Getting your weapon engraved is a fantastic way to add a little personal flair. Quite a few people ask to have their name or the name of their dojo engraved. I have also engraved logos and basic images.
Things to consider about an engraving:
- Engravings do not include color. The process creates a recess in the material, causing the text or image to be visible in the relief.
- Light-colored woods, such as maple and oak, as well as stainless steel, exhibit a darker discoloration in the engraved area.
- Darker woods or stainless steel that has been polished after engraving will tend to reveal their natural color in the engraved area, but the engraving remains very visible.
- Engravings can be further customised with "tipping-in," where color is added to the engraved area.
Tipping-in is a slow but visually appealing process that adds a touch of color to any large enough engraved area. Due to the work-intensive nature of tipping-in, each job is individually quoted and priced separately from the engraving. The process starts at $10 per site, with additional costs applying for larger engraved areas.