Jim, at his workbench

I have always had an aptitude for teaching and conveying information well and have shared what I have learned over the years with many on an informal basis. In 1992 the old gentleman who taught me engraving, Tilden Swenson of Little Rock, died.  Wanting to continue Tilden's legacy, I put a shop together for lessons and now offer them, on a regular basis, to others with the desire to learn this enduring craft.

I hold classes of one week with 2 to 4 students. Scheduling will be very flexible depending on both our commitments. The tools used are Steve Lindsay's Palmcontrol and Classic foot control handpieces and The Glendo Corporation's Gravermeister and Gravermax.  All tools and equipment will be supplied for your use. Classes will generally be held Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm in my shop in Springfield, Missouri. The cost of a 5 day class is $950. A deposit of $100 will reserve your seat with the balance being paid when you arrive. Motels and restaurants are very inexpensive in Springfield and are near by the shop, as is Branson for your evening entertainment. Additional information will be mailed to you when you reserve your seat.

Gregory, a student from New York in March 2008

The classes will cover in detail: 

• Tools 
• sharpening bits 
• layout and design of script 
• cutting script 
• layout and design of scroll 
• cutting scroll 
• border design and cutting 
• background work 

 We will also touch on: 

• Inlay
  
• bluing and plating 
• push engraving
• metal preparation
  
• chasing (hammer and chisel) 
• scrimshaw 

Dan, a student from Missouri in Nov. 2008

Dear Jim,
    First of all, thank you for your hospitality. I enrolled in your beginning engraving course several months ago, I knew you a little bit from meeting you at shows, but I really did not know what to expect. You created a warm atmosphere in your home and made all of us students feel welcome and relaxed.
    I have never touched engraving tools before this class. Your teaching skills used classic adult learning principles: first, you showed us how to do it and how to draw the design, then you had us do it and draw the design, then had us do it some more! Your style is encouraging, but realistic. If we did not get it right, you told us to ‘do it over’ and that after a few thousand times…….
    We all made mistakes and you helped us learn from them. I goofed on sharpening a tool with too much heel, saw the results, then you coached me on cutting it correctly and seeing the results. We all came away with examples of our work and I know that there is a lot of practice involved.
    The best part of your course was that you made us all do the basic cuts, letters, numbers, shapes, and then you took us to scroll. That put it all together on the last few days. In addition, I knew nothing about inlay, scrimshaw, and about transferring design. You taught it all in basic form. We even learned chasing and other techniques (which made us appreciate the modern equipment even more).
    I really enjoyed the range of equipment you had available: GRS's Gravermeister and Gravermax along with Lindsay's foot and palm control engraving tools. We got to try them all and decide which we liked the most.
    My personal thanks to you for selling me your used equipment at reasonable cost. That , in addition to your ‘real world list of what you need’, the reference materials, and the simple but most important drawings of scroll cuts, leaf cuts, and their order of cut really made it clear to me the ‘how to’s’.
    Thanks for offering to be a continuing coach and give honest feedback. I hope to practice a lot and send you some plates someday for your critique. Thanks again to you, Nancy, and Tater for the hospitality and good learning experience.
Sincerely,
Jim O’Hanlon