter the angle a small amount at a time until it makes the cut you need. If you feel the cut is sufficient, there is no need to alter the angle. In general, harder metals require a greater angle, while softer metals do better with a straight cut.

Swing the graver left or right using your nondominant forefinger to cut a radius on the metal shaft. Turning the graver at a sideways angle such as this provides greater control of the tool and allows you to create shorter cuts around the entire shaft. The shorter cuts leave part of the metal shaft intact. Holding the graver straight creates longer cuts, similar to typical cutting tools for the lathe.