kestrel’s engraving

SUPPLY & resource

RECOMMENDATIONS
2 Engraving Supply Recommendations

intro
Have you been totally stumped by what to get for engraving? Well, honestly it’s a
quite simple list of supplies. Much shorter than a calligraphy list! Your wallet literally
just said, “Phew.”

request
This is a free guide in return for being on my email list. Please do not forward to
friends. Please ask them to download from my website themselves. Besos!!

Dust mask
• Cotton Face Mask with replaceable PM2.5 Activated Carbon Mask: There are a few
brands on Amazon and they come in lots of colors and patterns. I have one plain
black and one in a pretty Asian floral pattern. The masks come with a handful of the
filter inserts and more can be purchased if needed. These masks are definitely a big
step up from the standard Home Depot masks (important when working at swanky
department stores or luxury on-site events) and they are a lot more comfortable.
• A little tip: If you push the mask tight on the bridge of your nose and then put the
glasses on top of it, it helps prevent your breath from escaping upward and fogging
your glasses.

safety glasses
• I wear reading glasses so they also serve as a layer between me and the glass dust. I
know, I know, they aren’t really “safety glasses” but there are not actual chunks of
glass/metal flying around when you engrave. If you don’t need glasses to see straight,
fake non-prescription glasses are a cute alternative. You can check out payneglasses.
com (or another online eyeglass site) for many options under $15.
• Amazon: If you search “fashion safety
glasses” or “women’s safety glasses,” you
will find more feminine options and
many are under $10 (like these leopard
print ones for $5!).

inkmethis.com | calligraphy and engraving | kestrel montes | @inkmethis

3 Engraving Supply Recommendations

marking/drafting
• Flexible ruler: Great for marking round objects as it will bend around a wine
bottle, for example. (I have the 12” Wescott Transparent Ruler: Amazon.)
• Fine tip permanent marker: Any brand will do. I keep silver and black in my
supplies for good visibility on dark or light surfaces. The marker will rub off with
the glass dust or can be cleaned off with rubbing alcohol.
• Stabillo All Pencil: This is a waxy pencil that will mark glass and metal well yet wipe
off with a paper towel.

color fill:
• Rub n Buff: A permanent wax paint that sticks to the rough, engraved area but will
buff off of the surrounding smooth surface with a paper towel. Sometimes it takes
a bit of elbow grease! I normally purchase on Amazon but have found it at my local
art store. Silver and Grecian Gold are my favorites. If you can find the Antique
White, it is nice for brightening the engraving while leaving a “natural” look.
• Acrylic paint pen: Give them a try! Some work great. Apply and buff off like Rub n
Buff. You may have some laying around that you can re-purpose.
• Word of caution: Rub n Buff will not come off paper so avoid the label. It may
seem like a no-brainer but when you are focused on the engraving, it’s easy to goof!
Do not use on frosted glass items as the frosting creates a rough surface that won’t
allow you to buff the excess off.

household items:
• Qtips: Perfect for applying the Rub n Buff so that you don’t ruin your paint brushes.
They also help use less than applying with a paper towel.
• Paper towels: For cleaning off the Rub n Buff.
• Rubbing alcohol: Gets the Rub n Buff off your hands and other unwanted areas.

inkmethis.com | calligraphy and engraving | kestrel montes | inkmethis

4 Engraving Supply Recommendations

hand support
• Microbead pillow: Perfect for holding round/abnormal objects and gives your
hand a rest to stabilize you while engraving.

about burs
• Bur vs Burr: First, I cannot help but include a little spelling lesson! (Sorry, former
high school teacher over here.) A bur is a rough, prickly husk around a seed while a
burr is a sharp, pointy object (aka, thorn). In our case, we are using a rough object
covered in prickly diamond bits. So, bur is the correct spelling.
• Sintered vs. Electroplated: Sintered burs have multiple layers of diamond bits so
that as they wear down, another layer is exposed. Electroplated burs just have a
single layer of diamond bits on the surface. While they do not last as long, I do find
electroplated burs to be more cost effective.
• Bur shape: Like calligraphy nibs, you can experiment a little over time and find
what works best for you. Most engravers I know seem to prefer ball tip burs (me
included), but burs come in a huge range of shapes including footballs, cones,
pointed, flat, etc. and there are those people who prefer other shapes.
• Color coding: I prefer
blue (standard/medium
grit) as it is coarse enough Super Coarse
to engrave well, yet not
so coarse as to leave the Extra Coarse
engraving rough and
chewed up looking. Finer Coarse
grits (if you can find them)
can be used for touching Medium
up or shading. Fine

