Inscription on the metal at home. Do-it-yourself electrochemical knife engraving

Today we will introduce you to a small but useful guide from one of the best modders of the site www.bit-tech.net - Magnus Persona

To achieve success in modding, it is necessary to use a set of generally accepted techniques. One of the main ones is engraving. And this is not as easy as it may seem to a simple man in the street at first sight. Therefore, today we will introduce you to a small but useful guide from one of the best modders of the site www.bit-tech.net - Magnus Persson.

If you think that engraving gives any body a completely new vision, and you want to try to create your first masterpiece with your own hands, then this article will seem to you to some extent interesting. Magnus's many years of experience in this area will help us determine the basic principles and laws of engraving.

Engraving is one of the easiest ways to create a unique look for your body. Today we will try to convey to you the basic knowledge needed by the modder. Before starting work, a number of questions arise: “Which tool to use?”, “Which tips should I buy?”, “Need to engrave aluminum, steel or plexiglass?”, And the main one - “What should I do to achieve the desired result?”.

We hope that in the process of reading this article you will find answers to all the above questions.

Today, machines suitable for home engraving have many different brands and companies. But Magnus used to use the equipment of only one manufacturer - Dremel. Modder tried to use the products of other companies, but he did not find anything better. Therefore, without a doubt he recommends only Dremel.

If we talk about a particular model, then the enthusiast stopped at the Dremel 400. In the US, it has a slightly different name - the Dremel 400 XPR.

In the model range of the company there are also wireless copies, but Magnus recommends using them only in case of working on very small objects. In addition, periodic recharging takes a lot of time and distracts from immediate work.

It is also necessary to purchase several additions to the engraving device. The first is the Dremel 225 Flexshaft flexible shaft, a must have. This kind of extension makes engraving much easier. Instead of a large dremel in your hands, you hold an object that is only slightly larger than a regular pencil. In addition, it allows you to redeem a significant part of the vibration. The 2222 Flexshaft Tool Holder, a dremel holder that also makes the engraving process somewhat easier, is also a good thing.

Now it is time to elaborate on the nozzles. They exist an incredible set of types and models. Anyway, all of them can be divided into two broad categories: for aluminum / metal and for plexiglass.

For metals, Magnus always uses diamond-coated heads. Thanks to them, you can improve the quality of the final result. In addition, the strength of the nozzles increases significantly.

When working with plexiglass, you can also use nozzles with diamond chips. But in this case, their use is not justified - as a result, it is impossible to notice any difference in the result from the usual ones.

If we talk about specific models, then Magnus uses the following nozzles: Dremel diamond-coated tips 7103, 7105 and 7134 for aluminum / steel and attachments 105, 106 and 107 for engraving plexiglass.

Having acquired the main toolkit, we are fully ready to start work on engraving. Rather, almost completely. The fact is that "take and create" can only a fairly small number of people with true talent. The rest must first develop a detailed design. This is usually done on a computer using the appropriate software. But how with sufficient accuracy to transfer the workpiece to the surface of the material?

Magnus recommends using Pelican Plentycopy carbon paper. You simply print the desired image on it, apply it to the material on which you want to engrave, and outline with a regular pencil. After that, on the surface of the metal or plexiglass remain smooth and neat lines indicating the edges of the engraving. Maybe this is not the cheapest, but the highest quality method.

Enough words, it's time to get down to business. First, Magnus will try to engrave the logo of the site www.bit-tech.net. When covering large areas, it is necessary to apply the strips in one direction, otherwise the pattern will look less aesthetically pleasing. Also one of the main conditions for obtaining a decent result is the absence of carelessness and haste. It is important not to put too much effort and not to try to drive the nozzle into the material. Remember, this machine must do all the work, not you!

The contours are engraved using the nozzle 7134

Nozzle 7105 used to fill

The engraving on acrylic is significantly different from the one discussed above. The reason for the differences is, above all, lower strength and hardness compared with aluminum or metal. So one of the most important conditions for processing Plexiglas is to maintain the depth of engraving.

You also need to be careful with revolutions - with their significant increase the material will begin to melt.

It should be remembered that when engraving Plexiglas, the side on which the drawing is applied should always be inside the case. This introduces certain difficulties. So, if you need to draw an asymmetrical drawing or an inscription, you will have to work in mirror mode. Magnus himself was mistaken several times in this, so he had to start from scratch. Of course, you can arrange a plexiglass sheet and pattern out, but this somewhat reduces the visual effect.

At the initial stage of engraving acrylic use the nozzle 106

One of the features of working with plexiglass is the ability to select an engraving texture. You can use lines or dots, as Magnus does.

The undeniable plus of the choice of plexiglass as a material is the possibility of organizing the backlight. In many cases, it can significantly change the visual perception of the picture. This requires only a set of LEDs or, as Magnus did in this case, a cold cathode lamp.

