Full Version: Guitar Pick Guard
From: JHayes55 [#1]
8 Dec 2006
To: ALL
I have a customer who has brought in a pickguard off of a Les Paul Custom
Epiphone. I have never tried engraving on one of these so any input from some one who has would be helpful. Customer wants two initials engraved. The guard looks to be hard black plastic with a very, very thin top coat that looks like mirror chrome. What I do not know is if the top layer is plastic or very, very thin metal. The edges of the pickguard are beveled and I can hardly see the top layer. I have done some research on the net and I am attaching a photo from a pickguard website. They call this mirror chrome plastic. And it does look very much like what I have. (Chrome mirror does not photograph well)
I am assuming that I will need to do this with my rotary engraver - would I be safe in using a FLX cutter?? I am engraving the name in a script outline and have considered using a .02 profile cutter - if it is thin metal will it still look ok using that type of cutter. Any experiences with this that you can share?
EDITED: 8 Dec 2006 by DGL
From: JHayes55 [#2]
8 Dec 2006
To: ALL
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#3]
8 Dec 2006
To: JHayes55 [#1] 8 Dec 2006
If the metal is almost see through a FLX cutter would work. If it is thick any cutter may lift the plating. A good metalized plastic has a pretty good bond to the plastic, but metal to plastic is never as good as metal to metal.
Hope someone chimes in with some experience.
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#4]
8 Dec 2006
To: JHayes55 [#2] 8 Dec 2006
From: JHayes55 [#5]
8 Dec 2006
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#3] 8 Dec 2006
From: JHayes55 [#6]
8 Dec 2006
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#4] 8 Dec 2006
I think the thread would have worked well in the Computerized Engraving folder - it is just a "how to" or "what tool" question under that category.
I seem to forget to change folders and it goes to the default "general"
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#7]
8 Dec 2006
To: JHayes55 [#6] 8 Dec 2006
The Computerized folder is for peripherals and software. It is good here with no problems.
If I had found a more appropriate folder, I would already have stuck it there.
From: JHayes55 [#8]
8 Dec 2006
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#7] 8 Dec 2006
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#9]
8 Dec 2006
To: JHayes55 [#1] 8 Dec 2006
Joe,
I moved the discussion to the Computerized Engraving folder.
A flex bit will work well for metal or plastic, although I suspect the entire plate is made of plastic.
Is there a part of the pick guard that's concealed, when mounted to the guitar body?
If so, you could experiment there and that would give you a sense of how it will react to rotary engraving.
Some plastics, not meant for engraving, have a very low melting point and the heat caused by rotary engraving may be enough to make the plastic "ball up" on the end of the cutter, which creates a mess of the engraving.
EDITED: 8 Dec 2006 by DGL
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#10]
8 Dec 2006
To: JHayes55 [#8] 8 Dec 2006
From: JHayes55 [#11]
8 Dec 2006
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#10] 8 Dec 2006
From: JHayes55 [#12]
8 Dec 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#9] 8 Dec 2006
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#13]
8 Dec 2006
To: JHayes55 [#12] 8 Dec 2006
If I were going to engrave the pick guard, first, I'd aprise the customer that it's an unknown material, and he'll be riding at his own risk.
Other than that proviso, I'd say, go at it with the same speed, etc. that you'd use for a Rowmark plastic material.
From: Mike (MIKEN) [#14]
8 Dec 2006
To: JHayes55 [#13] 8 Dec 2006
Can't be a bit of help here but you might call this number (1-800-444-2766). It's Gibson's service dept. They can probably tell you the material.
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#15]
8 Dec 2006
To: JHayes55 [#12] 8 Dec 2006
Joe,
The obvious omission from my earlier suggestion, is to engrave a small portion of the "back" of the pick guard.
If the material's not engravable, nobody will have to know. :-)
It's most likely the same material as the front, even though there's a metal-like surface.
EDITED: 8 Dec 2006 by DGL
From: Vicky (ANDERI) [#16]
8 Dec 2006
To: JHayes55 [#1] 8 Dec 2006
From: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#17]
14 Dec 2006
To: JHayes55 [#1] 14 Dec 2006
Joe,
It's sooo weird that you bring this up right now.
One of my guitar teacher's former students also wants an engraved pick guard for his Les Paul! He just wants his initials put on it, and didn't know of anyone in our part of Texas that did that kind of work. I haven't talked to the guy yet, but I probably will between now and Christmas.
By the way....can't wait to see you in Vegas again this year!!
Cody