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AirGraver™
Photo Gallery
Help with Options
AirGraver now come with Steve Lindsay engraving on them.
There are three handpieces to choose from.
1: Classic handpiece
2: BenchJewel handpiece
3: NitroG20 handpiece.
Rather than the black rubber handles, metal handles now ship standard on
foot controlled AirGravers.
The Classic handpiece can be ordered with one of two
types of noses, the standard Classic nose, or a collet nose. In
addition, the Classic can be ordered as a foot control version or a
PalmControl version. The NitroG20 as well.
The NitroG20 is generally for larger engraver work such as motorcycle
and car parts. The handpieces overlap as far as uses. For example, there
are engravers using the Nitro for gun and even coin engraving, and there
are engravers using the Classic for motorcycle engraving. If you are not
doing heavier work, like cycle parts then the Classic or BenchJewel will
be your options.
Between the BenchJewel and the Classic, the Classic is the
better one since it has the stroke adjustment. If you have been using
collets for years on a power graver and want to continue, then order the
Classic with the collet nose or the BenchJewel if needing to keep price
down. If you ever plan to engrave super fine banknote style engraving
under a scope, then the Classic with the standard nose would be best
(foot control or PalmControl Classic). The standard Classic nose has 5
different methods of holding gravers that are described further down on
this page.
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Video comparing the
AirGraver cutting action to
the spring/pulse type engraver handpieces.
Click below photo to play video.
Metal Handles Now Ship
Standard on Foot Controlled AirGravers
All of the below listed
engraving sets include:Leather handpiece pouch, extra
screws, o-rings, wrenches, handpiece tubing, connectors, compressor
braided hose for connecting to an air compressor and owner's manual.
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The sharpener
sets with basic templates include:
 Sharpening fixture, four diamond
bench stones (260, 600, 1200, 2000), plus 4 templates: Universal,
Detailing, 105, and Flat & Knife Combo template.
Click to
enlarge |
| Classic® PalmControl®
with collet nose |
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#7 Set #7 and #8 are like
sets #6 and #7, except #7 and #8 have the BenchJewel collet nose on
the handpiece. Fits both short and long style collets.
Below is a photo of a burl handled Classic PalmControl with the
collet nose.
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Set #7
Set #7 - Classic PalmControl
with collet nose,
with air regulator setup, includes stainless piston, one presharpened Carbalt and 3 HSS graver blanks, one short collet, one
long collet, and adapter .
Santophrene handle $2913
Burl
handle $3113
Order tungsten
piston separately if needed -
$125
Order the BenchJewel collets below if more collets are needed |
Set #8
Includes set #7 plus - sharpener set, CO2 125PSI Regulator with integrated 20oz
CO2 paintball threads, five Carbalt graver blanks, and five M42 graver blanks
Santophrene $3540
Burl
handle $3740
Order tungsten
piston separately if needed -
$125
Order the BenchJewel collets below if more collets are needed |
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BenchJewel |
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Set #9 illustrated above
More
about the BenchJewel at
BenchJewel.com
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Set #9
BenchJewel
has a collet nose,
foot control air regulator setup, tungsten piston, one presharpened
Carbalt and 2 HSS graver blanks, one short collet, one long collet,
adapter, and owners manual.
$1071
The handpiece
ships with a tungsten installed. Order a stainless piston
separately if needed so you have both
$125
Order the BenchJewel collets below if more collets are needed |
Order sharpener
set separately -
$294
Sharpening fixture, four diamond
bench stones (260, 600, 1200, 2000), plus 4 templates: Universal,
Detailing, 105, and Flat & Knife Combo template.
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 Extra
BenchJewel collets and adapters
Two long collets
$31
Two short collets $30
One adapter and one long collet
$33
An adapter can be moved from one long collet to
another long collet.
Two pacak Hex Wrenches
$2.50 |
One difference between the Classic and BenchJewel (and Artisan
)Gravers
One difference between the Classic and
BenchJewel (and Artisan) is the stroke collar. The stroke collar on the Classic
provides the power of several sized hand pieces in one. It is similar to setting
the back swing of a hammer hitting a punch. It can be set at a short back swing
or longer one. The PSI flow through the foot pedal or PalmControl controls the
power and speed within a given stroke length setting. It is similar to gears in
a car. Set it in first gear (short stroke) and you have good low end, delicate
control. Or set it in fifth gear and you can cut much deeper than in first gear.
It can still cut delicate lines in fifth gear but it is easier to cut delicate
lines in first gear. Continuing this analogy of gears, the BenchJewel and
Artisan are fixed in 3rd gear.
Nose option for the Classic
AirGraver
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Standard Classic Nose
click to enlarge |
BenchJewel Collet Nose
click to enlarge |
| The Classic handpiece (Foot Control Classic or PalmControl
Classic) is available with the Standard Classic nose or the BenchJewel
collet nose. The above photos show the two nose options on a
Classic PalmControl. Be aware that
one nose is not necessarily better than the other. It is
a personal preference and depends on the kind of work being done.
There are pros
and cons to both. See below for more on this.
Frequent answers
The Standard Classic nose as well as new
BenchJewel collet nose will hold the same gravers, since both have the
same size tool hole in them. That size is slightly over 1/8".
Therefore 3/32" square gravers, 1/8" round shanked gravers, punches,
scrapers..etc will work as well as any size that can be fit into the hole.
