How to Engrave Trophies
Trophies celebrate and commemorate victories. Hand engraving a trophy memorializes the occasion and allows all who view the trophy to understand the significance of the prize. Hand engraving is one way to turn a generic award into a documented prize to be cherished for years. The best approach for those who are inexperienced is to use a hand graver. Hand gravers aren't appropriate for every type of material, especially common sports trophies or trophies children receive for various activities. Before starting, confirm that a hand graver can be used successfully on your trophy.
Things You'll Need
- Sketch paper and pencil
- Soap and water
- Permanent marker
- Sharp scribe or sewing needle
- Hand graver
- Clamp or vise
- Acetone
Instructions
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1
Sketch the design for the trophy. Most trophies are engraved with the name of the competition, the name of the winner and the date of the competition. Measure the area to be engraved to verify that the text will fit in the allotted space.
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2
Clean the trophy with soap and water before you begin engraving.
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3
Write the text in the area to be engraved with permanent marker. Trace over the lettering with a sharp scribe or sewing needle.
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Select a sharp hand graver to engrave your trophy. Use a flat graver for stylish lettering or a round graver for block lettering.
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5
Secure the trophy to your work surface with a clamp or vise so the trophy doesn't move when you are engraving. How you secure the trophy depends on the shape of the trophy and the size of your clamp or vise.
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Grip the sharpened graver between your fingertips, holding your thumb at the point of the graver. The graver handle should rest in the fleshy part of your hand, which will allow you to push the graver.
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Cut the lettering into the metal along the scribed line. Work at mid-chest height so you can see as you engrave. To cut properly, slide the graver over the metal. Press the graver down in just the beginning of the cut, then slide the graver over the scribed line. To vary the width of the cut line, turn the graver to its side. Do not push down and dig deep with the graver. Be sure the graver remains sharp as you work.
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Remove remnants of the magic marker with acetone, then rinse the surface with water.
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Tips & Warnings
Practice engraving text with scrap metal known as practice plates. Mistakes cannot be erased on a trophy since the engraving process requires cutting directly into the metal of the trophy.
Use a sharp graver to engrave your trophy. Sharpen the graver from time to time as you work, if needed. Sharpen the graver by rubbing the tip against a lightly oiled sharpening stone. You can use an oiled mechanical grinding wheel or flex shaft and sharpening attachment to hasten the sharpening process.
Using less text is easier for beginners.
Engrave plaques using the same process. Make sure the plaque material is appropriate for hand gravers.
Air engravers are specialized engraving tools that make hand engraving faster and easier.
Tool shops often use large, expensive heavy machinery with a sophisticated array of fonts to engrave trophies .
References
Resources
- Photo Credit steel trophy image by Paul Moore from Fotolia.com
