Skip to content
If you're anything like me, you love taking a regular, everyday item and turning it into something unique and special with your laser engraver.
Engraving on wood, glass, and powder-coated tumblers is a cinch, but what about stainless steel? Is it even possible?
Yes, you CAN engrave on stainless steel with a laser engraver, and I'll walk you through it in this article.
I've been engraving for years, and I'm here to share what I've learned about getting the best results when laser engraving stainless steel.
We'll cover the basics, look at different methods, and go over some tips I wish someone had given ME when I was first starting out.
What's Inside:
- Can You Laser Engrave Stainless Steel?
- How to Laser Engrave Stainless Steel
- Other Ways to Engrave Stainless Steel
- Why Engrave Stainless Steel?
- What is Stainless Steel?
- Tips for Laser Engraving Stainless Steel
- What Kind of Laser is Best for Stainless Steel?
- Stainless Steel Engraving Ideas
- More Resources For You
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means that we may receive a commission if you make a purchase using third-party links.
Can You Laser Engrave Stainless Steel?
So can you laser engrave stainless steel? Absolutely!
It's a cool material to work with because of its durability and the clean look you can achieve.
You can etch stainless steel with almost any laser, but you'll need a high-powered fiber laser to get a nice, deep engraving.
Lower-powered lasers can etch into the surface, and there are other methods that will give you a nice black mark on the surface. You can even engrave stainless steel in color, but we'll dive into that a bit later.
First, let me show you the simplest and best way to engrave your stainless steel with a fiber laser.
How to Laser Engrave Stainless Steel
If you're ready to start engraving stainless steel at home or for your business, here's what you need to know.
What You'll Need
It doesn't take much, but you do need the right laser.
Fiber Laser Engraver
You need a fiber laser to engrave into stainless steel. It needs to be at least 50W if you want to get a nice, deep engraving.
Learn more about laser types in our beginner's guide to laser engraving.
Stainless Steel Blank
And of course, you'll need the stainless steel item you want to engrave. We sell stainless steel tumblers in multiple shapes and sizes, a pocket knife, and a craft-ready stainless steel pen and mechanical pencil for example.
[product=10-pack-starter-pack-stainless-steel]Dive into crafting stainless steel tumblers with this 10-piece starter pack.[/product]
(By the way, if you engrave a tumbler or round item, you'll need a rotary attachment for your engraver.)
Follow These Steps
Alright, you've got your gear. Now let's walk through the engraving process.
- Clean the stainless steel blank. This is a simple but crucial step. Make sure your stainless steel is clean and free from dust, grease, and fingerprints. Anything on the surface can mess with your engraving.
- Place it in your engraver. Carefully position your stainless steel item. If you're working with something round, like a tumbler, you'll want a rotary attachment to hold it in place and rotate it.
- Choose your settings. Okay, this is where things get technical, but it's super important. Your laser settings will determine the quality, depth, and darkness of your engraving. Every laser is different, so you'll want to look at your machine's instructions and recommended settings, then play with it until you get the right effect. If you happen to be using an xTool engraver, they have some recommended settings you can check out.
- Engrave! Once you've got everything set up, it's time to engrave. Click the button and watch the laser do its magic!
- Clean off the item. Once the job is finished, there might be some leftover residue or debris. Give it a good wipe-down to reveal your final design.
And that's it - you've successfully engraved stainless steel!
Other Ways to Mark Stainless Steel
If you truly want to engrave stainless steel, you need a fiber laser. But here are three other ways you can leave permanent designs on a stainless steel item.
#1 - Laser Marking
Laser marking is a process where you apply a special marking spray to your stainless steel item before you engrave it.
The spray reacts with the laser, leaving a permanent black mark on the surface.
This is a great way to get high-contrast designs, especially if you're working with a different kind of laser or lower-powered fiber laser.
How to Do Laser Marking
- Apply marking spray. Spray the area you want to mark. CerMark spray is a popular choice.
- Let it dry. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.
- Position your item and engrave. The laser will leave a dark mark on the steel. Again, you'll need to figure out the right settings for your laser.
- Clean the residue. After marking, you can wash off any remaining residue.
#2 - Laser Etching
Even if you're working with a diode or infrared laser (which aren't as powerful as fiber lasers), you can still make marks on stainless steel. This is called laser etching.
This is a great option if you want to buy a more affordable laser engraver like the xTool F1 or xTool F1 Ultra.
Just keep in mind that etching creates shallower marks and may not be as easy to see.
