Metal Marking Example

[AccelR8]

I posted once or twice about this method before. Electrochemical etching with a stencil. I've been using salt water as the electrolyte. If someone needs a cost effective method to do a few marks (probably not best for production work) look into this method. This stencil was from dogfightink .com.

Vey hard to photograph Finish is Norrell's Molyresin.

 

[STOMP442]

That looks good. Can you explain the process and what you use to do it?

 

[LVLAaron]

I played with this a little, just used a bench power supply and salt water... My problem is the stencils.

 

[GenePoole]

The etching part is pretty easy; it's the stencils that are the tough part.

Edit: Aaron beat me to it.

 

[BuffaloBill]

That marking looks great. I had picked up a used marking system for this at a show a few years ago. I just have to get stencils some place. I checked out the dogfightink website. Under stencils I see a bunch of AR stencil stuff. Did you just send them an email describing what you wanted for text on your barrel?

 

[GenePoole]

I've tried a few different techniques. Best seems to be dilute HCl (Muriatic Acid from hardware store), and a graphite rod with some felt attached to the end. This works well on stainless, CrMo and Aluminum.

For stencils, I've used drag-knife cutters and even tried a laser attached to my 3d-printer head. It's tough to get a decent cut that will transfer to the barrel.

 

[LVLAaron]

For about 6000 bucks you can get a 50-watt fiber laser that can do anything we need. :/

 

[LVLAaron]

I've tried a few different techniques. Best seems to be dilute HCl (Muriatic Acid from hardware store), and a graphite rod with some felt attached to the end. This works well on stainless, CrMo and Aluminum.

For stencils, I've used drag-knife cutters and even tried a laser attached to my 3d-printer head. It's tough to get a decent cut that will transfer to the barrel.

A few weeks ago I found a place that sells some material you can run through a fairly inexpensive Brother label printer.. I'll try and find it.

 

[GenePoole]

A few weeks ago I found a place that sells some material you can run through a fairly inexpensive Brother label printer.. I'll try and find it.

Tried that too. Not very good results at all.

 

[LVLAaron]

Lasers it is!

OMTech Galvo 50W Split Fiber Laser Engraver for Metal with 7.9" x 7.9" Working Area

Improve your marking and engraving projects with OMTech Galvo 50W fiber laser machine. Experience its versatility and reliability today!

omtechlaser.com

 

[tobnpr]

I played with this a little, just used a bench power supply and salt water... My problem is the stencils.

Buy a Cricut for a few hundred bucks.
I use it for cutting hi-bake Cerakote stencils, as well as designing my own stencils for etching caliber/logo on barrels.
Etching takes some time, so it's not practical for a high-volume shop but the process works well.

 

[LVLAaron]

I've got a cricut. It's almost impossible to make small stencils. I don't feel like the quality of it matches the cost of a barrel job... Right now I use some small metal stamps.. I just keep it low to the stock line and keep it small.

 

[AccelR8]

That looks good. Can you explain the process and what you use to do it?

Yes I will do so later this evening. Working right now( on lunch). But in the mean time there are plenty of videos out there explaining the process. But I'll do an overview later quote you here so you get a notification when I get it posted here.

 

[AccelR8]

That marking looks great. I had picked up a used marking system for this at a show a few years ago. I just have to get stencils some place. I checked out the dogfightink website. Under stencils I see a bunch of AR stencil stuff. Did you just send them an email describing what you wanted for text on your barrel?

On the web site, click Stencils, then scroll down and click Misc. Stencils, then scroll down and look in the left column for Custom Rollmark Stencil. After you place your order send an e-mail with what the stencil should say. I also specify plain, simple text and the size, like approximarely 1/8 inch tall, 3/16 inch etc. I think the one pictured here I asked for about 4.5 mm if I remember correctly.

 

[AccelR8]

Stencil making is one of those things like barrel profiling. Yeah, you can do it almost for free in terms of cost of materials, but in terms of time you are much further ahead paying someone who is set up to do it efficiently.

 

[akajun]

New Hermes pantographs are not hard to find and not that expensive. Manual drag machines are about 2-300 and sets of types are about $100 each. If you wanted to get a powered head go to about 500-800.

 

[V35]

Will it get deep enough to be visible after Cerakote? I assume it wont work over Cerakote?

 

[Judd]

Etchomatic makes a similar “kit”. I bought one used off Sniperhide and sat down over Labor Day to learn how to use it. I got the stencil maker and the engraver.

My first attempt was a fail…seems a laser jet printer doesn’t print dark enough and the exposure light can get through it, exposing where you want it blank. After some emails asking, they gave me some things to try but I’ve not been back on that yet. Soon…

 

[V35]

I wonder what the Go-To place is around Ft Worth is for someone to do a laser job on barrels?
I usually just stamp mine, but it looks archaic.

 

[LVLAaron]

I wonder what the Go-To place is around Ft Worth is for someone to do a laser job on barrels?
I usually just stamp mine, but it looks archaic.

I think the stamps look really cool if they're done right. It's hard to do them right.