ebechan
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2004
Posts: 23
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Post by ebechan on Aug 6, 2004 20:37:05 GMT -5
I am looking for some advice. What do you think is the cheapest and easiest way to engrave on rock? I would like to engrave some strait-lined symbols or letters on some 1/2 inch tumbled stones. Also, I would like a way to engrave or etch geometric patterns onto slabs. I thought about sandblasting, but the sandblasters are really expencive, and I live in apartment, so I really got no place I could sandblast. I thought about hand-held dremel type engravers, but I seems to me that this would leave lots of room for error (with my shakey hands anyway), and it would be hard to get perfect geometric shapes with it. I also thought about chemical etching, but I am not sure I could get really clean lines, or complicated patterns with it. Also, especially on the tumbled stone, I would really like the marks to stand out. So, what do you advise?
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Post by cookie3rocks on Aug 6, 2004 22:30:00 GMT -5
Ebechan, I'm thinking, what if you chemical engraved the pattern first then used a dremel to deepen it Never done that before, but now that you mention it, it may work. Your gonna have to hone the craft (ie, screw up a few times) but it sounds plausable to me. Hell, I might try it myself ;D Think I'd run the stones back through polish (or pre polish+) afterward just to be sure. Let us know. cookie
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ebechan
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2004
Posts: 23
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Post by ebechan on Aug 7, 2004 1:16:20 GMT -5
You know, this might be a silly question, but as i don't know, I'm gonna risk embarasment and ask anyway. I was just thinking, as quartz is used as a material for sandblasting, because of it's hardness, is it posible to sandblast something with a hardness or 7 or more, or would the sand pretty much just bunch off, not doing much? Would you have to use a special grit? I would think it would be ok, as the grit wears quarts rough down in polishing, but sandblasting might be different.
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Aug 7, 2004 1:20:12 GMT -5
Hey Ebechan, You might contact your local Monument (head stone supplier) provider and see what they use to engrave the letters into the marble and granite slabs they use as head stones. If you don't find one listed in your phone book, you should be able to contact any funeral service and they can direct you to the respective monument company. I know that they make carving and glass etching wheels (diamond wheels), that may work , you'll have to let us know what you discover or invent to accomplish your task. Good luck . John
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Post by connrock on Aug 7, 2004 9:08:13 GMT -5
Hi Ebechan,,,, I'm with you with the shakey hands!! I've tried to do basically what you want to do with my Foredom flex shaft and YUCK!! I was all over the place trying to just print "Tom" on some polished rocks!! I've done a little carving but that's totally diferent then trying to write or engrave geometrical shapes and figures free hand.Heck,,,,,I can't even draw with a pencil never mind try to engrave a dog ,etc on a rock!! I took a quick look at what's used by the "pro's" and it seems that they use either a sand blasting method or a laser!! After looking at the prices of the equipment I think i'll stick to tumbling!! Sorry no help!! Tom
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Post by krazydiamond on Aug 7, 2004 15:43:20 GMT -5
you may also try an Art supply place where the etching and lithography supplies are kept. i know when you etch on metal, you cover the piece with a tar-type coating that is acid resistant, then with a needle draw your pattern through the tar coating and then let it soak in the acid for a while. then you use a solvent to get the tar stuff off.
honestly, it's all a bit toxic sounding for an apartment building. but then so does the sandblasting.
interesting idea tho. KD
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