Pen Engraving

[Eric Richardson]

I am looking for a price on having a name laser engraved on pens that I make. Anyone interested or can point me in the right direction?

[Randy Meijer]

www.kallenshaanwoods.com

[Mike Moffitt]

Eric,
I'm a hobbiest woodworking and just found the this site. My wife and I just started up a laser engraving business and have been doing lots of pens. If you are interested, please e-mail me or checkout our website at www.space-engravers.com we usually have a $4.00 shop minimum but if you need some pens engraved I can do them for $2.50 each. Maybe even less if you are getting the same thing engraved on each one. Give me a shout!

[Keel McDonald]

Eric,
I'm a hobbiest woodworking and just found the this site. My wife and I just started up a laser engraving business and have been doing lots of pens. If you are interested, please e-mail me or checkout our website at www.space-engravers.com we usually have a $4.00 shop minimum but if you need some pens engraved I can do them for $2.50 each. Maybe even less if you are getting the same thing engraved on each one. Give me a shout!

Hey Mike, is that deal good for the rest of us too? Nice looking stuff on your website. Does the surface have to be flat to engrave on it? Some of the pens I make aren't just flat, but have somewhat of a design in them.

[Joe Pelonio]

we usually have a $4.00 shop minimum but if you need some pens engraved I can do them for $2.50 each. Maybe even less if you are getting the same thing engraved on each one.

That's a great price Mike, my retail minimum is $10, wholesale $5.

[Mike Moffitt]

Guys,
I would give any of you guys that price...I'm thinking if you can pick up shipping both ways then I can do the pens...They don't have to be flat surfaces, just can't have huge swings in height or the laser becomes out of focus. Also, I would add engraving to the other side of the pen if you want it for $1.50 more. If you have a logo that is simple and art ready (ie in black and white line art ready to engrave) I would not charge extra for that. Let me know if you guys are interested. I can send you a sample pen to get an idea of what it looks like. I'm away on business right now (I'm in the Air Force full time, engraving is our other business) so just shoot an e-mail to info@space-engravers.com and my wife will get a pen out to you (for serious customers only please).

Thanks for your interest.

Mike

[Ken Frisby]

Mike,

With the prices you charge I should just sub contract to you. You really can't be making any money if you concider overhead, time, material and equipment cost.

[Mike Moffitt]

Ken,
You are right...right now I'm not really making much money. We started our business a few months ago after doing engraving for other people and are really just trying to get our names known. Since we run out of our house there isn't too much overhead, so it's just our time and equipement that we try to make up. I figure if I can do enough jobs at a good price, then people will call back for other jobs...as we get our names and quality of work known, we can start adjusting our prices a little bit. Everyone has told me so far that we charge too little, but I've never really been the greedy type either...

Mike

[Joe Pelonio]

Mike,

You can get burned on that, when one of your earlier customers gives you a referal or comes back with a huge order and expects the same price. Remember too that once warranty is up it could cost a lot to repair the laser, that has to be added to your overhead. You might also try getting some wholesale work for local sign shops with just rotary or no engraver
or CNC.

I sell a lot of cut acrylic lettering to other shops, priced just barely below the prices of the "big wholesale place" most people use, plus they don't have to pay me shipping if local or extra for artwork if they provide a vector file. In fact I got a letter from that place asking why I hadn't ordered any letters from them in over a year.

[Mike Moffitt]

Joe,
Thanks for the advise. I love these boards because I learn so much and everyone is so helpful. I'll keep what you said in mind. I've been considering checking with some of the sign shops in town but wasn't sure about the demand they have for laser engraving...

Mike

[Joe Pelonio]

Joe,
I've been considering checking with some of the sign shops in town but wasn't sure about the demand they have for laser engraving...
Mike

Mike,

Many sub it out already, or have only a rotary engraver. Show them samples of your work. The laser has much better resolution, without the rounded points from the rotary bit.

Another tip I should have thought of before this last customer just came in. Ask when they need it before giving the price. This guy has an electrical Co., and ordered circuit panel signs for the "party house" and "garden house" for what sounds like a mansion near Bill Gates' house. After I gave him the price he said they have the final inspection Monday so he needs them tomorrow. Could have added a rush charge.

[Mike Moffitt]

Joe,
I've already ran into that a couple of times. I give someone a price and then ask when they need it and they say, "well, how soon can you get it done..." or "I need it in a 30 minutes..." I might have to institute a rush charge at some point as well...

Mike

[Mike Ramsey]

Question about pen engraving...Can you guys laser a pen with the
finish applied or does it need to be done prior to applying the
finish?

[Bruce Volden]

Question about pen engraving...Can you guys laser a pen with the
finish applied or does it need to be done prior to applying the
finish?

I prefer to have EVERYTHING I laser finished first. Bruce

[Joe Pelonio]

Question about pen engraving...Can you guys laser a pen with the
finish applied or does it need to be done prior to applying the
finish?

I prefer to have EVERYTHING I laser finished first. Bruce

I agree, less likely to cause discolration around the engraving. You can
always apply more finish to the engraved bare wood after you get them back.