Full Version: Anodized Aluminum

From: old man (OLDMAN) [#1]
 27 Jan 2005
To: ALL

Here is a sample of a job I just completed for a customer----600 dpi on black anodized aluminum----I scan at 600 dpi gray scale---sent to PHOTO-PAINT----adjust brightness and contrast and remove dust and scratches with clone tool-----send to photograv and use default settings for coated brass------run on an Epilog mini 45 watts------raster speed=75 raster power=25 ----looks better in person as the posting limit of 50k limit really degrades---I have a question for ALL-----what would you chagre for a job like this?---solid walnut plaque 9" x 12"

EDITED: 27 Jan 2005 by OLDMAN

From: sprinter [#2]
 27 Jan 2005
To: old man (OLDMAN) [#1] 27 Jan 2005

Very nice!

I charge $210 for a 9 x 12 in either alum or marble for 600 dpi, and $250 for 1200 dpi without a frame.

From: old man (OLDMAN) [#3]
 27 Jan 2005
To: sprinter [#2] 27 Jan 2005

WOW---mind sharing your market with me???
LOL
I get $35-$45

From: sprinter [#4]
 27 Jan 2005
To: old man (OLDMAN) [#3] 27 Jan 2005

You must be doing this for a hobby:) I get $60 for a 3 1/2 x 5.

From: old man (OLDMAN) [#5]
 27 Jan 2005
To: sprinter [#4] 27 Jan 2005

I work a union job---been there 21+ years---looking for a pension in the next couple of years----trying to get a business up and running by then---for now I am expanding my customer base---for every job I have done I get several more when people see my work---I work from a shop behind my house so the overhead is small----I more than cover my expensives ---a job like the one shown cost me about $10 in materials---for now I try to keep the selling cost of my items at 3 or 4 times the cost of materials.

From: sprinter [#6]
 27 Jan 2005
To: old man (OLDMAN) [#5] 27 Jan 2005

Yes but..... If you actually figured in some labor cost, insurance, taxes, overhead, machine costs, etc, you'll find you actually are losing money on each job you do at your prices.

From: old man (OLDMAN) [#7]
 27 Jan 2005
To: sprinter [#6] 27 Jan 2005

for now I am not making much but I am having ONE HELL OF A GOOD TIME

From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#8]
 27 Jan 2005
To: old man (OLDMAN) [#5] 27 Jan 2005

And how about the cost of the laser. You are giving that investment and skill away. Not what I would call covering the costs.

Yep, if I could get a $200 job for $40, I sure would tell friends. And they would order and slowly bury you due to those 'hidden' costs.

 

From: sprinter [#9]
 27 Jan 2005
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#8] 27 Jan 2005

Harvey,

I was thinking about subbing out alot of my work to him. Even paying his retail prices I could take off about 3 days a week and double my actual profits:)

From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#10]
 27 Jan 2005
To: old man (OLDMAN) [#1] 27 Jan 2005

Oldster,

I usually address people by their first name, but it's not mandatory that I know your name. Just a quirk of mine :-)

Here's a new trick, for an old man. By using inexpensive gold-tone aluminum, or slightly more expensive brass, cut a plate about 3/8" larger than your anodized aluminum engraving plate.

Mount the anodized plate over the gold-tone plate, which will create a very attractive gold "frame" around your work. It also serves to visually separate the engraved plate from the wooden plaque background.

For a few bucks and a little extra production time, you'll be able to charge significantly more for the plaque. It's all about perceived value. The better it looks, the more you can charge, regardless of material costs.

Try it, you'll like it :-)

David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri
DGL Engraving
Port Hueneme, CA

EDITED: 27 Jan 2005 by DGL

From: old man (OLDMAN) [#11]
 27 Jan 2005
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#10] 28 Jan 2005

sounds like a great effect---I will give it a try

From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#12]
 27 Jan 2005
To: old man (OLDMAN) [#11] 27 Jan 2005

To sweeten the look even more, put those plates on a high-gloss (piano-wood)black, rosewood or walnut plaque. This will allow you to bump your price even more. As David said, "perceived value".

From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#13]
 28 Jan 2005
To: old man (OLDMAN) [#11] 28 Jan 2005

It is a great effect. It absolutely is.

You can also use colors, other than gold, as backing plates. I just mentioned gold, because, that color not only compliments your wooden plaque board, but gold is always equated with excellence.

When's the last time you heard some one exclaim, "Go for the white!!" :-)

Even though your example is B&W, you can use multiple backing plates, which will allow you to represent team colors on your sport/school oriented items.

Color sells.

David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri
DGL Engraving
Port Hueneme, CA

From: old man (OLDMAN) [#14]
 28 Jan 2005
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#13] 28 Jan 2005

what do you use to color the edges of the colored aluminum that you cut (gold black ect ect)----so far I have only used black anodized aluminum and I find that a black sharpie pen is just the right color and the cut edge does not stick out like a sore thumb

From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#15]
 28 Jan 2005
To: old man (OLDMAN) [#14] 28 Jan 2005

You're on the "Marker" with the Sharpies. They come in a variety of colors and offer good coverage of the (aluminum) plate edges.

The material cost, for a 5' x 7" backing plate, can amount to less than .60 ea.

Typically, they can add between $3-5 to the retail cost of a plaque.

Your mileage may vary, but backing plates are a point you should be "driving" home to your customers.

They add dimension and color. Two crucial features of an award plaque. Features people will extra pay for.

David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri
DGL Engraving
Port Hueneme, CA

EDITED: 28 Jan 2005 by DGL

From: old man (OLDMAN) [#16]
 28 Jan 2005
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#15] 28 Jan 2005

while we are having question and answer time here is one more for ya----have anything better than trophy tape to hold the two layers of metal together??

From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#17]
 28 Jan 2005
To: old man (OLDMAN) [#16] 28 Jan 2005

If you're using the right trophy tape, there's nothing better.

Don't use the paper tape or computer-table tape. Vinyl tapes are the most aggressive.

David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri
DGL Engraving
Port Hueneme, CA

Message 733.18 was deleted

From: John (ICTJOHN) [#19]
 29 Jan 2005
To: logojohn [#18] 30 Jan 2005

lj,

We do the same as you, so I now refer to the lasered border as a "self border" on our order forms so we can tell what we did a year from now. I still do the backing plate but not on every plaque like I used to, gives us another option so WE don't get bored in the shop with the "same ole, same ole".

 

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