Deciding on which of the many engraving machines to choose from will largely depend on the type of work you intend to do with it. Your best options might be narrowed down by your choice of materials and the size of the piece you have decided to engrave. There are some wonderful tools out there which are currently available to you through selected retailers and online stores.

Hand tools have been used for centuries across the globe to lay engravings into many different materials from stone, wood and metal to more fragile material such as glass. They did this for many reasons whether it was to beautify an object or simply to lay claim to it.

In their simplest forms hand engraving tools would resemble a hammer and chisel with the only differentiating feature being their point. Engraving tools would be more finely crafted to suit the more artistic needs of the masters that used them.

The Egyptians are one of the many examples of a culture who have made use of them since they used hundreds of these master engravers to create the magnificent carvings you can still see within the pyramids today. Many of the hand tools available today will closely resemble these ancient tools with the more modern additions focusing more on comfort and the ease with which they can used.

Metal engraving was once the reserve of noblemen and kings but with the advent of technological advances this luxury has become more widely available to