Anyone do electro etching of steel?

When we introduced a new aircraft while I was in the military we had a set-up that was quite small and simple we used to mark all the Snap-On tools we contracted. I am not sure who made it but if you get ahold of a Snap-On, Cornwell or MAC representative I bet they could help.
 
When we introduced a new aircraft while I was in the military we had a set-up that was quite small and simple we used to mark all the Snap-On tools we contracted. I am not sure who made it but if you get ahold of a Snap-On, Cornwell or MAC representative I bet they could help.
Not looking to drop big $$ on one. Anything snap on is bound to be a minimum of $300 lol Thanks for the heads up!
 
Haven't looked at this stuff in a long time but was researching this a while back. If I remember correctly AC vs DC one will give you an etch and one will darken the steel. A family member of mine who is a knife maker uses a commercial built unit that is quite old but I do not remember what brand. If I remember correctly his will switch from ac to dc.

Your basic wall wart power supply (if your over 30 years old you should have a drawer or box full of them) is commonly used as a DIY solution, like above, youtube is full of good info on the process.
 
The unit (Personalizer Plus) is only one of the parts of a makers mark. The stencils (International Marking Group) and the set up fees to make the stencils are pretty costly and then you'll need some marking solutions (also IMG) which are endless in solution types and steel to be used on.

Stay away from the YouTube crap or you'll screw up a blade and all of the work put into it.... Don't ask how I know....
 
The unit (Personalizer Plus) is only one of the parts of a makers mark. The stencils (International Marking Group) and the set up fees to make the stencils are pretty costly and then you'll need some marking solutions (also IMG) which are endless in solution types and steel to be used on.

Stay away from the YouTube crap or you'll screw up a blade and all of the work put into it.... Don't ask how I know....

My wife has a cricut and can make the stencils easily with it.


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Just FYI. The machine we used for tool marking was as easy as typing on a transfer sheet, or using a drawn out logo in .dwg or .dxf format.

VERY EASY to use! Small and portable too!
 
If the electro etching thing doesn’t work out for you, see if you can find a local laser shop to engrave your makers mark. It’ll usually be a setup fee for the artwork and then a per piece price from then on.

CHRIS
 
If the electro etching thing doesn’t work out for you, see if you can find a local laser shop to engrave your makers mark. It’ll usually be a setup fee for the artwork and then a per piece price from then on.

CHRIS
Check with @ncengravers for this. He has been laser engraving some of the railroad spike bottle openers I make.
 
Check with @ncengravers for this. He has been laser engraving some of the railroad spike bottle openers I make.
Yeah I've gotten Mark to do several things for me and its top notch work! I'm not close to being able to sell what I'm making so was just looking for something cheapish to mark them with. Mark will most likely be the guy to do it for me if I ever start selling them because he's the best around for laser marking!
 
Stay away from the YouTube crap or you'll screw up a blade and all of the work put into it.... Don't ask how I know....

I should have thrown down a disclaimer that what ever you throw together DIY should be tested thoroughly (on a piece of the same steel and finish) prior to using on a finished piece. I'd be sick if I destroyed a blade in this manor.
 
I made one with about $100 worth of radio shack parts years ago. I made it switchable between 12 and 24 vdc. Wish I had done 6 and 12. 24 burns masking vinyl if you are not very careful.
 
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