Things to Use to Engrave a Child's Name

Engraving is a traditional craft with highly sophisticated techniques.

Engraving is a great way to personalize wood, metal, or stone objects. Engraving your child's name on an item can make for a unique gift, a personal trophy, or just an easy way to tell who owns what. There are a variety of different ways to engrave, from traditional craft methods to high-tech modern devices.

Before Engraving

All engraving methods have some things in common. Before beginning, you need a clamp or vise to hold the object to be engraved firmly in place. An engraving template is a form of stencil laid over the object. This helps make letters and numbers consistent. Additionally, you may want an engraving lubricant to help the engraving tool work smoothly and wash small fragments out of the engraving. Always wear eye protection when engraving.

Traditional Engraving Methods

For centuries, craftsmen engraved on all surfaces using specialized hand tools. These consist of hardened steel points set into handles. Each point is used to create a particular effect. The flat graver makes deep block cuts, such as those in block lettering, while the spitzer engraves fine lines. Round-nosed gravers engrave dots or circles, and the line graver draws several parallel lines. Many other types of engraving points exist, each with its own specialized function.

Electric Engraving Tools

Many modern engravers work with carbide or diamond engraving bits fitted to a rotary tool. The rotary tool can achieve a variety of different engraving effects by changing the bit and altering the speed of rotation. Rotary tool engraving is quicker than traditional hand engraving. Many manufacturers also produce electric engraving tools with adjustable depth. As these are designed to be used for engraving, many users find that they fit the hand more comfortably than the multipurpose rotary tool. Electric engraving tools offer more control and ability to customize than rotary tools.

Commercial Engraving

Commercial engraving machinery can be adjusted to fit a variety of different types of items, such as plates, jewelry, or other metal objects. The operator enters the design to be engraved into a computer, which controls the machine's engraving arm to ensure a perfect reproduction. With a a computerized engraver, a simple design can be engraved in a few minutes. These devices aren't practical or affordable for the home, but many trophy or jewelry shops offer engraving services.

References

• Family Crest Engraving: Hand Engraving Tools
• Dremel: Engraver Kit