bit-tech.net | Engraving 101

Smilodon 10th July 2007, 17:21

Nice article. ;)

I had to learn this the hard way. (allthough it's not as hard as it looks.) Just requires patience :)

Here is my very first try at engraving plexi (some red and green LEDS to test the effect. (sorry about the pictures.. I had to learn how to use a camera the hard way aswell...)) :

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c48/Smilodon666/engraving/first2.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c48/Smilodon666/engraving/first1.jpg

And here is some of the later things i have done. (it's a door between my hall and living room.):
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c48/Smilodon666/engraving/engraving3.jpg
(the white on the left is just the window in my front door. The light is mounted at the top and bottom of the door)

edit: someone in this thread should watch the beginning of the Davinchi code. (Langdons lecture)

Veles 10th July 2007, 17:53

If only the dremel could rub out as well XD

Not sure what's wrong with the acrylic ones, yeah I might not have some of them as my case window, but they are still incredibly well done.

pendragon 10th July 2007, 18:21

..would have appreciated a bit more detail in the engraving process.. that aside however, very impressive work. It must take LOTS of patience to get all that done o.O

Stuey 10th July 2007, 19:00

Awesome article!!

Amon 10th July 2007, 19:06

Although not directly pertinent to me, this is a type of community article with perfect prose and guidance. Great stuff!

jezmck 10th July 2007, 19:13

Didn't we already have an Engraving Guide?

Sorry for OT, but I can't help myself:

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElThomsono
Not any more mate, nowadays they mean "I'm a bit goth and probably pretend to like heavy metal"...

fixed.

Tim S 10th July 2007, 19:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazzle
Didn't we already have an Engraving Guide?

Read the foreword ;)

Veles 10th July 2007, 19:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazzle
Didn't we already have an Engraving Guide?

I remember there was a proper project log article up a while ago, I think that one was done by Magnus as well, a Spiderman case for his son if I remember right. It involved a lot of etching and he went through how he did it, it wasn't an all purpose engraving tutorial, but it did cover a lot if I remember right.

EDIT: Read the foreword by Brett, says several people wanted to see the old guides spruced up a bit.

lamboman 10th July 2007, 20:17

Really good article, and the last picture, somebody sure does love Pagani! Again, great article, might have a go myself!

[WP@]WOLVERINE 10th July 2007, 20:31

In my own defense The Zonda one was a comissioned engraving and does not reflect my own style. It was just an odd thing to show that anything goes when it comes to engraving. I also want to say thanks for the positive response. I know theres alot more to say and alot more techniques to get even more from engraving like Using Colors, Clearcoat, Multiple layers and combining different materials. There might be more coming you just never know ;)

SPQQKY 10th July 2007, 20:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by [WP@]WOLVERINE
In my own defense The Zonda one was a comissioned engraving and does not reflect my own style. It was just an odd thing to show that anything goes when it comes to engraving. I also want to say thanks for the positive response. I know theres alot more to say and alot more techniques to get even more from engraving like Using Colors, Clearcoat, Multiple layers and combining different materials. There might be more coming you just never know ;)

I was looking at the acrylic engravings and thinking some uv paint mixed with gesso to make a nice glaze would look great. Just paint it on and wipe off the excess to leave the glaze in the etching. You could make up your own colors too and mix it up on the engraving. A UV window etching without having to use UV acrylic and you have more control over the colors.;)
Brilliant work you do, the JD one made me want to slam a few shots.

Woodstock 10th July 2007, 21:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bindibadgi
For reference, the Nazi's hijacked the swastica and associated it with their nightmare regime, yet it's still widely used in Asia because of it's thousands of years of buddist roots. It's actually a sign of protection, not Nazism.

Like you say, people associate whatever feeling they want with certain symbols (or colours, or images). There's no right or wrong unless they're used in aggression against others.

hitler first saw the symbol in a church. and damm that jd's case is sweet

eegg 10th July 2007, 21:44

doesn't the steel rust after you engrave in it?

MiT 10th July 2007, 21:53

I just bought a Dremel this week, my very first!! Was reading for guides on bits, and found one on here about engraving, then this ones pops up. lol. How wired.

Anyway, the work is amazing, some nice tips. Maybe one day you can do a more detailed one, and show how we get depth, and other tricks you can do.

Top notch work mate.

By the way the JD case, is missing the alcohol ;)

proxess 10th July 2007, 22:06

has anyone ever used this: Gravograph and Gravostyle

Dira 10th July 2007, 22:08

A reversed swastica is an egyptic symbol for the sun I think someone said once. Thats where those nuts got the symbol from. Enought about that. Rly well done mate. Your an inspiration!

SPQQKY 10th July 2007, 22:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by proxess
has anyone ever used this: Gravograph and Gravostyle

Those look to be small letter engravers, not really practical for artistic use.

EmJay 11th July 2007, 01:06

Nice guide. I'd love to see another installment covering various 'tricks', like Wolverine hinted at. :D

stoff3r 11th July 2007, 02:24

fantastic work. love the clean lines. my engraving is so rugged and uneven, my ratbert looks good from far off though. dogbert next! this article really gave me inspiration to continiue!

Morphine-Kitty 11th July 2007, 07:13

Good work Wolverine but... engraving on wood is where all the cool kids are at. :p

Goty 11th July 2007, 07:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hells_Bliss
oh my god, i agree! a Zonda of all things? GROSS!!! :P

as to the satanism, pentagrams etc... I call bullshit. There are many applications of the pentagram that have nothing whatsoever to do with "satanism" Case in point: My Fraternity's symbol is the Star and Crescent http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Ksstarandcrescent.gif and trust me it has nothing to do with satanism.
;)

I knew there was a reason I didn't like Kappa Sigs =P

(just kidding, I've got quite a few friends there)

Awesome article all around.

jezmck 11th July 2007, 07:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim S
Read the foreword ;)

MoRBiD 11th July 2007, 07:58

Brilliant absolutely brilliant... i think i might have found a new hobby ...

giz a lil while and i will show off some peices i have stored in my noggin ... w000t wolverine ur a FaRkIn LegeNd

Koradhil 11th July 2007, 09:48

Really nice and helpfull article ;)
I was missing some things though. Dremel also has some tools especially good for engraving, the Stylus and the Engraver. Also another good way of getting your design onto the material is printing it with a laser printer and using thinner to get the ink onto the material, as described here (in dutch).

Mr. Oizo 11th July 2007, 09:51

Great article, but since I am a engraver, I miss some things:

I miss MIRROR ENGRAVING.
I miss the great tip for getting your drawings ON the mirror (or perhaps metal too), just print the drawings WITH A LASERPRINTER, and then place it on the mirror and then polish thinner on the paper. Then the LASER printed part (Toner) will get off the paper, on the mirror.

Also, see my CIP where I let you all see this.

http://www.casejunkies.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14869&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=45

Sorry for Dutch, but I cant find my CIP on Bit-Tech.net anymore.

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Engraving 101

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