Full Version: How to engrave into pens??

From: joyce (JLADY) [#1]
 27 Jun 2006
To: ALL

I have never engraved on pens before. We have had some requests for this and mitch doesn't like to do them on the laser so I guess I am going to have to do them on my xenetech.

What type of cutters do I need. I have the jig attachment.

Any special instructions?? I assume I will have some wood pen requests and I have never engraved into wood, so I guess I will need instructions on engraving into wood pens??

Also on pricing, should I charge the same as I would for other types of engraving ie: per char? Do you charge a setup??

EDITED: 27 Jun 2006 by JLADY

From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#2]
 27 Jun 2006
To: joyce (JLADY) [#1] 27 Jun 2006

Joyce,

I would farm the wooden pens out to someone with a laser.

You can rotary engrave wooden pens, but depending on the type of wood and its grain, you run the risk of the "islands" (middles of "O"s, "R"s, "A"s) popping out.

If there's no contrast, when engraved, you'll have to use something like paint to create that contrast. Once again, depending on the type of wood and its grain, paint may get into the wood's "pores" making for an unattractive result.

For metal pens, your typical diamond graver will be fine.

For coated pens, depending on the thickness of the coating, a 90 degree diamond graver will "pierce" the coating, as opposed to a 120 degree diamond graver possibly "chipping" the coating free of the base metal.

Plastic pens, i.e. Mont Blanc, will have to be routed and color-filled.

From: Bill (ALBILLBERT2000) [#3]
 27 Jun 2006
To: joyce (JLADY) [#1] 3 Jul 2006

As for metal ones also recomend using a featherweight holder to keep the contact light as for wood and most coated pens or pencils.. the laser works wonders, take some time and make a jig cut out some engraving stock or I use 1/2" acrylic and cut an out line of a pen.. I have 3 jigs i use.. one for up to 4 pens at a time and one for 24 I was charging $5.00 per for singles. but now am going to $7.50 as for qty thats your call.. I have done them for as low as $1.75 but will be rethinking that price soon also..

From: gt350ed [#4]
 27 Jun 2006
To: joyce (JLADY) [#1] 3 Jul 2006

Joyce: We're over here in Victorville. Perhaps we can help. Send us a Private Mail (PM).

In the meantime, we laser pens all the time; metal AND wood. Of course we've got a homemade jig and saved setup files in Corel. But, really, it's easy.

There is one caveat, however. We seldom do customer's pens. We only engrave what we sell. It's just not worth trying to figure out the myriad pen substrates that are out there.

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