Engraving Machines

[Burnpile]

I'm just a hobbyist and enjoy tuning pens for family and friends. In an effort to make the pens more personal I'd like to add engraving. I'm 80 years old and not real computer savvy but can normally figure things out. Any suggestions on the type of engraving machine that would be in the $100 - $200 range?

 

[DRDJR]

If you are talking about a laser engraver for wood if you buy one in that price range it would not have ensdstops so it would not home you would have to run it from user position and that is a pain. plus you would end up spending more in upgrades and repairs to keep it running then it is worth. if you are talking about a fiber or UV laser to engrave or mark the metal you would be looking at $1800 minimum.

 

[JohnU]

Also, the learning curve could be very expensive. I find it cheaper and quicker to send them to an engraver. Exotic blanks has a guy (Dean) (Alphageek here on IAP) who does fantastic work. I just don't know his schedule or how much work he's willing to take on.

 

[Burnpile]

Thanks for the feedback. As I suspected I'm WAY over my talent/budget level. As I said I'm just a hobbyist and especially like to turn pens from materials that mean something to the recipient. Old furniture pieces, limbs from trimmed trees, once from a neighbor's "potty chair" long story and Yes I wore a mask. Again thanks for the input.
Mike

 

[bsshog40]

I have a couple lasers. My first laser I have used for the past few years is a little Neje Master 3500. I have used that to do simple designs on a few pens, wood crafts and even leather. It has basic software, mostly drag and drop images, text, resize and burn. It does have to be hooked up to a laptop/pc to run the software. It comes fully assembled and will engrave in a 6"x6" area. Google some videos on it. Here's a pen I engraved for a friend. I don't have a rotary jig for it but it will work for a straightline image or text. I think they run about $130 now.

 

[wood-of-1kind]

As Bobby has shown, the Neje laser can do basic but yet capable work. Here are a few items that I've done. I also
don't have a rotary jig but have printed names on finished pen bodies (wood). Limited capabilities YES but certainly an
affordable little unit. I have engraved on…wood,antler, leather and aluminum sheeting (thin). The Neje sells for well under $200 USD and the software that is included is easy to learn. I'm a hobbyist as well and don't require a costly machine.

-Peter-