Here we are at the end of our small engraving guide. As in any other business, there are hundreds of secrets, tricks and features that can be learned only by doing the job directly. So do not be afraid, it's never late to start. And the main thing is not to forget the basic rule: do not rush.

Magnus goes to work on his next building, and allows us to enjoy a small photo gallery of his engraving works.

Comments:

A gift on which a memorable inscription is made will undoubtedly be more pleasant than an ordinary gift that does not differ from others. You can make a memorable inscription on the gift with the help of engraving. Many believe that it can only be done by specialists. It should be noted that their services are very expensive. But home engraving is perfectly acceptable for those who do not have relevant professional skills.

To create an engraving should use any sharp object, the best engraver.

It can be done on the cutlery, on the clock, on the rings and so on.

This souvenir will be remembered for a lifetime. You can make an inscription or a drawing on your personal adornment, you can write a memorable date on it, some bright phrase or a life motto. Engraving on wedding rings is very popular, which makes these necessary wedding attributes more meaningful and spiritual.

How to choose equipment?

The engraver can be different: it can work from the electrical network or offline.

Making an engraving at home is not as difficult as it may seem at first glance. To do this, use any sharp object. But this lesson will take a lot of time, and the result will leave much to be desired.

In order for the process to be qualitative, it is necessary to acquire a specially designed tool for this - an engraver. Such a tool may be different: it can work from the electrical network or in standalone mode. In addition to such a tool, you need to get more drills. Such tools differ in form and materials. This is because they are designed to work on different surfaces. Those who are just starting the engraving process at home can be advised to get two drills, for glass and for metal.

Ways of engraving can be very different, below is one of the most common and available methods.

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Engraving Technology on Steel

To create an engraving, you need to lubricate the product with nail polish, then make a sign with a toothpick and leave to dry.

The most popular is the engraving on various metal objects: spoons, rings, watches and locks. Metal can be different, steel deserves special attention.

To carry out the engraving on steel at home, you should take:

• the steel product itself;
• ordinary nail polish;
• water (it is recommended to pour it into a large mug);
• cotton pads;
• salt;
• nail polish remover;
• a charger for a mobile phone (you should use one that no longer works for its intended purpose);
• toothpicks.

The object on which you plan to make an inscription or drawing, should be abundantly smeared with nail polish in the place where the engraving on steel will be placed. Now you need as quickly as possible (until the nail polish is completely dry) to make on it the necessary inscription or picture using a toothpick. This should be done carefully, after which everything should be left to dry (it is not necessary to start the main work until the varnish is completely dry). Now you need to take a big mug (it can be made from anything, but not metal), put 2-3 tablespoons of salt there, pour water to the edges, after which everything is thoroughly mixed.

After you need to put the product and the charger into a glass of salt water and wait for the varnish to depart.

Now you need to take a charger for a mobile phone, cut off the plug from it, which is inserted directly into the phone. Wires should be bare and connect the wire "+" with a steel object on which it is planned to make an inscription. Then the wire "-" should be connected to another metal object. A steel object with an inscription or pattern must be put in a glass of salt water, and then the charger is turned on in the network.

After the current has been supplied, a vigorous reaction should occur. It is as a result of this reaction that the etching process of the area where there is no nail polish is carried out. In order for the engraving process to be carried out qualitatively, it is necessary that the charge of the electric current affects the metal object for at least 3 minutes. After the charge of electric current ceases to affect the surface, nail polish should be carefully removed. This is done without difficulty using nail polish remover and cotton swab. After the lacquer is completely removed from the steel object, a commemorative inscription or drawing will be clearly visible.

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Features engraving on wedding rings

The above method of home engraving is suitable not only for steel, but also for other metal products. Very often there is a desire to make a memorable inscription on wedding rings. It is quite difficult to do this at home, but in this regard some tips will be of great help:

1. The inscription on the wedding ring should be short and capacious.
2. It is recommended to engrave a wedding ring only after the preliminary fitting of the ring has been carried out. You need to finally make sure that the ring fits perfectly. The fact is that when correcting the size, you can easily ruin the engraving.
3. Rings must be selected in accordance with what engraving on them is planned. If you plan to make a large inscription, then the rings should be wide. It is best to use the classic font that is most suitable for this.
4. Ways of engraving are different, for the rings it is recommended to use the diamond or manual method. Such engraving techniques best tolerate reworking of the rings.

Drawing on various objects of a drawing by a method of removal of substance from its surface, is known to mankind for many millennia.

With the advent of new materials, it became necessary to master the methods of work that allow engraving on objects that are much harder than wood and stone. New technologies allow you to fully automate the process of engraving when applying a picture on a metal surface, but for a home wizard the most suitable option is to master the manual method of applying a pattern.