Extra Fine

Super Fine

inkmethis.com | calligraphy and engraving | kestrel montes | @inkmethis

5 Engraving Supply Recommendations

purchasing burs
• A search for “diamond bit ball bur” will get you started in the right direction. Pay
attention to the size. You need to make sure the shaft will fit your engraver (3/32”
or 1/16” for the INKMETHIS Calligraphy Engraver). Then, make sure the tip is a
size you prefer. I use burs in the .8-2.5 mm range.
• Burs can be purchased from: INKMETHIS.com, jewelry maker supply stores such
as Rio Grande, Amazon, Ebay (normally take one+ months to arrive), woodcrafting
supply sites such as Treeline, dental supply companies.

bur lubricant
• Using a lubricant while engraving will make
your burs last longer. Some people simply use
water (spritz the glass). I use BurLife from
riogrande.com in the solid cone version.
I buy the refill packs as shown here (6 for
about $25). You simply touch the bur to the
cone while spinning to coat the surface.

learning opportunities
• Instagram account @calligraphyengraving: An account dedicated to sharing tips
and featuring other people’s engraving posts. Just tag @calligraphyengraving to
potentially be featured.
• Ebook Engraving Guide: Nina Umont of Sandelin Designs has written a
comprehensive ebook walking you through her process and sharing engraving
techniques. It’s available for download from sandelindesigns.com (and also
includes a coupon for her one-on-one private lessons via Skype).
• Online course: This will be my next project! Stay tuned and make sure you are on
my email list.
• Word of caution: Some people teaching engraving have clauses that prohibit
their students from working in some locations or from ever becoming teachers
themselves. (Who knows where this will go for you, right?) While the teacher
would actually have to sue you and the clause would not hold up in a court of
law (non-compete agreements are specifically prohibited in many states), it does
demonstrate the philosophy of the person conducting the class. Please simply be
aware of the fine print when signing up for a course, live or online.

inkmethis.com | calligraphy and engraving | kestrel montes | inkmethis

6 Engraving Supply Recommendations

working events
• Rolling Makeup Artist Case: This thing is amazing!
It holds everything I need to take with me on the
road, rolls nicely, and looks appropriate in the event
venue environment. I have Amazon item number
B082KCXLBM but you can browse options and see
what you like best. If you are not ready to make the
purchase yet, you may already have a carry-on size
suitcase. That will work well, but you will have to lay it
on its side every time you need to access your supplies.
• Signage: I use a sign that says “Complimentary
Engraving” on one face and “Complementary
Calligraphy” on the reverse. I place the sign on the
table with the appropriate side facing the public
according to the job. You can certainly make your own
or I have added a laser engraved option to INKMETHIS.com.
• Name tag: I have a name that many people find difficult to understand, pronounce,
and remember. I often wear a name tag when I work events to save people the
embarrassment of struggling with my name. Plus, I want to give them the visual to
help them remember me and refer me in the future! Another item you can make
yourself or I have added a laser engraved option to INKMETHIS.com.
• Business Cards: Never leave home without a stack!

other miscellaneous:
This is just a silly list of other things I’ve learned to keep in my case to take with me
for my own sanity!
• Band-aids: Now that I mostly work from home, my feet aren’t so used to all my
super cute going out shoes!
• Deodorant: Nothing worse than getting to a venue and realizing you forgot to put
it on!
• Cough drops: Not only have they saved my life, I have been the hero when offering
them to others.
• Portable charger: Because I try to take lots of pictures at events, it’s nice to have
extra battery back-up. Costco has a great 10,000 mAh one by Ubio Labs.

inkmethis.com | calligraphy and engraving | kestrel montes | @inkmethis