Engraving and Paint

[MFchief]

Hi All,

I'm looking for some advise on filling in an engraving with paint. I need to engrave about 20 -25 words of text on a brass placard, then I plan to fill in the letters with paint to make them more readable. The placard will most likely be about 3X4 inches with text about 3/16". My main questions are about the best techique for doing this without specialized equipment.

My thought would be to paint over the surface of the engraved brass then use something fairly stiff, but absorbent, to wipe the paint off the surface, but leave the letters filled. If this is a workable approach, then my question would be when to remove the paint? while everything is still wet, when the paint gets tacky, or wait until it's dry then rub it off the surface.

Any advice would be welcome, especially if this appoach is the wrong way to go! Also any thoughts on the best type of paint for this, laquer? enamel? etc.

Thanks
Terry

[Steve Seebold]

I used to watch the assembly line at one of my customers and they had people who would sit with a tooth pick and very carefully taking care not to get too much paint on the toothpick, dip it in the paint and fill the engraving. No wipe off was necessary. It just takes a lot of practice, and if your hand shakes, forget about it.

[proengines]

Do a google search for Hard Wax or engraving wax. You warm the metal up and rub the wax over it, it's like a crayon. It runs into the engravings and you wipe the excess off with metho or similar. It sets very hard and looks great. You can buy it in different colours as well.

[Gerry Sweetland]

I have done this before...
Can you have a sanded finish on the brass? If so, spray paint the face of the brass card filling in the letters and let dry completely. Then sand the paint off the surface using a sanding block. Clear the dust from the part with air often. Sand in one direction as well. When done you can apply a clear coat (I like satin, not too shiny, not too dull) over the whole thing. Looks real nice.
Gerry

[annoying]

Kinda similar to some parts I run occasionally. I make up blanks with engraving and send to powder coat. Then finish some other details and face cut the powder off to leave only the engraving with powder coating in it

[philbur]

An old engravers trick is to wipe off the wet paint with news paper held flat. I've done it this way several times witrh good results. If you leave little smudges of paint behind let it semi dry then use news paper dampened with a suitable solvent and held flat.

When you get good at it you wont need the second stage.

Phil

Hi All,

I'm looking for some advise on filling in an engraving with paint. I need to engrave about 20 -25 words of text on a brass placard, then I plan to fill in the letters with paint to make them more readable. The placard will most likely be about 3X4 inches with text about 3/16". My main questions are about the best techique for doing this without specialized equipment.

My thought would be to paint over the surface of the engraved brass then use something fairly stiff, but absorbent, to wipe the paint off the surface, but leave the letters filled. If this is a workable approach, then my question would be when to remove the paint? while everything is still wet, when the paint gets tacky, or wait until it's dry then rub it off the surface.

Any advice would be welcome, especially if this appoach is the wrong way to go! Also any thoughts on the best type of paint for this, laquer? enamel? etc.

Thanks
Terry

[johnohara]

In the thread Model V8 engine plans required, Steve Huck begins creating an air cleaner cover that is ultimately painted. His posts might be of interest to you.

It begins with Model V8 engine plans required

~john

[neilw20]

I scraped powder coating into the surface with a credit card, and baked at 200 deg C just until it started to flow.

A light touch on a scotchbright linisher belt finished the job.



Stainless steel.

[MFchief]

Guys,

Thanks to everyone! lots of excellant suggestions. I especially like the engravers wax idea, I want to order some and give it a try. Unfortunately this particular job needs to be done this weekend, so I will try something like Phils suggestion first.

I kind of like the powder coat idea too, just don't have any on hand to try with this plate.

Thanks again to everyone, that's why this forum is so great!
Terry

[beone]

Just had a thought, at the arts and crafts store they sell a special paint for stencilling, its almost solid-- it might work well for rubbing in the engraved lines. would cost minimum bucks for a test
Dave

[MFchief]

Dave, thanks for the suggestion, I will check it out.
Terry

[MichaelHenry]

A China marker from Staples or Office Depot might also do in a pinch as a substitute for the engraving wax.