Engraving on metal with your own hands is possible at home, with the availability of tools and suitable premises for this type of work.

For hand engraving at home, you will need the following tools and materials:

• Stichel.
• Metal blank.
• A vice or similar device to hold the workpiece in a stationary state.

The blank for drawing a picture can be used from any metal, but for beginners it is better to use aluminum or copper.

The shtihel is a rod up to 120 mm long. One end of this tool is cut at an angle and sharpened, the other is installed in a wooden or plastic handle.

The shtihel can be of different shapes, as well as differ in the width of the working surface. In the absence of this tool, you can make it yourself in the presence of materials suitable for this purpose.

Independent production of shtihelya

For the manufacture of shtihelya need to use tool steel. Excellent for this purpose metal, which is used in springs and ball bearings. It is possible for the manufacture of the cutting surface, apply old files and files, as well as various cutters that need to be cut into thin strips.

The ideal material for the manufacture of shtihelya for engraving is steel grade P18. From the old circles for circular saws, you can make a large number of blanks for the production of chisheli at home. Further, the working part of the workpiece is sharpened at an angle, which allows making a notch of a certain width on the metal surface.

The shtihelya handle is made of hardwood, and should be of such width that it is convenient for the master to hold the tool in his hand. The recommended length of this part of the shtihelya is usually 50 mm.

The handle in the form of a mushroom is the most suitable for the manufacture of this tool, but you can experiment and make several different options, and in the process of work choose the most suitable option.

Preparation of the workpiece

First of all, you should select a blank on which the picture will be displayed. The selected product must be free of rust and chips. To prepare the surface will require:

• Sandpaper P400.
• Paste GOI №1 or №2

Initially, the workpiece is polished using emery paper. Then finish polishing is made using GOI paste.

To prevent damage to the surface, when carrying out polishing works with GOI paste, it is recommended to use this tool only No. 1 or No. 2.

You should also perform, before finishing polishing with this tool, the following actions:

1. Prepare a flannel cloth and moisten it with white spirit
2. Pour on the moistened GOI paste.
3. Use a cloth to wipe an unwanted piece of metal to remove large pieces that may scratch the surface.

After such preparation, uniform circular movements are polished blanks. After finishing the polishing measures, the metal object must be rinsed in kerosene and dried at room temperature.

The process of applying engraving on metal

If the engraving of a metal surface is carried out for the first time, then before proceeding with the application of the main pattern, it is recommended to practice on an unnecessary piece of metal.

The ideal option for such workouts is the use of a copper plate. A piece of copper should be securely fastened on a wooden board with the help of screws with wide caps. When the workpiece is fixed, the board is laid on the table, if necessary, additional lighting is included, the cutting tool is clamped in the right hand, and an even notch is made on the metal surface.

To prevent the hand from slipping off when making a flat line, the thumbs of the left and right hands should be joined on the surface of the metal plate and touch the plate at the drawing point. The index finger of the right hand, at this time, rests on the tool cutter, and fully controls the process of drawing lines. It is recommended at the beginning of training to make several straight parallel bands on the workpiece. When flat areas will turn out well, you can go to the implementation of the semicircular lines.

When the hand is already a little full, you can begin to engrave the pattern on the workpiece. To carry out this work, the metal object must also be securely fixed. For this purpose, you should make a device similar to the above-described mechanism for locking the screws.

For engraving simple shapes, initials and other simple images, you can proceed immediately after fixing a metal object. If it is necessary to perform a complex drawing, it is recommended to first transfer the image to the workpiece.

Transferring a complex image to metal

The original method of transferring the image to a metal base is carried out in the following sequence:

1. Lacquer is applied to the surface of the metal to be treated.
2. A soft graphite pencil on the polyester film draws an image that will be engraved on the blank.
3. The picture is covered with scotch tape, pressed across the entire area to the film and gently removed from it. At the same time on the sticky surface of the adhesive tape will remain the image drawn earlier.
4. When the varnish dries, the tape is attached to the metal surface, ironed with a roller or other soft object, and then removed.

After correctly performing the described actions on the product there will be a drawing on which it will be possible to engrave.

Other Engraving Techniques

In addition to the manual method of engraving at home, you can implement the following methods for embossing the change of a metal surface:

1. Chemical engraving - the method is easy to perform at home, even with ordinary table salt and a telephone charger.
2. Using a drill is a great way to use at home. The principle of metal removal by this method is similar to hand engraving, but instead of shtihelya a drill or similar device with a thin rotating one is used.
3. - is the most perfect way of drawing a picture on a metal surface, but the equipment for this type of work will be too expensive. The use of this method of engraving is justified only in the case when the craze for drawing pictures on the metal becomes a profession and brings a steady income.

