Whether you’re a jewelry enthusiast or a professional, you’ll need access to specialized engraving tools to engrave dates, names, or whatever you like. So this post will go into detail about engraving tools and finding the right one for you.
Common Metal Engraving Machines
There are different types of metal engraving tool with different functions, features and different budgets, there is no such thing as a perfect tool, finding the right one for you is the key.
1. Laser Engraving Machines
Laser engraving machine, it uses a laser beam to engrave the indication of the material. It is very fine and can engrave very complex, intricate patterns. However, it should be noted that laser engraving machines require a high investment cost, and you need to pay attention to safety in the process of use, because it may lead to burns, damage to the eyes or the release of toxic gases.
2. Pneumatic Engraving Machines
Pneumatic engraving machines drive a piston mechanism through compressed air to achieve smooth, detailed engraving. Pneumatic engraving machines can achieve higher efficiency and are also suitable for engraving more complex patterns, which can save physical strength compared to manual engraving.
3. Handmade Engraving Knife
Handmade carving knives, which usually have sharp blades as well as wooden handles, use a special hammer to strike the tool. Using a hand engraving knife is a traditional way of engraving metal, and if you want to use one, it requires specialized knowledge and skills, and usually takes more time to complete the engraving. Although it is a more traditional way, jewelers today still prefer to use hand tools to engrave jewelry.
4. Electric Engraving Machines
An electric engraver is usually a small, hand-held engraving machine. Since the drill of this tool is very small, it is used to engrave small patterns or details, such as dates, names, etc. This type of engraving machine is also commonly referred to as a rotary engraver, engraving pen, etc.
However, the use of this tool usually requires great skill and experience and the quality of the engraving also depends on the skill of the engraver. There is a very wide selection of these engraving tools and they are usually inexpensive, making them perfect for DIY or small-scale engraving.
How to choose the right engraving tool for you?
1. According to your skill level
Beginners: you can start with a manual carving knife or an electric carving pen, these tools are inexpensive and easy to carry around and are great for honing your skills.
Experienced: use a pneumatic engraver, or a laser engraver, which will increase your efficiency and enable you to work in large batches.
2. Consider the brand
If you’re not sure which engraving tool to buy, store at a reliable brand. This will not only guarantee the quality and safety of the goods, but also have a comprehensive after-sales service system. The Katway online store, for example, has a very large selection of engraving tools to choose from, including manual engraving tools, pneumatic engraving machines as well as electric engraving tools.
3. Material
Depending on the material, choose the engraving tool that suits your needs,
Soft metals such as gold and silver, are perfect for either manual engraving tools or pneumatic engraving machines.
Hard metals: such as platinum, steel and other materials, relatively hard, when the pneumatic engraving machine, or laser engraving machine, can be better dealt with, to achieve higher efficiency.
Non-metallic: For example, materials such as wood and glass can be handled well if you use an electric engraving pen and choose the right cutter head.
4. Consider space and portability
From the carving tool storage as well as portability to consider,
Portable and easy to store: hand engraving knife, handheld electric engraving machine, etc., these tools are small and easy to store.
Need a special location: pneumatic engraving machine and laser engraving machine need a certain space for storage, usually pneumatic engraving machine needs space, smaller, but also easier to store.
5. Accuracy and details
You can choose according to different precision needs,
Fine, complex patterns: this usually requires the use of pneumatic engraving machine or laser engraving machine to achieve
Relatively free-form patterns and designs: this can be achieved using a hand-carving knife or a motorized engraving machine.
6. Consider your budget
Lower budget: hand engraving tools or electric pens are available
Mid-range budget: pneumatic engraving machine
Higher budget: laser engraving machine, or CNC engraving machine which is usually a large investment.
Summarize
Choosing the right engraving tool for you, we need to consider a lot of factors, such as the material you need to engrave (metal, wood, glass), the fineness and complexity of the engraving, as well as their own technical level. Or the size of the storage space, as well as the budget for engraving tools, these are the factors we need to consider, comprehensive consideration of these factors, in order to find the most suitable for their own engraving tools!
