Engraving Machine

[Keith]

Hi


I am doing a lot of framing for a private school that require engraved plates and plaques of all kinds, and looks as though the work could be ongoing
They want the traditional gold/brass type ones, but also the coloured ones especially black and red with “fancy” fonts.
There seem to be lots of laser and computer engraving machines about but I wouldn’t know where to start. So ideally I would like to hear from anyone who uses a machine they would recommend or put me onto someone that could point me in the right direction to purchase one.

Thanks Keith

[Not your average framer]

This sounds like an interesting niche market. I would imagine that it may take a while to recover yout initial investment in equipment and stock, but it must be a good steady market, since most shoe repairs seem to do engraving as part of their normal business.

Added to that, it's another way of attracting new faces into your shop with the possibility of generating extra sales once they are in the shop. I'm preparing to offer engraved name plate as part of my business, but I will be getting the egraving done by my existing supplier.

I think that you are making a good move! Is there an internet forum for engraving? Might be worth doing a Google search, or something similar.

[prospero]

There are many companies who will do plates by return post. E-mail them and wait for the postman the next morning.
I think you have to ask yourself is it worth the setup costs? Buying expensive kit for one customer is a bit dicey. What if they decide to go elsewhere. Sure, you could offer an engraving service in your own right - but do you want to be a framer or a nameplate engraver.

Just my fourpen'th.

[Roboframer]

I get asked quite a lot for an engraved 'brass' plate and I always suggest a title aperture in the mount instead and 99 out of 100 times I win, especially as it does not have to be just a rectangle, it can be a rectangle edged with a mount slip - finicky - the morso can't be set so small, but it can be extended and you already have the gear and materials. Or, with a CMC it can be a fancy-shaped aperture, like a rectangle with a shouldered arch each end (there's probably a name for that shape) or a shield, whatever, and then it could be a double mount, or whatever.

Then you can choose from all the fonts on your computer, plus text colours and you could even print on metallic paper.

Then it goes under the glass, so unlike a metal plaque outside of the frame, will never require cleaning and won't wear down or tarnish.

I probably charge more for this than a supplier of engraved plaques would.

If you really have a market for engraved plaques then this doesn't help you much - just thinking out loud.

[Keith]

Hi

Thanks to all for replying it's certainly given me "food for thought".

Regards Keith

[IFGL]

I do what robo said, but I found this http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewit ... 5447893421 on ebay and I want one.

[silvercleave]

Read carefully


Not suitable for brass

[GeoSpectrum]

There is an engraver in my local town, I send him work for those customers who want engraving instead of a cmc cut window (not many), in return he provides referrals to me for framing. I'd let the framers to the framing and engravers do the engraving....unless you have a lot of engraving customers or want to expand into that market, and that would probably have to include sports trophy's etc.

[IFGL]

Well if it ain't suitable for brass then they can stick it, I didn't read past, will engrave almost any material and saw steel mentioned, I wonder why it won't do brass?

This is another option fade resistant gold pen, used with the pen tool on the valiani.

[Tudor Rose]

^^^^^ what GeoSpectrum said goes for us too. Helps build links with other local businesses. If customers really want an engraved plaque then they get one, but we don't have the hassle of making them.

[misterdiy]

Like most, we get asked for plaques and in fact we have a contract where we frame pics and medals from marathons and fun runs. These need a plaque which is plastic but looks like brushed aluminium. We looked very seriously at getting one of the gravograph machines which can be picked up on ebay for around £700 ( a good one) but in the end we decided that it was far better use of our time to get the little business down the road to produce these for us. We email details in the morning and get the finished plaque the next morning. We make 20% profit for the email.

basically if you have lots of time then get one. if you are busy then you will earn more framing. FWIW

[prospero]

The thought occurs that the ones on eeebay were bought thinking they would be good source of extra income but they weren't.

[Steve N]

The Wise one says

"The thought occurs that the ones on eeebay were bought thinking they would be good source of extra income but they weren't. "

[A Few More Words]

Just another twist on Metal Plaques

We offer choice of 10 metal plaques

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This is certainly not for everyone, but it may be of interest to some of you.
Up to about 6 months ago, we were having our brass plaques done by a local jeweller. This was fine , but we were almost reluctantly offering them as they were a bit of hassle, and we certainly wer'nt recouping our full cost on time spent ordering, collecting etc.
We then added a dyesub printer and heat press to the photo side of our business and have since being also doing our own metal plaques , which has been a great benefit to our framing business....we now offer a choice of metal finishes ( silvers, golds, white etc ) and can offer text in any color , as well as graphics if desired. This is a great upsell for some framing jobs....either a metal plate on the moulding or within the mount etc.
It is quick, easy and low cost (once you already have the equipment)

Heat press

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Heat print transfer onto plate

heat transfer.jpg (31.43 KiB) Viewed 4527 times

Customers like these metal plates and see the added value for many framing projects.

jersey.jpg (50.75 KiB) Viewed 4527 times

nadal.jpg (41.88 KiB) Viewed 4527 times

Coloured text if you wish

sob ball.jpg (48.41 KiB) Viewed 4527 times

There are a number of companies that specialise in this dyesub printing / hot press equipment & consumables, and it is also possible to pick up some of this gear s/h. The material cost of a typical title plate on a moulding is probably less than 20p.

You will see this equipment ( most often used for T shirt printing) at trade shows etc eg Focus on Imaging etc.