Conclusion

How to engrave on metal and what method to master to perform this type of work, everyone must decide for himself. To begin with, it is recommended to purchase a professional tool for manual work. After working for some time with a hand tool, you can proceed to the development of equipment that will significantly speed up the process of engraving.

Engraving will help to make any thing special. You can make it on cutlery and decorations as a gift for a birthday or other holiday, on the clock, which will make them a memorable souvenir. Suitable for engraving and your personal decoration, where you can mark an important date, favorite phrase or life motto. Of particular note is the engraving of wedding rings, which will make an important attribute of any wedding, more soulful and meaningful.

Engraving equipment: how to choose?

You can make an engraving at home with any sharp object. However, you will spend a lot of time on this, and the result may be far from your expectations. To do the job better, it is better to purchase the appropriate tool - an engraver. Otherwise, it is better to contact laser engraving specialists.

The engraver can work from the power supply network or independently. In addition to the engraver, you will need borax. Boers differ from each other in material and form, since designed for different surfaces. This explains the fact that a lot of Boer options. For beginners, engravers will need 2 such tools: for engraving on glass and metal.

Metal Engraving: Technology

Often engraving is done on metal objects: spoons, rings, locks or watches. To make an engraving on metal at home, take the product itself, nail polish, a mug of water (large volume), salt, cotton pads, nail polish remover, a phone charger (take what you don’t need) and toothpick

The metal object in the place where the engraving will be located must be thickly smeared with nail polish. Before the varnish dries, make on it using a toothpick the desired inscription. Leave the surface labeled to dry (the varnish should dry completely). In a mug (non-metallic) must be placed 2-3 tablespoons. salt, add water and mix well.

Then take the phone charger and cut off the plug that plugs directly into the phone. Expose the wires, connect the "+" with a metal object, on which there is an inscription, and "-" with another metal object. Place the object with the inscription, connected to the wire, in a glass with dissolved salt, turn on the charger.

When current is applied, a vigorous reaction should occur. Due to this reaction, the process of etching the area, which is not painted over with nail polish. Exposure to electricity subject, which is supposed to engraving, you need more than 3 minutes. When the process of current exposure to the product is completed, wipe off the nail polish from the surface. This should be done with nail polish remover and a cotton pad. When the varnish is completely removed from the surface of a metal object, you will see the engraving obtained.

Wedding rings engraving

Despite the fact that the above method is suitable for all metal products, such an accessory, like wedding rings, is better to entrust to the master. This is a very delicate work and requires mushrooms. However, you still make your contribution. You have to choose the words or pictures that the engraver will perform on your rings. To make you satisfied with the result, follow a few tips.

1. The inscription should be short, but at the same time have a capacious meaning. Most suitable for engraving inscriptions in Latin or English (words in these languages ​​are shorter than in Russian).
2. Engraving is best done after pre-fitting the rings to make sure that they fit you perfectly. Correcting the size, you can spoil the engraving.
3. The rings themselves should also be selected depending on the engraving you want to make. For example, large texts need wide products.
4. From the variety of fonts that can be engraved, it is better to choose classic ones. So the inscription will be better read.
5. The easiest way to resize is going through diamond or hand engraving.
6. How to choose phrases for engraving on wedding rings?
7. Here, of course, you can use your imagination, but there are a few of the most used phrases for engraving wedding rings.
8. You can use your names, initials, date of wedding, date of acquaintance or 1st date, kiss. If you met online, the use of nicknames or nicknames would be appropriate.

Phrases in English for engraving wedding rings:

• I love you - I love you
• All I need is you - everything that is not needed - you
• All you need is love - all you need is love
• Always on my mind - forever in my thoughts
• Endless love - endless love
• Foralways and forever - always and forever
• Forever in love - forever in love
• I was born for you - the ya
• One life one love - one life, one love
• Only you - only you

Phrases in Latin:

• Alter ego - the second I
• Amoro mnia vincit - love will conquer all
• Simper fidelis - always true
• Simper ina minomeo - forever in my heart

In Russian  It is more difficult to find short phrases, but, nevertheless, they are:

• I love you
• Soul mates
• Forever yours
• And they lived happily ever after
• Today, tomorrow, forever
• You are the meaning of my life
• My heart Belongs to you

Variants of inscriptions for engraving  for those, who with humor  fits everything:

• I charmed him (charmed)
• Farewell to freedom!
• Put back
• To be continued (eng. Tobecontinued ...)
• Resistance is futile

Please return the ring with the man (woman) on whom you found it.

It is not so difficult to make an engraving at home. However, if you need to engrave some very important thing for you, it is better to entrust it to the master. Independently decorate items in this way only if you are absolutely sure of the result.