Questions about engraving

[multi-newbie]

Hello everyone, I am new to this forum and also to multi-tools.  I entered this strange and intoxicating universe of blades and pliers while looking for ideas for gifts best man groomsmen and ushers at my upcoming wedding. I Am now hoping to get some advice on engraving.  Have any of you gotten your leathermen engraved?  If so, from where, and how did they do it?  Laser engraving?  Etched in the metal? 

Ideally I'd like to get a two Squirt PS4's, two Juice XE6's and a Charge (not sure which yet), but don't know how the engraving would work for any of these.  I've checked various online dealers, and some offer engraving services, but offer little to no information on what or where they do it.  I'm suspicious that the $6 engraving option at some of these places will be a crap job.

So, if anyone can share their experiences getting their leatherman (or any other multi-tools) engraved, I'd be very grateful.  And the more specific information, the better.  Thanks so much.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I have had laser engraving and traditional engraving done on a variety of knives and tools in the past, and I have to say that laser is a much nicer looking end product.  It's also a bit "safer."

If there is a finish on the tool, it can end up getting chipped by a standard engraver, and end up looking like this poor blue ALOX Classic I have:



Laser etching on the other hand is done with- and get this- a laser, and therefore is very accurate and doesn't damage the surface, other than where the laser hits.









It's almost instantaneous as you can see form this video, so it's more preferable if you are doing a larger number of items.



If you have both services available to you, the laser is likely to be the more expensive of the two, but I personally feel it's worth it.  If you are only doing two or three units with no fancy finish on them, you may want to consider standard engraving, which is certainly nice enough for names, dates and so on.

If you have any more questions, feel free to let them fly!

Def

[Neil]

I still love that video

[ryan1835]

i wonder what ones mine?

[multi-newbie]

Thanks. That video is COOL!  

Any recommendations on where I could get this done in Chicago?  And do you think any engraving shop with a laser engraver could do a good job on any of the Leatherman multitools?  It looks like I need only ones that have anodized aluminium on the handles for laser.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Laser engraving works on any surface, polished, coated or not.

As for what can get done in Chacago, I have spent one night in that city (well, in the airport!) against my will, and that's about all the experience I have there.  I'd suggest checking out your yellow pages for engravers and/or trophy shops, as well as any local promotional companies.  Or, if you want the easy route, contact Matt at www.rockynational.com and ask him if he can help you out with something.  That video is them doing the limited run of Gerber Shards for us.

The Artifact at the top was done by Dennis at www.gerber-tools.com, as was the MP600 Pro Scout below it.  The SOGs were done in house at SOG's plant, the black Leatherman Charge was a gift from Leatherman, and the blue and green Charges were a limited run we had done for the forum here a few years ago.

Getting a logo or fancy script is easy for a laser engraver, provided it is one color only.  Basically they input the image or text into a computer, line up the item under the laser and it gets burned into the surface.

Def

[WH867]

I want that Gerber

[Grant Lamontagne]

What, this old thing?











Def

[WH867]

   

[Grant Lamontagne]

Contact Dennis at www.gerber-tools.com and see if he'd be nice enough to crank one out for you.  He's the one that did this one.

Def

[MultiMat]

I had this done for a buddy on a SwissTool I gave him





It came up well I reckon.

Funny thing is I am hopping to do the same for a Leatherman Wave that I have organised for a work buddy who is leaving. Had to buy the thing inside Australia  , due too time constraints  . 90% of my MT's come from the US(MUCH cheaper  ) 

[multi-newbie]

Nice engraving job.  I would be thrilled if mine come out as well as that.

[specgrade]

 To the OP, I would contact a jewelry store and ask them. Just a thought.

Congratulations on the wedding! You have some lucky groomsmen!

[Outback in Idaho]

Future Leatherman Orange Juice... only when I can afford to get one. Used "Segeo Print" as the font, in size 14 using Paint. 



 

[multi-newbie]

Where do those Charge AL's with the different colors come from?  Those are Charges, right?  I can only find it in black.

To the OP, I would contact a jewelry store and ask them. Just a thought.

Congratulations on the wedding! You have some lucky groomsmen!

Thanks for the idea and yes, I'm pretty proud of my gift idea for them!

[Zed]

Where do those Charge AL's with the different colors come from?  Those are Charges, right?  I can only find it in black.

To the OP, I would contact a jewelry store and ask them. Just a thought.

Congratulations on the wedding! You have some lucky groomsmen!

Thanks for the idea and yes, I'm pretty proud of my gift idea for them!

there from this very site and i want one     

[Grant Lamontagne]

Those were a custom job we had done in a very limited number (five of each) a few years ago.

Def