stainlessstroker95 Posted February 29, 2016 Report Share Posted February 29, 2016 Hey guys, was looking for some help on finding a good engraving tool. I am just looking for one to engrave my name on tools. A corded one will be fine for what I will be using it for, but I'm not opposed to getting a cordless one either. Thanks for your help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stercorarius Posted February 29, 2016 Report Share Posted February 29, 2016 I like my dremel. 25$. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Logan Posted February 29, 2016 Report Share Posted February 29, 2016 The dremels are good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnarlyCarl Posted March 1, 2016 Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 Sterco, is that a vibrating type engraver? That's the only type I've ever used, I am wondering because when I think Dremel, i think rotary tool 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kato Posted March 1, 2016 Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 If you use the right tips the Dremel will work perfectly. I use a Dremel with a flex shaft for engraving, and I've used it to engrave a lot of stuff. Bowling balls, Maglites, wallets, etc.. Using a flex shaft makes it a lot easier too because it's like holding a pencil. A vibrating, spinning really fast, cut you if your not careful, pencil, but still. Of course it helps to have a little artistic skill for what I do, I used to be a professional artist so this type of stuff comes natural to me. However, I'd always suggest a Dremel and flex shaft, mainly because it's easy to use and easy to hold. Some examples of what a Dremel can do (obviously you're not going to do this to your tools, and I might be showing off just a little bit, but...)... June 29 008 by Edward Durbin, on Flickr June 29 005 by Edward Durbin, on Flickr Justice01 by Edward Durbin, on Flickr ]Maglite 001 by Edward Durbin, on Flickr 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stainlessstroker95 Posted March 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 Not showing off at all. Seams like dremel is the way to go then. It is priced right anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comp56 Posted March 1, 2016 Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 nice stuff Kato, I do the same for many years with acrylic and wood some times your right it is easy with the right bits and learning the direction and pressures.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kato Posted March 1, 2016 Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 Owning a Dremel is a good idea, because you can do a lot with it. I use mine all the time with cut-off wheels, engraving, sanding, etc.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimboS1ice Posted March 1, 2016 Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 Yea the flex shaft makes a huge difference, depending on who your doing that may be the better router for you. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stercorarius Posted March 1, 2016 Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 Sterco, is that a vibrating type engraver? That's the only type I've ever used, I am wondering because when I think Dremel, i think rotary tool Yeah it's a vibrating type. I like it a lot better than the rotary tool and it's about a quarter the price. Easier for me to write neatly. Probably a matter of personal preference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stainlessstroker95 Posted March 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 Just ordered this one. Just was needed a good simple one. So I didn't get the chance one with a flex shaft. Went ahead and got some other stuff on my list to get the free shipping. Thanks for the help guys. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000VZIGA0/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BMack37 Posted March 1, 2016 Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 I don't mark my tools but I think if I did I'd go with stamps/punch just because you don't need to be able to draw or have good handwriting for it to look good. http://www.amazon.com/TEKTON-6611-16-Inch-Letter-36-Piece/dp/B0037USPUM Could put initials, or simply just a single character(like an "@" or whatever). I cannot comment on the quality of the linked tool set. Here's the punctuation set: http://www.amazon.com/TEKTON-6607-32-Inch-Punctuation-9-Piece/dp/B00ARD3HXM 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stainlessstroker95 Posted March 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 Bmack that is I good idea too. I would consider this if I was wanting to mark my better/home tools, but for the ones at work I don't feel a need to get to fancy. Although I do like the idea of just stamping one character on them. But would still need some sort of name so others would know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stercorarius Posted March 1, 2016 Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 I want to cast my own brand into a punch. Are there companies that make custom punches? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffmcmillan Posted March 1, 2016 Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 You'd probably be looking at a company that does custom tooling for a fab. It's definitely possible but I doubt you'll like the price. Machining your own from a chunk of tool steel and hardening it would be much cheaper if you have that capability. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redmed Posted March 1, 2016 Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 I have a engraver & a punch set. I have a hard time controlling the engraver and what I produce looks like something a two year old did. I use my punch set and it works out well. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fazzman Posted March 1, 2016 Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 the Dremel is a good choice easy to find, $18 on amazon ive used a rotary tool as well and I actually prefer that sometimes. Making punches isnt difficult,most of them are just case hardened,and lettering on tools are usually done by stamps/dies from a manufacture i have a pretty fair selection of punches ive made myself over my machining career,only do it when needed thou, good punches are fairly cheap to buy so not really worth the time it takes but sometimes you have no choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comp56 Posted March 1, 2016 Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 rotary tool of some kind is your best bet, even if you are not good at engraving the way you want you can mark your tools with any kind of mark to show they are yours. I tend to hide my markings on my tools when I did mark them so anyone couldn't remove them or change them. just an X will do it if it is hidden. take a picture of the marked tool with the exposed mark that way you can prove it was yours. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BMack37 Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 I wonder if anyone has had good results with chemical etching tools, that might look pretty cool and probably able to be polished out if you want to resell(assuming that you don't have to worry about theft, and you're marking just to eliminate confusion). Probably could do the same thing with media blasting, both would need masking to work obviously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fazzman Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 ive used systems like that before, etching,laser,couple other ways. Alot of machine shops use these techniques to mark their smaller parts,on big stuff Steel stamp. I think ive etched some of my Starrett steel scales,ill have to post a pic of that later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fazzman Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 Here is some etchings I did probably 15 years ago,can still read them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stainlessstroker95 Posted March 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 Very good ideas for marking tools. And that just made me think of another. Guys at work paint their tools with different colors of florecent paint. The paint wears off after a while, so I wonder if you could anodize your tools? I have heard of guys anodizing gun parts at home. But I'm not sure how all that works. I won't be going this route but just throwing it out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fazzman Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 Anodizing is a coating process for Aluminum,magnesium,titanium and such. They apply an acid bath the parts sit in and that makes the parts absorb the dye pigment,thats the short version of it. Most tools are tool steel alloys so thats why they are often plated with chrome,nickel,or tool black or whatever the OEM happens to use. Ive messed around with some types of tools like punches and such,when they start looking ugly I toss em in the glass beader and then recoat them with gun bluing or tool black. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stainlessstroker95 Posted March 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2016 Thanks for clearing that up for me fazzman. I didn't know how that would work with chrome vandom wrenches. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.