How to Engrave Stainless-Steel Dog Tags

Because stainless steel is a very hard metal, engraving it can be a difficult task and is generally only attempted by professionals due to the tools and work involved. In fact, many engraving firms avoid doing stainless steel engraving because of the difficulty. Engraved stainless steel dog tags make for a distinctive and lasting keepsake item.

Things You'll Need

  • Engraving machine
  • Clamps
  • Metalworking coolant
  • Scotch-Brite or other brand scrubbing pad
  • Paper Towel
  • Depth nose regulator (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Make sure the cutter on your engraving machine is sharp. A cutter that is worn and not perfectly sharp will produce inferior results, or not be able to carve into the stainless steel at all.

    • 2

      Clamp the dog tag to be engraved firmly in place. Use the clamps that come with your engraving machine, but you may also want to add clamps of your own as well. The dog tag cannot move at all once the engraving begins.

    • 3

      Keep the dog tag lubricated during engraving. Use a metalworking coolant in your engraving machine's lubrication system. If your machine does not come equipped with a lubrication system, you can create one by filling a small plastic tub with metalworking coolant and placing this beneath the engraving table. Place an aquarium pump in the tub with clear plastic aquarium line running up to the engraving table. The coolant should drip backward off the engraving table into the tub so that the coolant is recycled.

    • 4

      On the engraving machine, set the cutter speed to maximum and the vertical speed to the minimum speed. Follow the instructions for your engraving machine to operate the engraver.

    • 5

      While engraving maintain a consistent depth. A depth of .006 inches is recommended. A depth nose regulator will make it easier to maintain a consistent depth.

    • 6

      After the dog tag is engraved, remove it from the clamps. If a depth nose regulator was used it may have left some marks on the metal. These and any other marks or rough edges can be cleaned using a Scotch-Brite scrubbing pad. Make sure to rub the pad in the same direction as the grain on the metal.