[Kevin]

Arumlupus, In regard to your questions, It is a big help to have good handwriting, but I believe you can get good at letter engraving without it. You can use transfers, but that limits you. What you do need to do is draw letters properly, which is different than having good handwriting. I am left handed and for over 50 years have written and drawn only left handed. I have always tried to improve my handwriting and have had some success but still was not satisfied. Finally about 18 months ago I decided I really can't get much better unless I convert to right handed, after studying books about improving handwriiting , including for left handers. My right handed script is now much better than left handed but I am still slower right handed. I wish the nuns at school where more insistant on me writing right handed but I was too stubborn for them. Drawing skills can be learned, but takes more time and work to learn then for an artistic person, which I am not. On your second question, I only do push manual engraving. Never tried air, and probably won't ever, even though I do believe it greatly increases your learning curve, lessens your fustration level, and makes possible to do things that you really can't do by push engraving. I have alot of thought out reasons for not going the air route but having absolutely nothing against it or the people who use it. The bottom line I guess is I get alot of enjoyment from push engraving even though my work is limited and the best of it is low novice quality. I enjoy trying to get better at it. So don't let poor handwriting or a limited budget stop you from from taking up engraving. Maybe the most important things needed for this is a love for engraving, stubborness, a willingness to learn, and good learning skills. This forum can help tremenously. Kevin Scott