Can you laser etch a Glock slide with 60w CO2?

[Matthew Mann]

We have lurking around Sawmill Creek for awhile when we need help with something and finally made an account to get some real help.

We have been approached many times from random costumers about engraving firearms. We normally turn them away because we do not know how to do it and do not want to be responsible for destroying their weapon. We do a lot of work for our States Law Enforcement Division and were asked by one of their officers if we could engrave a name onto the slide of the Glock. He then told us that if we can do it then they will send out a state wide email letting officers know where they can get their guns engraved.

We have seen videos online using Fiber lasers and have read many post on here about the same thing. The problem is we do not have a Fiber laser. We have a Universal 60W, 30W and 25W CO2 lasers.

Long story short, is it possible to laser a Glock slide with what we have?

Any methods and ideas are welcomed. Any information you need from me, just ask. This could be a huge contract for us.

[Gary Hair]

No, a co2 won't mark it properly. If it's such a huge contract then it would be time to get a fiber and open yourself up to many more opportunities. Oh, and don't forget to get an FFL if you are engraving firearms.

[Matthew Mann]

Can anything like CerMark be used on it?

We just bought the 60W laser and do not have the budget for another machine.

[John Lifer]

Matthew, NO my 80watt CO2 wouldn't cut thru my wife's G17 worth a cr@p. It made a mark, but it really only slightly etched the finish. In fact, that finish on the Glocks IS TOUGH! My 20w fiber doesn't go thru it very fast. Multiple Passes to get a decent mark.
Pass for now, Get your FFL, and then get a fiber. 30w if you can, 20w will work.

[Chris DeGerolamo]

I etch lots of Glocks... 30w on CO2 is enough for me to make a discernible permanent mark.

[Matthew Mann]

Thanks all for your feedback.

Our customer is going to bring us one of his old Glocks to test on. Can not hurt to try.

[John Lifer]

It marks, it doesn't make a good engraving. It isn't really permanent, but go for it!

[Kev Williams]

YES on the Cermark, buy some Pearl White LMM-6150, just be prepared to choke at the price- But it'll last a long time--

-I have some of that light gray Enduramark that came with the sample pack, I need to try it on an old half rusty .22 barrel I have here...

Tips on the white Cermark: don't accidentally add regular Cermark to it. It will become Pearl Tan. ;)
---note it probably won't be all that white anyway---
---instructions say to spray it, this is because the floaties in it need to disperse evenly, and they don't very will with a brush, so plan on spraying it-

As for an FFL-- even my hard___ ATF agent who served me a cease and desist, says slides, and barrels WITHOUT receivers attached are okay to engrave without a license...

[Matthew Mann]

That is a big help, thank you for the information. We will try the Blackening Cermark first just to see if we can get it to stick before dropping that much money on the pearl white.

[Tim Bateson]

Depends is my answer. I have used Co2, Fiber, even CerMark on weapons. The "depends" is the customer's expectations. Some are 100% OK with a CO2 and/or CerMark markings. Most however prefer deeper engraving. Even my Gantry style Epilog 30w Fiber wasn't enough to satisfy a few customers. That's why I now have a 50w Galvo style laser, which from my initial testing seems like over-kill. The real key (I believe) was moving from gantry to galvo.

[Mike Null]

This is an example of white Cermark on a forged hammer.
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[Kev Williams]

white Cermark on a slide- I was never sure how bad I'd messed up my white when accidentally adding black to it, but based on Mike's pic, not much :)
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[Jed Lawrie]

It is possible. But as someone else mentioned, temper your expectations. Glocks use a tenifer finish and that is tough! The trick is slow speed and high power. I've seen better results with a vector score instead of a traditional raster engraving.

[Anthony Pearce]

I have no idea about the laser but done accept any lower receivers. Check with the ATF, I'm fairly certain you can do slide work but once you take the lower you need a federal license.

[Kev Williams]

I have no idea about the laser but done accept any lower receivers. Check with the ATF, I'm fairly certain you can do slide work but once you take the lower you need a federal license.
The way the law is actually spelled out, if a person only 'occasionally' deals in, engraves, repairs, 'gunsmiths' or coats/paints firearms, then said person is not by ATF definition a "gunsmith" or "dealer"- and as such, no license is required. The X factor is that "occasionally" is defined differently by different ATF agents. The agent I contacted 3 years ago gave me his blessing to engrave within the law (no serial numbering, that must be done by the MFR) because my gun engraving activities, which I can prove, account for less than 5% of my business income. However, the agent who served me feels that 'occasionally' doesn't exist, and that ANY engraving makes me "a gunsmith".

For now not having much gun business is a blessing because (a) it IS only 5% of my income and (b) the other 95% is always keeping me working 17 hours a day, and gun engraving is 'babysit' low profit work for me. Regardless, many gun shop owners and I have been discussing this issue and when some free time comes my way (ha ha) we're going up the ATF ladder until we find someone who can actually put a hard definition on what constitutes "occasional".

Until then-- yup, only slides and barrels sans receivers :)

[Tim Bateson]

I have no idea about the laser but done accept any lower receivers. Check with the ATF, I'm fairly certain you can do slide work but once you take the lower you need a federal license.

I agree with Kev. This is a juggling act. The ATF regulations are written in legalese. Meaning any two lawyers can and will disagree on the meaning. Same is true for ATF agents. I'm of the interpretation that Kev described. However to cover my... I did get my license. It's not a fun process by the way.

[Gary Hair]

I have no idea about the laser but done accept any lower receivers. Check with the ATF, I'm fairly certain you can do slide work but once you take the lower you need a federal license.

Unless it's the part with a serial number then as far as the BATF is concerned, it's just a piece of metal. Just don't allow the serialized part in your shop and you are safe.

[Chris DeGerolamo]

366662

This should end the debate...no photo trickery here, just a clean shot.

[John Lifer]

Looks like CO2 engraving. But it Ain't a fiber.... A WORLD of difference. I did several of my guns and the CO2 marks, but just not good enough. At least for me.

[Kev Williams]

This slide was brought in to me today, to be fixed ;)
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When I first saw it, and felt it, by eye it appeared to be either hit hard with a C02 or hit very lightly with a fiber, or maybe white Cermark...


no, someone actually diamond etched it...
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This is fine, actually, shows up nicely. Good way to wear out a diamond though! :D

However, this gun is going to be coated, and the owner wants the flag to show up under the coating. So my job is to match the flag as best as possible with my own flag and fiber it to at least .003" deep... Which I'll be doing in a few minutes from now... :)

[Matthew Mann]

Would love to see the final product.

[Tim Bateson]

... So my job is to match the flag as best as possible with my own flag and fiber it to at least .003" deep... Which I'll be doing in a few minutes from now... :)

You lined this up & engraved over it??? That would take forever to lineup perfectly. Just a hair off and those dots (stars) are gone.

[Kev Williams]

turns out it didn't matter, I ran a cross hatch 'polish sweep', like 50 power & 70 freq, over the original and it wiped out 90% of the diamond etch, which is a testament to how hard Glock slides are. I'll see if I can get the shop owner to send me a pic once it's finished...