Hand Engraved Planes

Thanks for the comments guys. I've been happily suprised by collectors and I've engraved quite a few rare planes for folks all over the world. The rule of fine engraving is, like the hypocrtic oath. First do no harm. In any engraving , the finished piece should be worth more than what the tool or gun was worth as it sat, by the value of the engraving applied. I do know that my work has risen in value over the last year as collectors have been willing to pay more for the work. I let the market dictate. It is definately an investment.
LZ

Thanks again guys for the comments. This is about the most active woodworking forum I've ever experienced. To answer the question about how long it takes to engrave a plane, It depends. A #4 would be a good place to start. A standard scroll engraving takes around 4-6 hours. If I add a punchdot background to that it adds another 2 hours at minimum. It is time consuming work but then again all good precision handwork is. Woodworkers of all people know this. I love to do it though so the time goes by. And, every job is different. My neck, back, elbows and wrist do pay the price though!
Layne

Nope. I did not engrave Chris's #5 although I'm preparing sketches do do a #4 Lie-Nielsen Bedrock for him. I'd love to take credit but that is the work of Catharine Kennedy. She's my only partner in crime in plane engraving. She and I are the only folks I know of engraving planes almost exclusively. Our styles are very similar but if you studied them side by side, you would notice the each is unique to the engraver. We can instantly tell our work apart. Both are mostly based on traditional English and American gun engraving styles but with our own twist. That is the wonderful thing about this art. An engravers style is like his own unique fingerprint or signature.
Treat yourself and get in touch with one of us. You (and your heirs) will never regret it!
Thanks Ya'll,
Layne
www.cajunhandplanes.com
www.catharinekennedy.com

Thanks for the tip and here is Catharines new website.
http://www.toolengraver.com