Thread: Laser engraving on a Wosty I-XL?

I have a Wostenholm I-XL that I am going to restore and rescale as a family heirloom. I am planning on having my surname laser engraved on the blade.

Will laser engraving hurt the temper or any other aspect of the razor?

Thanks in advance,
Marc

Edit: At what point in the restoration should the engraving be done? I was thinking right before I started the working with the 2000 grit paper but this is totally a guess based on zero experience.

Ugh!

Please don't call laser burning a design in metal engraving. Calling what a laser does engraving is like calling a wore out trailer trash crack whore a beauty queen.

Let me put it another way. Its like calling a Mach5 cartridge razor a straight razor. It just aint right.

To answer your question, I would suggest finding someone who does that and ask about the heat generated and how far it will dissipate. As long as the heat doesn't dissipate to the edge of the razor it shouldn't hurt the temper.
My only concern would be, will it generate enough heat in a localized area to cause any warpage due to changing the stresses in the steel. I honestly don't know the answer to that. You will need to find someone who has a bit of experience and ask them.

Ray

Laser etching should not hurt the temper, as long as you are not etching right up to the edge of course.
From what I understood, the laser pulse is energetic enough to instantly vaporize the metal, and short enough that it doesn't sink heat into the blade.

Of course you might want to try this first with a dud razor.

Ray, my sincerest apologies. I meant no offense to those that do engraving. I was only referring to it as the place that I will be going to does. Thank you for educating me in the proper terminology.

Bruno, great idea about using a dud razor first. I might have one or two sitting around that would be perfect for that.

Originally Posted by RayCover

Ugh!

Please don't call laser burning a design in metal engraving. Calling what a laser does engraving is like calling a wore out trailer trash crack whore a beauty queen.

Ray

Ray,
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!!!....LOL Love the analogy!!!

Originally Posted by McBrautigam

Ray, my sincerest apologies. I meant no offense to those that do engraving. I was only referring to it as the place that I will be going to does. Thank you for educating me in the proper terminology.

Bruno, great idea about using a dud razor first. I might have one or two sitting around that would be perfect for that.

No harm no foul, no apologies needed. When I see that term "laser engraving" used, I try to point out that it really isn't engraving. I know it is pushing back against years of marketing but I still think its important to make people think about it.

Lasers were introduced in this market as a "cheap alternative" just like the pantographs were decades ago. Because both these marking methods were marketed as engraving for so many years a lot of people don't even know what real engraving is anymore. Its very similar to the relationship between cartridge razors and straight razors. One is a cheap way to get the job done. The other has a little more depth and art to it.

I'm never really offended when folks use the terms but I will always use the opportunity to push back against years of what I consider false advertising.

Ray

I would personally have it hand engraved. It has much more personality especially if done by a true artist.

I'm not an expert but from all the data I have collected the most common and also more affordable laser engravers on the market use a CO2 laser which enables you to mark steel only with a special metal marking spray. To engrave in the steel you need a laser that uses a YAG laser which has a much shorter wavelength (1.064 microns) compared to CO2.

If you find someone that does this please let us know I have 7 of the same type razor and want the days of the week on them and can't find anyone that has a YAG laser.

Originally Posted by Slamthunderide

If you find someone that does this please let us know I have 7 of the same type razor and want the days of the week on them and can't find anyone that has a YAG laser.

A former colleague of mine works at a place where they use such lasers.
He uses them for laser etching his cell phone, his leatherman and other smaller items.
Your best (and certainly cheapest) bet is to try and find someone who works with such lasers and exchanging favors.

Alternatively, use google and ask around. Of course, it means trusting a heathen with your razors, which might be a bigger issue.

LOL Ray. Yes it's etching, but it sure sounds better to call it engraving. It will never approach a hand engraved piece.

No it should not hurt the temper, even with a deeper etch. Typically the part (razor) is cool to the touch after laser engraving. The level of polish you go to before hand will depend on how deep you etch the steel. If you only go after a minimal surface etching then get it as close to done as you can stand. The laser can be set to just barely burn the surface and can be buffed off. It is kind of up to you. Be sure the man running the thing is a pro and aware of how important it is to protect the finish with tape on the side not being etched. You would do well to have a similarly ground blade to set up on. Custom designs on a curve can take a couple of tries to get right. Your guy can also run the pattern on your blade over tape and get pretty close, I think the blue painters tape is better.

The last shop I was at we ran a laser engraver enough to wear one out in about 5 years marking medical devices. Yes it was an industrial unit, and we conned the guys who could run it to do all kinds of cool stuff.

Jeff