Guitar Pick Guard - Engraving Etc. Forum

From:	JHayes55	8 Dec 2006
To:	ALL	1 of 17

5467.1

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?

Joe

EDITED: 8 Dec 2006 by DGL

From:	Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY)	8 Dec 2006
To:	JHayes55	3 of 17

5467.3 In reply to 5467.1
Assumptions, all assumptions; 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. Philadelphia, PA (Really Bensalem) When you finally understand it completely... it changes.

From:	Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY)	8 Dec 2006
To:	JHayes55	4 of 17

5467.4 In reply to 5467.2
We may need to add a 'How do I do this?' folder but I am hesitant because there are too many folders already to be easy to navigate. Philadelphia, PA (Really Bensalem) When you finally understand it completely... it changes.

From:	JHayes55	8 Dec 2006
To:	Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY)	5 of 17

5467.5 In reply to 5467.3
Thanks Harvey - I do think that at the price this guitar cost it should be pretty good stuff and the bond seem very good - I have looked closely at the edges and where the holes are drilled through it.

From:	JHayes55	8 Dec 2006
To:	Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY)	6 of 17

5467.6 In reply to 5467.4
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" Joe

From:	Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY)	8 Dec 2006
To:	JHayes55	7 of 17

5467.7 In reply to 5467.6

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.

Philadelphia, PA (Really Bensalem)

When you finally understand it completely... it changes.

From:	JHayes55	8 Dec 2006
To:	Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY)	8 of 17

5467.8 In reply to 5467.7
OK my friend - I know it's Friday and its been a long week but....... :> the folder I referred to was the Computerized Engraving folder. The folder where everyone talks about there Computerized engravers - rotary, diamond drag and burnishing. Joe

From:	Stunt Engraver (DGL)	8 Dec 2006
To:	JHayes55	9 of 17

5467.9 In reply to 5467.1

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.

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

EDITED: 8 Dec 2006 by DGL

From:	Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY)	8 Dec 2006
To:	JHayes55	10 of 17

5467.10 In reply to 5467.8
Joe, sometimes I am blind, sometimes blinder. I could not find the 'Computerized Engraving' folder looking up and down the list twice. I am glad that David can see. Philadelphia, PA (Really Bensalem) When you finally understand it completely... it changes.

From:	JHayes55	8 Dec 2006
To:	Stunt Engraver (DGL)	12 of 17

5467.12 In reply to 5467.9
No place to experiment on this baby - it all shows - I had even thought of vector engraving with it with the laser but that might not look good either. I know what you mean about balling up on the cutter but if you were to try it would you use comparable settings to normal engraving plastic ? Or maybe slower? Joe

From:	Stunt Engraver (DGL)	8 Dec 2006
To:	JHayes55	13 of 17

5467.13 In reply to 5467.12
Joe, 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. David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri DGL Engraving Port Hueneme, CA

From:	Mike (MIKEN)	8 Dec 2006
To:	JHayes55	14 of 17

5467.14 In reply to 5467.13
Joe: 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. Mike Dist. of Lazer Cutting Grid www.stl-laser.com

From:	Stunt Engraver (DGL)	8 Dec 2006
To:	JHayes55	15 of 17

5467.15 In reply to 5467.12

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.

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

EDITED: 8 Dec 2006 by DGL

From:	Vicky (ANDERI)	8 Dec 2006
To:	JHayes55	16 of 17

5467.16 In reply to 5467.1
LOL! Better you than me! Let me know how it works out. I've been itching to give this a whirl. Mind you, I'd buy a replacement guard and work with that (I'm not nearly as brave as Stunt Engraver with the Louis Vuitton watch 8-O ). Vicky Anderi Engraving

From:	Cody (BOBTNAILER)	14 Dec 2006
To:	JHayes55	17 of 17

5467.17 In reply to 5467.1

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