dremel and masking

[Tony Delica]

I have a project wherein I tape a piece of wood and then dremel (engrave?) small numbers into the wood through the tape. Afterwards, I spray with black enamel, then remove the tape. The idea is that the engraving is painted and I don't have to clean paint off the wood yadda.

Unfortunately, the dremel tool (using a 1/16" or 3/32" ball bit) leaves the tape's edges fuzzy, or pulls the tape out of places like the inside of an 8's loop.

Any ideas on improvements to technique or materials? I don't want to hand-paint the numbers; there will be something like 400 of them by the time I am done.

Pictured is a prototype as I try different things. You can tell on a different edge, I tryed using Dykem. Easy to apply but the wood soaked it up and it did what it do. The workpiece is 3/4" x 3/4" x 7 1/2"

[Michael Janich]

Dear Tony Delica:

Welcome to the Spyderco Forum.

Stay safe,

Mike

[hereiamu1]

Try using an exacto knife to cut the outline in the tape.

[bobnikon]

I can't see the picture, but what about just sanding the face afterwards?

[RustyIron]

^^^What Bob said.

I've done it plenty of times on metal that's been stamped, etched, cast, etc. The only unknown is if the paint will soak into the high-points of the wood, where you don't want it. It might be necessary to put some kind of finsh on the wood before engraving.

[kennethsime]

^^^What Bob said.

I've done it plenty of times on metal that's been stamped, etched, cast, etc. The only unknown is if the paint will soak into the high-points of the wood, where you don't want it. It might be necessary to put some kind of finsh on the wood before engraving.

Some folks use nail polish as a mask. I wonder if that might be a more precise version of masking tape? Easily removed with nail polish remover afterwards.

[Tony Delica]

Some folks use nail polish as a mask. I wonder if that might be a more precise version of masking tape? Easily removed with nail polish remover afterwards.

Interesting idea. As long as the paint doesn't get attacked by acetone,...

I did have a test with floor wax and spray paint. The paint came off remarkably easily.

[Tony Delica]

I've been slacking, but the bone blanks are made.