Engraving Customer Provided Items
Bring us something you already own and we will engrave it. Send a photo first and we will tell you honestly whether it is a good candidate.
Materials
Non metals
- Acrylic
- Brick
- Cardboard
- Carbon fiber
- Ceramic
- Circuit boards
- Corian
- Cork
- Fabric
- Fiberglass, no resin
- Foam
- Glass
- Granite
- K9 crystal
- Leather
- Marble
- MDF
- Melamine
- Paper
- Phenolic
- Plastics
- Rubber
- Tile
- Wood
Coated metal is the exception. Our laser removes a coating to reveal the metal underneath, so powder coated tumblers, anodized aluminum and coated nameplates all engrave well. Bare metal needs a marking spray first.
Only fiberglass without resin can be engraved or cut.
PVC and vinyl never go in the machine, whatever the job, because of what they give off when they burn. If you are not sure what yours is made of, send a photo and we will tell you.
Every material reacts differently.
Color and contrast
The finished mark can come out lighter, darker or less even than expected.
Surface damage
Coatings can discolor, lift, chip, or burn away to something nobody knew was under there.
Heat reaction
Some materials melt, warp or crack. Glued joints and thin sections are the usual casualties.
Hidden construction
Adhesives, liners and inner layers react even when the outside looks perfectly suitable.
Age and wear
Older pieces are less forgiving. Old finishes, oils and past repairs all behave unpredictably.
What a proof can tell you
A proof confirms layout and placement. It cannot promise the exact color or finish on your material.
Irreplaceable or Rare Items
We look at every one, and we turn most of them down.
Engraving is permanent. There is no undo and no second attempt, and on a one of a kind piece there is nothing to test on first.
Send a photo anyway. We consider each one case by case, and we will tell you straight either way.
If we agree to proceed on an irreplaceable item, a signed liability waiver is required. This is not a formality, it reflects the reality that laser engraving irreplaceable items carries inherent risk that no amount of care can eliminate entirely. Every rare item project is quoted individually.
Customer provided items are submitted at the customer's risk. Because we did not manufacture or sell the original product, Blu Ridge Design Co. is not responsible for replacing or reimbursing the item if it is damaged or produces an unexpected result.
Do I provide the items or does Blu Ridge?
We supply them
We source the blank and engrave it. Simplest route, and the one we recommend when the original matters.
You supply them
Welcome, with one condition. Send one extra to test on. We dial the laser in on that spare before touching anything that counts.
Put it on something new instead.
If what matters is the handwriting, the recipe or the signature, we work from a clear photo and put it on a new item. The original stays on the shelf exactly as it is.
Once the artwork is drawn up we can make one for each of the kids and grandkids, which is usually what the family wanted anyway.
Four steps, no surprises.
1. Send a photo
The whole item, well lit, plus a close up of where the engraving goes. Handwriting gets its own flat photo.
2. We quote it
No set price. Every job is quoted after we look at the setup, scope and size, and turnaround comes with the quote.
3. You approve a proof
Nothing is engraved until you have seen it laid out at size. Low resolution artwork gets redrawn clean first.
4. Get it to us
Drop off locally, Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm ET. Shipping is on you, and we strongly suggest insuring it.
Questions people ask
Will you engrave something that has sentimental value?
Case by case, and honestly we turn most of them down. Sentimental usually means irreplaceable, and irreplaceable means there is no fixing it if the material does not behave.
Send us a photo and we will give you a straight answer rather than a policy.
Do you supply the item, or do I?
Either. We can supply the blanks, or you are welcome to send your own.
If you are supplying them, we ask for one extra to test on. We dial the laser in on that spare first, so everything that matters is engraved at settings we have already proven on your exact material.
This is also why a one of a kind piece is such a different conversation. There is no spare, and there cannot be one.
Can you engrave metal?
Coated metal, yes. Our laser burns the coating off to reveal the metal underneath, which is how powder coated tumblers and anodized nameplates are done.
Bare, uncoated metal needs a marking spray applied first. Send a photo and we will tell you which one you have.
What happens if my item is damaged?
Customer provided items are submitted at the customer's risk. Because we did not manufacture or sell the original product, Blu Ridge Design Co. is not responsible for replacing or reimbursing the item if it is damaged or produces an unexpected result.
We treat every piece that comes through here carefully, and we will tell you honestly what happened either way. But engraving is permanent, which is why a signed liability waiver is required on anything irreplaceable, and why we talk people out of it more often than not.
Can you copy handwriting from a photo?
Yes. Send a clear flat photo of it and we redraw it so the laser can cut it cleanly. It stays their handwriting, we are just making it sharp enough to engrave.
Does the item have to be brand new?
No. New or old does not decide it. What decides it is whether the piece could be replaced if something went wrong.
Do I have to sign anything?
On an irreplaceable item, yes. A signed liability waiver is required before we begin. It is not a formality, it reflects the fact that the risk cannot be designed out of the job.
On anything replaceable, no.
Who pays shipping, and what if it gets lost on the way?
Shipping to us is on you, and we highly recommend adding insurance through the carrier.
We cannot be held responsible for items mailed to us that we did not receive. Once a package is in the carrier's hands it is out of everyone's control, and insurance is the only thing that makes you whole if it goes missing. On something that matters, it is worth the few dollars.
Can I drop it off instead of shipping it?
Yes, if you are in the local area. Drop offs are welcome at the shop during business hours, Monday through Friday, 10am to 4pm ET, at 474 Prince Road SE in Ludowici.
Send us the photo first either way, so we can tell you whether it is a good candidate before you make the trip.
How much does it cost?
There is not a set price for laser engraving jobs. Every job is different, and each one is quoted separately after considering the setup, scope and size of the job.
Send a photo of the item and tell us what you want on it, and we will come back with a price.
How long does it take?
Turnaround time depends on the size and scope of the order. Smaller items are typically completed within 2 to 5 business days, while larger orders could take about 2 to 3 weeks.
If you have a time sensitive project, reach out and see if we can accommodate a faster timeline.
Send us a photo and we will take a look
We will tell you what we would do with it, and what we would not.
Attach a photo to the email. If you would rather use a form, send us a message and we will reply so you can send the photo back.