Custom Engraving, Colac

Our engravers work from our Colac store, providing high-quality and fast services locally. We use a range of methods to engrave materials such as wood, metal, plastic, glass and more. We can also engrave our online products in-store and then post them anywhere in Australia.

Diamond Drag (Traditional) Engraving

Diamond drag engraving  is a process where the engraving is cut into the metal which gives depth to the engraved message. This type of engraving works best on baby bracelets, baby brooches and ID bracelets. It’s a great way to add a name to any special gift.

Laser Engraving

Laser engraving is the most versatile form of engraving. Laser engraving can be done on many surfaces, including glass, acrylic, wood, stainless steel, paper, card stock, cardboard, rubber and leather. Laser engraving can also cut materials up to 3mm thick, including paper, card stock, cardboard, acrylic, wood, some plastics and fabrics. Projects that have been made by the laser engraver include models made from Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) timber, guitar fretwork, pieces of furniture, buttons for quilts, buttons with woodworkers’ name on it to be placed onto the furniture being made, chopping boards, cards using paper, wood and acrylic cut-out shapes, rubber stamps, brooches, trophies and compliance plates.

Sublimation Printing

Sublimation is a process where items can be printed in full colour. This is a great way to brighten any gift with a personalised image or text of your choice. Photos, text and logos can be added to a variety of items, including coffee mugs, travel mugs, jigsaw puzzles, mouse mats, coasters, money boxes and key rings.

This method uses computer software to print transfer sheets which are then applied onto specially treated items using a heat and press process. The printing becomes part of the surface of the material and becomes very durable, although not suitable for outdoors. This process can be used to print onto metal plates as well as other specially treated items, including coffee mugs, name badges, ceramic ornaments, stubby holders, mouse mats, cushion covers and much more. The font style is really only limited to what is available to the computer software!

Etching

Etching is a process where an image or text is cut into the surface of a material either chemically or physically. The chemical process uses acids that affect exposed areas of the material. The method we use is physical and known as sandblasting.

With our method we produce a template of the image or text in a computer graphics package which is printed onto translucent vellum paper. This image is then transferred onto special UV-sensitive plastic film which produces a stick-on stencil. On the film the image is left as an exposed area and the rest that is to be “un-etched” is protected.

With the stencil firmly fixed to the item to be etched, and the rest of the item carefully wrapped, the stencil area is sandblasted giving the exposed area a frosted look and leaving the protected area unaffected. This process can be used on various surfaces, including glass, ceramics, metals, plastics and more.

The etched area can be left “natural” or can be paint-filled to highlight the effect. The images we are able to etch need to be outline drawings although some grey-scale images are able to produce acceptable results. We have found that children’s colouring pictures or tattoo images seem to work the best.

Most “Windows” fonts can be used, but those with fine detail lines may not reproduce as well as others. The “chunky” ones give better image results.

Glass Eetching

Glass etching can be done on many glass surfaces, including glass trophies, beer, wine, champagne and shot glasses and most other glass bottles. Glass engraving is frosted and can include logos, text or pictures.

If you have any questions about our engraving or etching services, please contact us.