Full Version: Etching Nalgene Bottle
From: Betty [#1]
19 Jan 2005
To: ALL
Just had a customer ask me if I could put there name on a Nalgene water bottle. Can this be etched and then color filled if they want it? The water bottle is a dark royal blue.
From: precisionlaser [#2]
19 Jan 2005
To: Betty [#1] 19 Jan 2005
Betty,
I don't know that I have an answer to your question, but I believe it will depend on what the bottle is made from and what kind of engraving you're thinking about. Some Nalgene bottles are made from polycarbonate and some from a softer, translucent plastic (there may be some other varieties as well). Assuming that the bottle you have is made from polycarbonate (if it's hard and clear) and you're thinking about lasering it, I've heard that polycarbonate smokes and flames a lot during the laser process. In that case, I'd get a sample piece of polycarbonate from Home Depot or Lowes and experiment with it first. You'd obviously need to have the rotary attachment as well. HTH...
Good luck,
Mark
From: Ken D. (KDEVORY) [#3]
19 Jan 2005
To: precisionlaser [#2] 19 Jan 2005
Everyone agrees its bad to laser PVC, vinyl.
I've heard from one person that polycarbonate is also in that category.
From: precisionlaser [#4]
19 Jan 2005
To: Ken D. (KDEVORY) [#3] 19 Jan 2005
I had heard that it was a mess with smoke, flaming and fumes, but I hadn't heard that it emitted chlorine as PVC does. My Epilog manual is at the office. I'll try to remember to check it tomorrow...I think I remember there being guidance on how to work with polycarbonate in that manual.
In any event, it sounds like trying to laser polycarbonate is a bad idea...
Mark
From: Ken D. (KDEVORY) [#5]
19 Jan 2005
To: Betty [#1] 19 Jan 2005
I'm not familiar with Nalgene, but I've read the plastic bottles used for beverages are made up of layers of different materials. The different layers serve different purposes. For example a soda bottle can contain a lot of pressure. They need to be strong and puncture resistant and not leach chemicals into the contents.
You might not consider it your concern, but why will it be labeled? Is the person planning to keep reusing it. There've been articles saying water bottles are made for single use. People like to refill them, but it's extremely difficult to clean out the bacteria that gets in when drinking from them. It's supposed to be a combination of the small opening and the plastic used.
From: Betty [#6]
19 Jan 2005
To: Ken D. (KDEVORY) [#5] 20 Jan 2005
This bottle will be sandblasted with abrasive. Sorry should of made that clear to you.
From: Betty [#7]
31 Jan 2005
To: Betty [#1] 3 Feb 2005
Just to let you all know we etched the Nalgene water bottle. I turned out really nice and customer was happy with it.
We used vinyl cut on sign cutter and blasted lightly just like we did the stainless steel travel mugs we have done.