- 1). Make a photocopy of the picture that you want to engrave. Adjust the settings to reduce or enlarge the picture to meet the needs of the project.
- 2). Place a sheet of carbon paper, carbon-side down on the cherry board. Align the photocopied picture over the carbon paper.
- 3). Trace the outline of the photocopied picture with a pen to transfer the image onto the board via the carbon paper.
- 4). Remove the carbon paper and photocopied picture from the board. Use a large engraving bit in the rotary tool to start removing the larger parts of the engraving. Essentially, you are removing everything that is not part of the image. Create the overall layout of the picture. Make smooth strokes and allow the bit to do the cutting by only applying slight pressure against the wood.
- 5). Use the medium and small bits to refine the engraving. Create the finest details with light strokes and only slight pressure against the wood using a small bit. Step back from the engraving on occasion to examine the overall depth. Adjust the engraving lines as needed. An engraving may look good up close but lose definition at a distance. Refine the engraving in this manner until you are satisfied.
- 6). Sand the engraving lightly using fine-grit sandpaper. Apply a wood finish of your choice. Allow the finish to dry before handling. You can then ink the image and transfer it to paper, if you wish. Only the image will transfer, as the parts you have ground away will not touch the paper.
SHARE
