How to Engrave Money Clips
Engraved gifts can be the perfect item for wedding parties or birthday gifts. You may have an image, name, initials or phrase engraved onto an item for added personalization. Money clips are a popular item to have engraved for men. They can be given as a gift for birthday, holidays or to celebrate those special moments in life. Women will also enjoy an engraved money clip with flowers, hearts or initials on it.
Things You'll Need
- Engraving pen
- Paper
- Razor knife
- Card stock paper
- Printer
- Scissors
- Electrical tape
- Goggles
Instructions
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1
Create an image of the name, phrase or image that you wish to engrave on the money clip on the computer. This can be done using a simple program such as Paint or the word art feature in word processing programs such as Microsoft Word or Works.
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2
Print the image on a piece of card stock or other heavyweight paper. Use scissors to cut the image down to the size that fits the money clip.
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3
Cut out the wording or image details using a razor knife. Doing this will create a paper stencil as the guide for engraving the money clip. A regular plastic stencil that is found in craft stores or the craft section of department stores can also be used for this step.
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4
Tape the stencil to money clip. Be sure that the wording or image is at the correct angle you would like before securing. Place a small piece of tape on each edge of the image to ensure it does not move during the engraving process. Electrical tape is a good choice for this because it will not leave residue on the money clip, is durable and offers a secure hold.
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5
Run the engraving tool through the stencil as if it were a crayon. Start off with a gentle touch between the metal and tip of the engraving pen. You do not want to engrave some areas deeper than others. This is a slow process to ensure precision and professional quality results at home. Always wear protective goggles when engraving to protect your eyes from metal flecks.
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6
Remove stencil and polish money clip to bring out the shine and remove metal shavings.
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Tips & Warnings
Start out with simple letters or words before moving on to the ornate details and shading differences of an image.
Do not allow the engraving tool to rest on the paper stencil for the heat may cause a small fire.
During the engraving process, be careful to not get to close to the stencil edge and destroy it.
