etching, engraving, carving aluminum what to do

[rdsk8ter]

I am looking at making a shifter knob for my jeep turning it is not a big deal but what I want to do is on the top side I want to put the saying " Built not bought" I would like to paint it to make the letters pop but I am not sure of what method would be the best. My freehand drawing or writing if you will is terrible at best so etching would be difficult. is there an "easy" way to make this happen and look good?

 

[dvlscoupe]

CNC mill would probably be the best option.

 

[rsanter]

If you can print the saying you want on some adhesive backed material you can stick it to the part.
Use an exacto knife to hut out the lettering and then sand blast.
Fill the slight recess with paint

Bob

 

[1953mercury]

You could use some letter stamps if you want to go cheap and have a steady hand. Practice on some scrap first. If it's off a little bit, that would definitely show it was "built not bought". Mike

 

[ilovevocs]

I have used pnp blue in the past like this suggest. Low tech solution that doesn't really require special tools.


http://m.instructables.com/id/How-to-etch-aluminum-panel-labelsdesigns-with-a-r/

Mobile link, hope it works.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[deere2210]

I've been looking at this quite a bit recently.. Engrave with a small ball mill .01 deep and paint fill the letters or engrave or thermal mark with a laser. Thermal marking is where you apply a special powder and then use a laser engraver to bond the powder to the sub material. I'm assuming the knob is aluminum.. You could also anodize and then laser engrave and it will make the letters bright white.

Send me a PM if you need some help..I do CNC mill and laser engraving in the evenings/weekends.

 

[paul2112]

Why not carve one of these in your free time,,,,

 

[Kevin54]

Why not carve one of these in your free time,,,,

You seriously ought to look into "Investment Castings" and make up a bunch of those to sell.

 

[machine_punk]

check with your local engraving shop.

If you have a 3D design program, you can easily create recessed lettering on any shape and your local CNC machine shop should be able to engrave with your file (or make his/her own file to engrave whatever you want).

Or you could just make something cool enough that everyone asks you, "Where did you buy that," and then you can reply, "I made it, I didn't buy it."

Kev

 

[rdsk8ter]

You seriously ought to look into "Investment Castings" and make up a bunch of those to sell.

no kidding that is sweet

 

[Honkey84]

There are guy who do engraving on motorcycle cases. Most of there setups that I have seen are just dremels with the wand extensions. Like what they use at a nail shop for the ladies. Mind you it isn't painted when they engrave stuff, but it something to look in to.

 

[James_B]

I regularly remove paint or anodizing from alloy with my LASER engraver. It will also set thermal marking compounds.

If you want a deep etch, then you'll need to use a chemical process and a mask. 40 years ago, I was doing photo etching into alloy using ferric chloride and a photo sensitive acid resist. These days, I'd coat the object in an acid resistant paint. Use the LASER engraver to remove the paint from the area to be etched, and then hand brush the etch solution onto the bare alloy.

 

[Gary Anderson]

Like this?

Your Pal, Gary

 

[kazlx]

Doesn't paying someone to engrave it on a CNC kind of defeat the purpose?

I would either engrave it by hand or mask it and acid etch it or sand blast it.

 

[rdsk8ter]

Doesn't paying someone to engrave it on a CNC kind of defeat the purpose?

I would either engrave it by hand or mask it and acid etch it or sand blast it.

I guess you could say it does but its also going to be one of a kind and arnt about 90% of parts made by someone else? I install them all myself though that should count for something

 

[kazlx]

Just keep in mind CNC stuff isn't cheap for a one off part, unless you know someone.