engravers!

[wrenched87]

What's the best engraver out? Are they all the same? Got a matco one and its china trash. It does the job but looks and feels cheap. Do they all rate at the same specs? This ones 7200 spm with a 30 min duty cycle.

 

[OccupantRJ]

A rotary engraver works better than an impact type to me, as they write like a pen. I also have a homebrew electrical arc engraver for hardened steel use. It's simply a heavy duty 120 to 6 volt step down transformer.

 

[wrenched87]

Are you talking like a pencil grinder with a 1/8 carbide bit? I wondered if that would work. Thanks!

 

[OccupantRJ]

A dremel with a carbide burr works well, just a little bulkier to hold. harbor freight has a cheap set of diamond burrs that work pretty well for a lot of things.

 

[Alan Douglas]

I have two pantograph engravers, a Green and a New Hermes, but a Matco seems to be a hand-held model. The pantographs are best suited for flat panels.

 

[Haveblue]

"A dremel with a carbide burr works well" Thats what I like to use. Once you get a feel for the right speed, and pressure, you can engrave just about any material with good results.

 

[Nocturnal-G]

Check this one out... I've had good luck with Proxxon.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0017NS5W4

 

[spacedoutbob]

My vote is for Dremel. I've had mine since 1976 and it still works great.

Bob

 

[cinco]

Years ago my father picked up a used GraverMeister and produced some spiffy results. I played with it enough to get a feel but that's the only machine I have any experience with so I can't compare quality.

Freehand rotary tools are the engraving equivalent to peeing your name in the snow - they'll do the job, but do you really want anyone to see the result?

 

[OccupantRJ]

I have two pantograph engravers, a Green and a New Hermes, but a Matco seems to be a hand-held model. The pantographs are best suited for flat panels.

You would pee your pants to see the CNC engraver at work with the 60,000 rpm spindle and 18 x 24 work table.

 

[illmatyk]

I have the Dremel brand engraver and it works for me, isn't too bad either for its $20 price tag...

 

[wrenched87]

Sweet. Appreciate all the advice fellas