Determining which Classic AirGraver piston is
best suited to your needs.
The stainless piston comes standard with the tool.
The tungsten piston can be purchased separately.
The two pistons overlap in both their power
and speed ranges. The tungsten piston is generally slower in strokes per
minutes than the stainless piston but the impacts have more force.
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Stainless Piston |
Tungsten Dead Blow™
Piston |
|
Short Stroke |
Medium Stroke |
Long Stroke |
Short Stroke |
Medium Stroke |
Long Stroke |
|
Idle |
2,400 |
2,400 |
2,400 |
1,500 |
1,500 |
1,500 |
|
2 psi |
5,400 |
3,000 |
3,000 |
3,900 |
2,100 |
1,500 |
|
5 psi |
6,600 |
3,600 |
2,400 |
4,500 |
2,400 |
1,800 |
|
10 psi |
7,800 |
4,500 |
3,000 |
6,000 |
3,300 |
2,100 |
|
20 psi |
9,600 |
6,300 |
4,200 |
7,800 |
4,500 |
3,000 |
|
30 psi |
11,100 |
7,800 |
5,100 |
8,400 |
5,400 |
3,600 |
|
40 psi |
12,300 |
8,700 |
6,300 |
9,300 |
5,700 |
3,900 |
|
50 psi |
13,200 |
9,900 |
6,400 |
10,200 |
6,600 |
4,200 |
|
60 psi |
13,800 |
11,400 |
6,600 |
10,500 |
6,700 |
4,500 |
|
70 psi |
14,600 |
11,900 |
6,700 |
10,900 |
7,000 |
4,800 |
Power range < Less power - More power>
| Stainless Piston |
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|
| Tungsten Piston |
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For engravings in the style that Steve Lindsay
does on the knife and watches shown on the websites, the stainless piston
works the best. It has more than enough power for Steve, including
bright-cut flute engraving and background removal. For frequent deeper
engraving like sometimes seen on deeply engraved guns, or for jewelry engraving along with stone setting, the
tungsten piston would be the best
choice. For carving wood or ivory, either piston will work but the
tungsten piston may be nicer for the removing more material more quickly.
Demonstration
Steel Plate Engraving
Image is a smoke print of the 2" x 1 1/2" steel plate
This demo
steel plate was cut with a Classic AirGraver handpiece with a tungsten
piston and foot control. The plate material is cold-rolled
steel. The Carbalt graver was ground with the
patented Lindsay V
grind configuration
The same graver and point were used for the entire plate. The five
straight line cuts are at 55 PSI pressure at various piston stroke (power
band) settings, with the foot control floored. Also engraved on the plate
is a scroll leaf design in two sizes. Each size was done with a different
power band setting.
Click on image to enlarge smoke print of steel plate
Click on image to enlarge smoke print of steel plate
Straight line cuts description
The straight line cuts
demonstrate five different power band settings obtained by turning the piston
stroke adjusting ring on the handpiece. Each cut was taken to a depth such that
the cut required approximately 7 to 10 seconds to execute 1 ¼” long.
0: Foot control floored @ 55 PSI,
adjust ring set at shortest stroke
1: Foot control floored @ 55 PSI, adjust ring set at 1 turn
2: Foot control floored @ 55 PSI, adjust ring set at 2 turns
3: Foot control floored @ 55 PSI, adjust ring set at 3 turns
4: ** Foot control floored @ 55 PSI, adjust ring set at 4 turns (width of cut
measures .060”)
** Width of cut of Classic with a stainless piston with same
settings and graver = .042”
These power cuts are the maximum
power of the Classic handpiece with a tungsten piston at a particular stroke length
power band setting. Fine line shading and engraving can be done with either
piston set at a longer stroke setting, but there is a more comfortable feeling of
control with a lower power band by shortening the stroke length with the adjust
ring on the handpiece.
Scroll leaf design description
The smaller scroll leaf
design was cut with a power band stroke setting of ½ turn, while the larger leaf
design was engraved with a setting of 1 ½ turns. The same design could be scaled
up yet again using a length of stroke setting of 3 and yet again at 4 turns of
the adjust ring.
Steve Lindsay uses the stainless
piston for his type of engraving work, but quality fine work can be accomplished
with either piston.
Classic Handpiece
specifications:
2 1/4" long (not including graver shank)
1/2" body diameter
Standard stainless piston
Tungsten piston optional
Note: The graver shank in this picture has rubber tubing over it for
comfort but generally isn't needed.
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