If a tanged shank graver is being used which is slightly larger, it will
need to be ground to fit in the hole.
The BenchJewel collets have a 1/4" stem. We do
not have other brands of collets to test to see if they will fit into the BenchJewel collet nose. So no promises
that other brands will fit . Both the long and short collets as well as
the adapters are made from stainless steel and with a close fit tolerance
to help prevent any wiggle.
The quick change extensions fit in the new collets too, as well as the
Standard Classic nose.
Methods of holding
gravers in the Standard Classic Nose
Between nose options, the Standard Classic
nose has more versatile methods to hold a graver.
Below are five methods for changing
gravers in the Classic with the Standard nose. If switching a lot, use
method #1 (no collects needed) or method #2 which is also quick. If not
changing gravers very often, method #3 can be used and liked by the
engravers for banknote microscope shading.
#1: Slip
a graver in and out of the tool hole. Gravers are held from rotating or
falling out of the tool hole because of the o-ring, yet they may be pulled
out or pushed in easily. This works best with 3/32" square shank gravers.
To prepare the tool, insert a 3/32" square graver and leave the setscrew
slightly backed off from the surface of the graver. The screw acts as an
index in this way and the friction of the O-ring in the front of the tool
hole prevents the graver from falling out. Once the setscrew is set, it
does not need to be adjusted to change gravers.
#2.
This method utilizes a thumb screw for a more secure
grip. This will work with any shank graver (round or square) under .133"
in size. Remove the setscrew and use the knurled thumbscrew in its place.
The graver can be tightened down for a more secure grip than #1.
#3. The
third way to use the tool holder is with a set screw and wrench. This will
provide the most secure hold. It will work with any shank graver (round or
square) under .133" in size.
#4. The
fourth method is to remove the setscrew or thumb screw from the
AirGraver's nose completely, and just slip the 3/32" square graver shanks
in/out. It is similar to #1", but with the set screw completely removed.
The rubber o-ring is then all that is used to hold the graver in the tool
hole.
#5. The last
method is to use the quick change extensions for the Classic. They provide
extra length for large hands or if more use from a short
graver is desired.
Pros/Cons of the two types of noses
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Standard Classic nose
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BenchJewel Collet nose |
| Can hold square & round shanks? |
Yes.
The nose hole is slightly over 1/8" |
Yes
The nose hole is slightly over 1/8" |
| Will accept
Classic quick change extensions? |
Yes |
Yes |
| Can a thumb screw be used instead of a
setscrew? |
Yes |
Yes |
| Can graver
slip in and out of tool
hole without any screws at all? |
Yes, see #1 above |
No, the graver is secured in
the collet with a setscrew. However once several gravers are
installed in collets you can change without using the wrench. |
| Can securely lock the graver
into the AirGraver to help prevent any wiggle? |
Yes |
No, however for everyday
general engraving this is not as much of an issue compared to super
fine banknote shading under a scope where it can be nice to just
securely lock it. |
If you have a Classic Foot control or
PalmControl Classic with a standard nose, and you'd like a collet nose on
it you can send your handpiece in for it. Cost is $135 plus FedEx return shipping,
and includes one short collet, one long collet and one adapter.
Swap the standard nose on a Classic for the
BenchJewel collet nose. $135
Use this button to order. It won't
charge shipping yet. Print your receipt and include it with your
Classic when you ship. When the work is complete we will send
a paypal request for the FedEx return shipping. |
| The differences between the BenchJewel and the
Artisan are: The BenchJewel comes
with the tungsten piston, a short collet, a long collet, an adapter for
the long collet, and is embellished with Lindsay engraving. A stainless piston can be
purchased separately for it.
The Artisan comes with the stainless piston,
holds one size collet and is not engraved. A tungsten piston can
be purchased separately for it. |
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Engraving Enhancement to Classics |
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Steve Lindsay engraved a die and uses it to help reproduce the
engraving on the tools.
Foot Controlled Classics currently ship
with the body engraving (but not the adjust-collar engraving) for no
additional charge. PalmControl Classics ship with both - body
and adjust-collar engraved as pictured to the left ,and additional
if you order a PalmControl Classic with a burl handle an engraved
disc inset in the butt of the burl handle is included for no
additional charge.
If you own an earlier un-engraved Classic
for a charge it can be sent in for the engraving enhancement. |
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If you are ordering a new
Foot Controlled Classic set, the body will be engraved for no extra
cost. (New PalmControl Classics come with both
both the body and adjust-collar engraved for no extra charge.)
For those that have an earlier un-engraved
Classic you can you can use this button to order engraving of
the body. However engraving the adjust-collar on an earlier
unengraved one is not possible, but the body is. It would be this
cost plus FedEx return shipping. Turn around time will vary
with the upgrade engraving that can range from 1 week to 3 weeks,
depending where Steve is currently at in the process of adding
enhancement to new tools. For efficiency he will work your
engraving in at the same time as doing new tools. |
Classic body
engraving enhancement (body only not the adjust-collar)
$215 |
| The differences between the BenchJewel and the
Artisan are: The BenchJewel comes
with the tungsten piston, a short collet, a long collet, an adapter for
the long collet, and is embellished with Lindsay engraving. A stainless piston can be
purchased separately for it.
The Artisan comes with the stainless piston,
holds one size collet and is not engraved. A tungsten piston can
be purchased separately for it. If you own an Artisan depending on
date |
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