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Marking with laser - getting cheap enough?

A little googling hasn’t given me any obvious answers... Are any of the rapidly improving desktop class engravers good enough for marking barrels yet? Someone must have nerded out over this already...
 
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I am also interested in this subject. I have limited knowledge, but recently have been doing research on it. It seems that I always end up at some form of fiber laser, and the cost gets bigger than my wallet....
 
I will let you know in a week or so. One is on a truck headed to me.

What did you get Walt?

It sounds like a 4-5 watt laser (think $300 class or possibly less) will successfully do cermark (or vinegar/mustard) blackening on flat stainless.

I’m interested at that price point if you can get a reasonably good looking mark without needing a barrel spinner.
 
I am also interested in this subject. I have limited knowledge, but recently have been doing research on it. It seems that I always end up at some form of fiber laser, and the cost gets bigger than my wallet....

If you want to etch or cut raw stainless, yup, fiber is the answer and it’s way out of reach unless you’re a volume shop. Black/oxide marking is the much more reasonable option, but even that I would like to see someone etching more than a flat piece of stainless before i’m a believer.
 
30 watt fiber. My budget was 10x yours.

Nice! I’m still interested in your experience when it arrives regardless.

Since this is merely a hobby I can justify spending whatever I want on a new toy. I just can’t see myself doing the wood/cardboard “art” that most people are using non-commercial lasers for. Marking a barrel is the only regular thing I can come up with as a use initially.

What else are you going to be using yours for Walt?
 
When I looked 2 years ago you couldn’t touch a good enough laser for under 4k, and the better units were 10k, so I went with a marking methods electronic etching machine that lets me make any pattern a dot matrix printer can put out.

I’ll get some blueing equipment before I setup up to a laser, but I still watch the unit cost as well.
 
When I looked 2 years ago you couldn’t touch a good enough laser for under 4k, and the better units were 10k, so I went with a marking methods electronic etching machine that lets me make any pattern a dot matrix printer can put out.

I’ll get some blueing equipment before I setup up to a laser, but I still watch the unit cost as well.

Yea I wouldn't call the 4500-5500mw lasers (often called 20W by the hobby community, but they're not) "good" by any means. But the cost on them has come down enough that you can at least buy something functional for a couple hundred bucks versus 3-4k now. Question is if they're good enough...

I looked at the marking methods, but by the time I'm into it more than a laser. Similar situation for what people want for a use and abused old hermes these days. They're not $175 anymore =/
 
For $3000 you certainly can. More powerful CO2 lasers above the 5000mw range, or fiber lasers as bought above can clearly cermark things. Thats how most of these custom yeti mugs with a black logo on them are done. Walt will have to answer if you can truely etch stainless with that price range/class laser, I have no hope of that with a less powerful laser.

I'm trying to figure out if you can do cermark/oxide blackening with reasonable quality and not a lot of hassle with a $300 machine. That is also a permanent marking and can look great when done well, you have to take a couple though off the diameter of the barrel to remove it, sandpaper won't remove it.
 
If you're talking about engraving deep enough for BATFE required engravings- and large enough to hold a 2-1/2' barrel- my research a couple of years ago told me no way within what I was willing to spend. I'm sure that's moderated somewhat with tech advances, but I'm confident it's still largely the case

I looked for one where I might take barrels to have the work done- not a single one could I find within at least 100 miles. Small capacity- plaques, trophies, etc. was the rule.

For logos, etc. should be fine. I'm looking at acid etching for this as it's much more economical and still deep enough to not wash out with Cerakote.
 
If you're talking about engraving deep enough for BATFE required engravings- and large enough to hold a 2-1/2' barrel- my research a couple of years ago told me no way within what I was willing to spend. I'm sure that's moderated somewhat with tech advances, but I'm confident it's still largely the case

I looked for one where I might take barrels to have the work done- not a single one could I find within at least 100 miles. Small capacity- plaques, trophies, etc. was the rule.

For logos, etc. should be fine. I'm looking at acid etching for this as it's much more economical and still deep enough to not wash out with Cerakote.

Definitely not BATFE engravings - I'm not an FFL. This is for professional looking barrel markings, which have no requirement. I've seen a lot of barrels from bigger shops using what looks like cermark etching and it looks good - which is what I'm looking for.

Like you - I asked around locally and for a 1-off most places wanted $50 for ~30 min of work while I waited. Not unreasonable - but for an hour of my time to drive, wait time, etc. I'm willing to cough up a couple hundred bucks to do it in the shop is possible
 
I bought a Brother PT-P700 label printer, using stencil tape STE-151, battery charger, salt water can etch a pretty decent caliber designation on a stainless barrel. Look on youtube, lots of videos but most are knife makers. Hell of a lot better than a set of stamps.
 

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