How To Etch A Word Into PolyPro Or Silicone Material?

[kelticwizard]

I am trying to etch a word into a sheet of polypropylene or silicone material-the type of material used in ice trays. The material's color is aquamarine.

I don't trust tape or glue to get the word onto the surface, so I am forced to etch.

I am thinking of taking a cheap soldering iron to etch the word, then using white paint, (like typewriter eraser fluid), to brush over the area, then rubbing the paint off. This should leave the white fluid in the fissure the soldering gun made.

Crude, but it might work.

But I would greatly appreciate a better suggestion, especially one where the printing won't look so crude.

[Nordic]

Why not just find a place that lazer engraves signs.... don't think it will cost much

[kelticwizard]

Did not know such a thing existed.

It would be worth checking out, but I would really like to get this project done today, if possible. Due to the Memorial Day holiday, most businesses like signmaking are closed.

What I might do is make a crude one, then check out the laser sign maker for another sheet in a day or two. Would they be in the phone book under "sign makers", or are they called something else?

[Nordic]

Yep try the yellow pages... posibly even a google search including your area and lazer engraveing... it is pretty common these days for desk and door signs etc...

[kelticwizard]

As it turned out, I did not need to do the etching after all, I found a commercial product with the word already etched into it. But your advice on laser etching is extremely useful for future projects, as I did not know such a process existed.

Just for completeness, the original project I had in mind was a jumbo sized, twice a day weekly pill dispenser. You know, those plastic things which have compartments into which one's medications are loaded, so the pill taker does not have to keep opening several different pill containers a day. Something like this:
http://www.walgreens.com/store/produ...d=prod1491328#


Since the doctor increased the number of medications my father must take, we could not locate a 7 day, twice-a-day pill dispenser with compartments large enough to accommodate all the new pills. As a result, my father has tried to follow the schedule by opening up 10 pill bottles at the scheduled time of day, and I am pretty sure he is missing some.

Although I could not find a 7 day, twice a day organizer, (14 compartments), large enough to do the job, jumbo sized once-a-day dispensers were readily available with 7 compartments. My project was to simply take a small board, screw in two jumbo sized 7 compartment dispensers, then etch "morn" on the upper dispenser and "even" on the lower one. In other words, combine two 7 compartment dispensers into one 14 compartment dispenser, clearly labelled for morning and evening. Hence my interest in engraving into the plastic.

As it happened, after surveying several drug store chains, I did come across a twice-a-day dispenser with compartments large enough to meet my father's needs, and if that doesn't work out for some reason, there are even larger ones available on the internet. So the project is unnecessary.

But I do appreciate the advice, and I really do think I will have use for that laser etching technique in future projects.

[OzMikeH]

Use a stencil and a sandblaster.

[kelticwizard]

Another approach that should work.

Thanks for the reply.

[gmphadte]

Stencil and chloroform

Gajanan Phadte

[kelticwizard]

Chloroform?

I've heard of it but where could one get it?

That dissolves polypropylene?

[Nordic]

I guess so, have heard of people useing it for perspex repair... normally available from the pharmacy... or you could ask your GP to organise you a little...