StevenB Posted September 15, 2006 Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 This is how I do it! Engrave the brass to a depth of 0.3mm (minimum) Pour some paint out (I use Mastergrave's standard gloss filling paint) onto the plate & fill it into all the engraving it with a spreader. Remove any excess paint, but don't worry about it being too pretty at this stage. Set the plaque aside for a couple of hours to dry. Once the paint has dried, get an old copy of the yellow pages, pour some thinners onto it & spread out bigger than the size of your plaque, pop the plaque on to it & draw forwards off the phone book. This will remove most of the excess paint from the surface of the plaque. Now you just need to leave the paint to dry fully, and you can give a final polish - I use brasso or peek. Hey presto, Job's a good 'un. Cash in the till, happy customer - next please! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironplanet uk900 Posted September 15, 2006 Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 Looks like nice Engraving that steve, Nice Logo. I won't ask how much you charged Might start a war I'm not sure about the clean up method though, The fumes off the thinners would take the gloss of the finish of your infill, especially with larger/thicker areas. Plus with larger infilled areas the paper would pucker up slightly with the wettness of the thinners and touch the areas you trying not to touch. I think it is better with a flat surface (PET TAG) wrapped in clothe, you have so much more control of what you are doing, and you can use as little thinners as possible without it entering the text/logo. Leaving a high gloss quality finish to the infilled area. Jobs a good un though and the money's in the till. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TITs Posted September 15, 2006 Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 where did you get the blank disks from or do you die cut them yourself ? They look thick 1-2mm is that right Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenB Posted September 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 To be honest, UK900, I don't think I've ever had to do any colour filled signs much wider than this, certainly not like the width of the samples elsewhere on the forum. For basic text filling such as this, the fact that the phone book is flat means it works in a similar way to your disc method, keeping the 2 surfaces level with each other. I'm gonna have to do a sample of wide filling now so that I can compare & contrast! At the end of the day, I find this technique quick & easy - and it works for me! p.s. yes, I charged a fair price which meant the customer was happy, & so was I! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenB Posted September 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 The brass is standard 1½mm thickness & I get a local supplier to cut them for me as i don't have the facilities to do it myself! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironplanet uk900 Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 To be honest, UK900, I don't think I've ever had to do any colour filled signs much wider than this, certainly not like the width of the samples elsewhere on the forum.For basic text filling such as this, the fact that the phone book is flat means it works in a similar way to your disc method, keeping the 2 surfaces level with each other. I'm gonna have to do a sample of wide filling now so that I can compare & contrast! At the end of the day, I find this technique quick & easy - and it works for me! p.s. yes, I charged a fair price which meant the customer was happy, & so was I! If it works for you then thats all that counts, It looks a cracking job to me. Just for the record Steve, try it the way we do it next time, see what you think What machine are you using. Because if the engraving area is big enough, which it must be because you have engraved it yourself, you can cut the material out yourself, Which would save you alot of money. We cut all sorts of shapes out for special jobs. If you haven't done this before, I'd be more than happy to show you Regards uk900 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenB Posted September 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 These plates were 150mm diameter, my engraving size is 210 x 120mm. The logo was the very biggest I could achieve on the plates!! Would be good to meet up & have a chat if you'll be at the show? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TITs Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 Now stay calm when I ask, but what do they charge for these round plates, I have been asked by a brewer to do some for there pubs and your sample looks like just the thing, Good size, and if I dare ask what did you retail them at Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironplanet uk900 Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 Hi there (IT) For a brass plate round 5"x5" I would charge £34.80 with no limit to the amount of text, But would charge extra if a logo was required. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenB Posted September 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 You'll notice that I have been careful so far to specifically not say what I charged for these. I'm not sure if I should reveal what I priced them at, as in past experience naming prices has just caused an unnecessary furore! I'll think on this one over the weekend & get back to you. To put the boot on the other foot, what engraving have you been asked for and what ball park figure do you think you should charge your customer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironplanet uk900 Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 These plates were 150mm diameter, my engraving size is 210 x 120mm.The logo was the very biggest I could achieve on the plates!! Would be good to meet up & have a chat if you'll be at the show? I'll be at the show, Are you looking to get a new machine? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TITs Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 £34.80? Is that £29.?? +vat or just a figure you came up with ? I have few " Magic" numbers I use £38.90 & £62.90 I had the vat man ask me how I came up with these totals on my POS all the time ! I had to put my hand s up and say that they were just nice sounding number and based on only one was under £40 and one was over £60, he looked puzzled and told me he only asked because they had mistery shopped me and I charged £38.90 for a viynl sign and they couldnt work out how I had came to that amount when they looked at my return there were hundreds of £38.90 & £62.90.............. is there a good supplyer of Brass & Ali That anyone can recomend, I use mastergrave at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironplanet uk900 Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 I have a price matrix, which I use religiously, In case they come back for repeat orders, can be embarassing if you charge a totally different price. Didn't realise the tax man would snoop around trying to work out how you price things up. They just asked me outright Engravamet are a decent material supplier (01902-386664) You can barter on the price a bit Regards uk900 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenB Posted September 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2006 Yes, I will be at the show looking at new machines!! Exciting stuff... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kobblers Posted September 17, 2006 Report Share Posted September 17, 2006 nice to see you's keeping the taxman on his toes snoopy li'l gets deserve it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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