A Guide To Etching An Image Onto Your Case - Overclock.net

lattyware · 02-25-08

A Guide To Etching An Image Onto Your Case

This is a little guide based upon my expirences. Note I've only done this a few times, so don't trust me too far. The results speak for themselves.

OK, first off for etching/engraving you will need a dremel, or a dremel like tool, and the right kind of bit. You will need a pattern you want to draw on, the surface you are etching on, and some masking tape. Scissors will help.

Note this was just a test run on an old case, and there are pre-existing scratches on it. I recommend doing a test run on something you can expend before trying it for real, and it's probably best to do that with every design you do.

Remember, the image wants to be pretty simple and easy to see.

Now, grab the image, and cut it down to the right size, leaving a sizeable area around the actual image, then masking tape it down, trying to make it as flat as possible.

Now you need to make a load of strips and put them down over the image. You should be able to see through the masking tape onto the image below. Try not to overlap, and put on the strips so facing the way the majority of your lines are facing if possible. Crossing over strips is annoying.

OK, now put in the right bit. For the first part, I use a ball one, this is big enough that you can get through everything well, and you don't have to worry too much about the width of it, as it covers a nice area.

Turn it on as slow as you can, and turn the surface so you will be tracing your first line going in the same direction as the dremel is spinning.

And from there on, it is pretty much the same. Add masking tape to keep any parts that flap up held down, and go around the entire image. It can be disconcerting, as you can't see how you are going, but stick with it.

Once you have gone over all of the lines, take off all of your supporting tape. Check you havn't missed anything while doing this. Once done, remove the base image if you are happy.

And that's done! Or not. It's unlikely to be exactly how you want it, where you have gone too lightly in an area, or grazed an area, and the lines are unlikely to be smooth. Go over any obvious bits you want done again to clean them up.

Once you have done that, clean it up some more with a smaller bit. The cone shaped bit is the one I use, this has a sharp point and is great for getting nice edges.

Note this was just a test run on an old case, and there are pre-existing scratches on it. Those were not caused by my work just now! I recommend doing a test run on something you can expend before trying it for real, and it's probably best to do that with every design you do.

See this thread on my switch for another bit I have done.

Have fun!