Thread: How to engrave scales?

Does anyone know about engraving scales and how to do so? I'm assuming it would involve either glueing or embedding a little metal plate, which would be engraved.

Do you want to engrave (i.e., initials), or inlay with another material?

There are a few good scrimshanders and other artisans here. A trip through "what are you working on" or "Customs and Restorations" would give you an idea of who to contact.
~Richard

Originally Posted by bouschie

Do you want to engrave (i.e., initials), or inlay with another material?

I'm thinking more toward inlay with another material.

True engraving is usually done with an engraving gun but it can also be done by hand. They sell such instruments usually tipped with sapphire or diamond depending on the hardness of the material. Of course they have laser engravers which commercial engravers use these days. Otherwise there is an encrusting process like the foil materials you see on many celluloid scales like DD does on their higher end models. I imagine that's done with the right amount of heat or pressure.

There are several other processes depending on exactly what you want done.

For inlay you have to do some carving and the material can be glued in place or you can do channel work and the supporting material holds it in place. That takes some specialized skills.

Haven't done any inlays, but I have done a couple onlays.

I have a couple that look like they are engraved with a nail or similar object.... But I think that you want a plate of some kind of metal.
If so I would find the shape and metal that I want and engrave it first and then inset.

If you didn't like the way that the engraving turned out then you could make another without removing the plate.

If they are a vintage scale with an already installed plate I would make sure that I gave it to someone that I trusted to do the engraving.

I was trying to think about the right term... Are you talking about an escutcheon plate?

Gents, I think I have the correct terminology.

I want to do this myself, thus I'm looking to learn how to do it and which tools are needed.

I want to inlay a metal shield that can be engraved. The key will be using some router type tool that can allow very fine edges so the shield looks good once installed.