laser engraving vs machine engraving

PghSteve · Oct 7, 2014

I just dropped off 2 new knifes to have my and my dad's initials engraved in them. The trophy shop I took them to has done a knife for me before, and it turned out good....but I thought they had laser engraved it. In dropping these off, the girl told me they will machine engrave them, that the laser wouldn't work on a knife. I know the majority of blade engraving is done by lasers, should I be worried about this or will machine engraving come out just the same? I'm wondering if I should hurry in and pick them up and find another route of engraving?
Any (quick) advice would be appreciated.
Thanks!!

Kloepper Knife Works · Oct 7, 2014

You want it done with a laser. It'll cause serious stress risers if it's machined very deep at all.

NeilB · Oct 7, 2014

If you are engraving into the scales, a machine engrave is the way to go.

If you are engraving on the blade itself, a laser engrave is the right thing.

NeilB · Oct 7, 2014

Double tap. My bad.

Kloepper Knife Works · Oct 7, 2014

NeilB said:
If you are engraving into the scales, a machine engrave is the way to go.

If you are engraving on the blade itself, a laser engrave is the right thing.

That's a good point, he didn't mention if it was the blade or scales, so I assumed blade.

brets-ftw · Oct 7, 2014

Kloepper Knife Works said:
You want it done with a laser. It'll cause serious stress risers if it's machined very deep at all.

If it's just initials I wouldn't imagine that it would be very deep, maybe like .005"? but you know what they say about assuming.

Bill DeShivs · Oct 7, 2014

I engrave by hand and by machine. Machine engraving a knife with a diamond-drag stylus will not cause any problems at all. I do it all the time.
There are different kinds of lasers. The most common laser used in engraving is the CO2 laser. These will not cut steel, but they do well for marking non metals.
Fiber lasers are used for cutting steel. Entry-level fiber lasers are $20,000-up. They are specialty engraving machines.

n7titan · Oct 7, 2014

Bill DeShivs said:
I engrave by hand and by machine. Machine engraving a knife with a diamond-drag stylus will not cause any problems at all. I do it all the time.
There are different kinds of lasers. The most common laser used in engraving is the CO2 laser. These will not cut steel, but they do well for marking non metals.
Fiber lasers are used for cutting steel. Entry-level fiber lasers are $20,000-up. They are specialty engraving machines.

Had the chance to use laser engravers in high school. It was really expensive for the school, but it was still the cheaper model that can only engrave certain metals like aluminum dogtags.