On Sun, 20 Dec 2009 15:56:14 -0700, "Bob La Londe"
wrote:

"Martin H. Eastburn" wrote in message
...
Best bet is with a D point engraving point that is turning fast.
If you are mechanically dragging take the paper off! More force in
reverse.

Martin

wrote:
On Dec 16, 3:49 pm, "Bob La Londe" wrote:
Thanks guys. I got my stock of brass name plates in a while back and
they
all have a paper coating on the finished side. I was wondering if I
would
get a better looking result if I engraving it first peel and then peel
the
paper or if I peel it first. I am using a spring loaded drag engraver
in my
mini mill to do the engraving. Figured I would mill a tight pocket in a
block of wood and just drop the plates in it to do the work. Then there
is
no messy fidgeting around with placement.

Regardless of how many answers you get here, I would try both.
Engraving it first might be better because you do not get scratches on
the smooth surface. Or it might be worse because it is a pain to peel
the paper off after engraving.

One experiment is worth ten theories. Please let us know what you
find out.

Well, I have the same old hassles all over again.

I cut a beautiful pocket in a block of wood. Measured it. Yep. Just
right. I tried to drop my first brass plate in to engrave it and
discovered... they vary in height and width by up 1/16 inch. Most over
sized. Sigh. Time to over cut my pocket and rig up some kind of narrow
clamp for them at each edge.

I'm not sure about your nameplates but we machined damaged portions of
Boeing 707 trim tabs by sticking them to a vertical milling machine
table with double back tape. Of course the "tabs" were as long as the
table but the idea might apply.

Or you might use a similar system as an engraving vise, movable jaws
with pins which hold the work piece. Try
http://www.progresstool.com/pd_grs_e...h_4_pins. cfm
It should be easy to modify a conventional milling vise to add the
pins.

Regards,

J.B.