Do you want to know how to engrave?
Engraving is surely one of the best ways to add a personal touch to any product. As engraving is permanent, the gift will be a cherished keepsake.
But how do you start with engraving any item? What are some things to keep in mind?
Read below to understand how you can engrave in 7 easy steps!
1. Study The Surface Of The Product
The first step is to know the product you are about to engrave. Unbox it and study the surface, whether it’s glass, metal, or ceramic.
If it’s a glass product that you’re about to engrave, study the texture and surface and note whether it’s glossy or frosted, and if it has any protective layer over the glass.
Observing this is essential as it will define how you’ll go ahead with the engraving process.
2. Always Make A Draft Before Engraving
Do not engrave directly, especially if you are a beginner learning how to engrave. From my personal experience, it’s always better to make a draft on the product with a brushpen before you engrave.
I have made mistakes in my earlier years, engraved incorrectly over clients’ products because I was in a hurry to engrave and didn’t make a draft, and then had to replace the product, so always, always make a draft.
Drafts also help you decide whether the placement and alignment are perfect. Can’t change it after you’ve engraved it, isn’t it?
3. Keep Your Engraving Tools Close
This is very important because once you are in your zone, fully concentrating on engraving, any kind of distraction will break the focus, and this can affect the quality of your engraving.
Imagine yourself, sitting comfortably, with the product in one hand, and the engraving machine in the other, all set for engraving, and then you notice that the bur is missing. So annoying!!!
Make a list of the products you’ll need – engraving machine, burs, tissue, buffing wax, brushpen, cushion, or other items that you may need, and keep them close to you.
4. Select The Bur Of Appropriate Size
Depending on the product that you’re engraving, select the bur size and insert in your engraving machine.
Turn on the machine to check if it’s working and then proceed with engraving.
5. Set Up The Engraver’s Speed
Another very important thing to keep in mind before you start engraving – the speed of the engraver.
Not all products can be engraved at the same speed. For ideal engraving, you’ll have to set up the appropriate speed on the engraver and then engrave.
What will happen if you use the wrong speed? The object may get damaged/break/crack or the engraving would be almost invisible.
From my experience, the ideal speed for engraving glassware/glass bottles is 35k rpm, for ceramics it’s 22k rpm, and for engraving in metal products it’s 14k rpm.
6. Engrave With Ease
Engraving is not only about how skillful or talented you are in calligraphy, it’s a combination of your skills, your posture while engraving, and other conditions.
Make sure that you’re in a very comfortable position before you start engraving. I place a cushion on my lap, and the product over it, as that’s how I can engrave most comfortably.
While engraving, you should not put any pressure on the product. Double engrave the downstrokes for more visibility, clear the dust, and you’re done!
7. Finish Up With Buffing Wax
Most engraving artists (including me!) prefer to enhance the engraving over glass/ceramic products with buffing wax as it makes the engraving shinier and more elegant.
Take a little bit of buffing wax and put over the engraving. Rub it with an earbud and let it stay for 2-3 mins. With the clear end of the bud, remove the excess wax, and now your engraved product is ready!
How To Engrave? Ready For Your First Engraving?
Learning engraving takes a lot of time, effort, and patience. There will be days on which you think you’re not getting anything right, keep going. Making mistakes is good because that’s how you’ll improve.
Instead of trying on expensive products, start by engraving on any glass/metal items you have at your home.
Let us know of your experience of engraving on different products.
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