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How to Sharpen a Graver

A graver is essentially a piece of sharpened metal used in the engraving trade -- either in metal or wood -- and then set into a wooden handle. These tools must be sharpened regularly to ensure that they will create clean, crisp engravings and that they do not rough up the materials or create substandard engravings. All that is needed to sharpen a graver is a pair of sharpening stones, one rough and one smooth.

Instructions

- 1
  Place the rough stone on a flat surface; then grip the graver firmly between your fingers, and press the face immediately below the cutting edge against the stone.
- 2
  Rub the face of the graver over the rough stone in a circular motion. This will remove bits of metal from the graver tool.
- 3
  Continue the circular motion until you have achieved the desired cutting angle -- this is typically 45 degrees on most gravers.
- 4
  Work the graver more until the graver's face is flat against the stone. You will hear a sort of "chirp" sound when this happens.
- 5
  Put the rough stone aside, and place the smooth stone on the flat surface.
- 6
  Rub the graver against the smooth stone using the same motions as before until the face has become polished.

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