While you’re looking to purchase an award, you’ll be given the option of choosing either laser engraving or sandblasting the logo or text you want on your choice of award. But which is better, sandblasting or laser engraving?
Both engraving methods are unique in their own way and can give your awards a distinct look that can’t be achieved with other engraving methods.
Getting an award to motivate your employees is a way of decreasing your employee turnover. Handing out awards to deserving employees is one way of employee recognition that you should try for your company.
Our primary objective with this article is to give you a deeper insight between the two engraving methods, their history, and the process so you can see for yourself how sandblasting compares with laser engraving. So let’s dive right in !
Laser Engraving Glass Award
Laser engraved plaques and awards add the edgy style that other methods can’t. Even though laser engraving isn’t common practice among most people, it has quickly become a household name in the award industry.
Laser engraving utilizes a cutting-edge laser to mark the surface of a plaque or award. This modern-day technique can be used on a variety of surfaces, including glass, marble, plastic, leather, stone, metal, and many other natural materials.
Generally, laser engraving is a straightforward process. For laser engraving on glass, begin by installing a rotary attachment in your laser machine, so the glass keeps moving as it engraves on it.
Once that is done, set your image, design, or logo on your software. The computer software leads the laser engraver while it makes the pattern. Thus the light beams will follow the pattern, and you can watch the magic beautifully transfer itself onto glass awards.
Why Choose Laser Engraving?
A laser engraver offers a lot of benefits as compared to Sandblasting. A laser engraver is faster, and therefore, you can get an engraving on a bunch of awards in less time than other methods. In comparison, this method doesn’t require much manual labor since it engraves with a laser.
Additionally, you can save your designs in a file with laser engraving since it’s on a computer for later use. This way, you reproduce the same quality, which will ensure consistency.
In comparison to other engraving techniques, laser engraving on glass is very cost-effective. Sandblasting is quite pricey compared to laser engraving, even though the end product laser engraved glass isn’t too different from the one marked by Sandblasting. Here are some of the pros and cons of laser engraving glass awards.
Pros
- Cost-effective
- Consistent
- Fast
- Easy to execute
- Precise
Cons
- Requires a certain glass type
Sandblasting Glass Award
It’s safe to say that sandblasting is today’s most common engraving method used by the awards industry. This method can be applied on a plethora of surfaces, including acrylic, metal, crystal, glass, and other hard materials. Sandblasting method precisely engraves the logo, design, and graphics of your choice to make the award stand out.
Once an etching design is chosen, a stencil is made using a photographic film exposed to ultraviolet light. The stencil is secured in place on the award using a special adhesive. In the sandblasting procedure, special abrasive sand is applied to the surface with high pressure.
The rough sand is propelled at high velocity with air hoses. After the stencil is removed, the area that was affected by the sand will look frosted. At the same time, the remaining award looks smooth and shiny.
Remember, the longer the sandblasting method is applied on the same surface, the more the sand will wear away at the surface, making the cut deeper.
Why Choose Sandblasting?
The sandblasting technique will engrave your awards with precision, making them look clean and distinct. This technique is widely used by award shops because it offers acceptable detail and can be used on irregular shapes.
Although sandblasting works on all materials, it especially works great on glass. The great thing about sandblasting is that you can use it on different surfaces without worrying about ruining it.
This is a century-old technique that has improved to enhance the air-propelled particles to ameliorate engrave surfaces. This technique is an art that not only looks distinct but also has a different process of etching that other methods don’t have.
Pros
- Accurate images
- Precise engraving
Cons
- Expensive compared to laser engraving
- It doesn’t have color options
What’s the Best Choice For Your Award?
Having to choose between sandblasting and laser engraving can be a tough choice. Luckily though, you can find a middle ground between the two. Both engraving methods offer a lot of precision on text and images. Both leave a delible frosted white image that looks great.
Both the techniques offer precision and unique looks. If you are on the quest to find a cost-effective option with less labor, go for the laser engraving technique.
On the contrary, if you want to engrave on an acrylic surface, then go for laser engraving. Acrylic, when lasered offers superior detail and readability and leaves a brighter frosted white mark.
In conclusion, the end product of both techniques will be a beautiful engraved design, logo, or image. Of course, that will have its individuality. So don’t worry about choosing the wrong technique.
The Takeaway
Here at Dellawards.com, we concentrate on making unique award pieces, and we specialize in creating customized trophies. We employ the laser engraved technique.
If you’re looking to buy awards to motivate your employees or for any other means, then consider looking into our unique award collection because you only deserve the best.
