Punchcutter's starter kit: gravers & files

Ramiro Espinoza

From time to time I am asked about the basic set of gravers and files needed to cut punches so here is a good list. Could be shorter, could be longer but with this set you can do *a lot*. You will also need a good white (smooth) Arkansas stone of about 15 x 5 cm and an India stone of the same size  (Norton combination stones are good) for reshaping and sharpening tip of the gravers. The easiest way to get handles for the gravers is to buy champagne corks on eBay. And for giving the proper shape to the gravers a *wet* bench grinder will be necessary.

Vallorbe gravers, needle and escapement files can be purchased at: www.egltools.com (good customer service)

For general purpose files, this is also good store: www.zamro.nl

*It’s always good to check the Vallorbe’s website and download their PDF catalogues.

Gravers:

Vallorbe (HSS or WS steel):

Flat edge:

LO0401-2

LO0401-4

LO0401-6

LO0401-8

LO0401-12

LO0401-16

Round edge:

LO0402-2

LO0402-4

LO0402-6

LO0402-8

LO0402-12

LO0402-16

Onglette:

LO0403-5/0

LO0403-0

LO0403-2

Knife:

LO0406-18

LO0406-22

Needle files:

Triangle:

LA2407-160-4

2407-160-6

Square:

LA2408-160-2

LA2408-160-4

Round:

LA2410-160-2

LA2410-160-4

LA2410-160-6

Escapement Files:

Triangle:

LE3014-55-4

LE3014-55-6

Square:

LE3020-55-2

LE3020-55-4

LE3020-55-6

Round:

LE3021-55-2

LE3021-55-4

LE3021-55-6

Pillar Files:

LP1133-6-0

LP1133-6-1

LP1133-6-2

General purpose files:

Get a good number of flat files, single and double cut of very fine, fine and medium fine teeth in 25 - 35 cm.

A long file (35 cm) of single cut and small teeth is good for giving the punch's bottom a nice finishing. 

Manuel Diogo

Thank you very much, Ramiro. Just one doubt: are those Vallorbe gravers ready to use? I'm asking this because Christian Paput in his book says that "when it is bought, the graver is not ready for use" and that "two or three millimetres must be broken from the hardened point".

Ramiro Espinoza

@Manuel Diogo Many punchcutters believed the tip of the punch comes 'burned' from the factory so they placed the graver in the vice and carefully break and take away a couple of millimetres of the tip with pliers or a hammer. Then you also need to reshape the tip with the wet grinder. It only takes less than a minute. The back of the gravers must also be worked with the wet bench grinder so the graver become thinner. This is also explained in Paput's book.