How to become an Engraver
Engravers cut letters, figures and designs on metal, glass, wood, rubber, plastic and other surfaces.
Personal requirements for an Engraver
- Enjoy artistic and creative work
- Able to do accurate and detailed work
- Good eyesight (may be corrected)
- Good hand-eye coordination
- Aptitude for working with computers
- Good at spelling.
Duties & Tasks of an Engraver
Engravers may perform the following tasks:
- Lay out lettering or designs on objects by sketching on paper or in powder on the objects to be engraved
- Mark outlines of designs using scribers, mount objects in vices and cut designs with engraving tools
- Clean and polish engraved areas
- Sketch original designs, or copy sketches or photographs
- Brush powder or solutions onto surfaces of dies or plates that imprint designs
- Use acid etching to produce photographic images onto metals
- Use pantographs to enlarge or reduce designs
- Operate engraving machines to cut standard designs.
Specializations
Hand Engraver
A hand engraver uses hand-held cutters and tools to engrave many different types of objects, including silverware, jewellery, plates, glass, glassware and trophies according to sketches, diagrams, photographs or sample workpieces.
Industrial Engraver
An industrial engraver uses computer-aided engraving machines and mechanically operated machines to engrave objects such as signs.