#3 - Using a Powder-Coated Tumbler or Item
If you want a really easy way to get a high-contrast design on a stainless steel tumbler, start with a powder-coated tumbler.
The laser will remove the powder coating to reveal the steel underneath. It's not exactly the same as engraving steel directly, but still makes a really cool effect.
Get 10% off your order of powder-coated tumblers using our Build-a-Bundle Offer.
[product=40-oz-tumbler-with-handle-powder-coated]Our best-selling 40oz tumbler is easy to craft with an optional handle and comes in 10 colors![/product]
Why Engrave Stainless Steel?
So, why go to all this trouble to engrave stainless steel? Here's why you might want to consider it.
Many tumblers and kitchen items are made with stainless steel, so this is the only way to engrave items like these.
Stainless steel can last a long time without tarnishing compared to other metals.
And while you CAN do sublimation printing on stainless steel sublimation tumblers or apply vinyl, an engraving is the most durable and long-lasting type of mark because it's literally etched into the surface.
Pros & Cons
Here's a breakdown of the pros and cons of laser engraving stainless steel:
Pros:
- Laser engraving creates a permanent mark that won't fade or wear away.
- Lasers can create very intricate and detailed designs without much effort.
- Many kitchen and outdoor items are made with stainless steel, and this allows you to engrave and personalize them.
- Laser engraving provides a clean, professional look that's hard to achieve with hand engraving or drawing.
Cons:
- High-quality fiber laser engravers aren't cheap.
- There's a learning curve to mastering laser engraving, especially with metal.
- Depending on the depth, the engraving might not be easy to see.
What is Stainless Steel?
Okay, let's take a quick break from the how-tos and talk about the material itself. Stainless steel is pretty cool.
At its core, stainless steel is an alloy - a mix of metals. It's primarily made up of iron, chromium, and sometimes other elements.
The chromium is what makes stainless steel so durable and strong. It resists corrosion and rust, which is why this material is great for kitchen, bath, outdoor, and other uses with water.
Where it came from: While iron alloys had been around for centuries, the creation of true stainless steel is credited to metallurgist Harry Brearley in the early 20th century. He discovered that adding chromium to steel made it highly resistant to rust and corrosion. This discovery revolutionized industries and led to the widespread use of stainless steel we see today.
Stainless steel's unique properties make it a good material for laser engraving, but you've got to use the right laser and settings to get a good result.
Tips for Laser Engraving Stainless Steel to Get the Best Results!
Over the years, I've picked up a few tricks that can really help you get the best results when laser engraving stainless steel.
- Clean the surface: I know I already mentioned this, but it's worth repeating. Always start with a clean surface!
- Test your settings: This is huge. Before you engrave your final piece, do some test runs on a scrap piece of stainless steel. This will help you dial in your laser settings and avoid mistakes.
- Try laser marking spray: If you're having trouble getting dark, high-contrast engravings, try a laser marking spray instead.
- Be flexible: Stainless steel reflects a lot of light, which can make it tricky to work with. You might need to adjust your settings, try different angles, or experiment with multiple passes to get the results you want.
- Watch out for warping: If you're working with thin sheets of stainless steel, the heat from the laser can cause them to warp. Take your time to find the right balance of speed and power.
- Apply a protective coating: To help your engravings stay shiny and prevent tarnishing, consider applying a protective coating after you're done engraving.
What Kind of Laser is Best for Stainless Steel?
If you're serious about engraving stainless steel, a fiber laser is generally the way to go. While diode or CO2 lasers can be used for marking, a fiber laser will give you the best, most professional-looking engravings.
I recommend finding a fiber laser with at least 50W of power.
How to Engrave Stainless Steel in Color
You might not know this, but you can even add color to your stainless steel engravings! It's a super cool effect.
This process typically involves using a diode laser and carefully controlling the laser's settings to create different oxidation levels on the metal's surface, which results in many different colors.
Both the xTool F1 and xTool F1 Ultra contain a diode laser that you can use to experiment with this method.
[product=xtool-f1-fastest-portable-laser-engraver-with-ir-diode-laser]xTool's ultra-fast and portable laser engraver that can handle tumblers and multiple materials with dual diode and infrared lasers.[/product]
Here's how it works:
- Get a diode laser. You'll need a diode laser capable of precise power control.
- Prep the blank. Clean your stainless steel thoroughly.
- Experiment with settings. This is where it gets tricky. You'll need to experiment with your laser's power, speed, frequency, and number of passes. Different settings will produce different colors.
- Multiple passes. Often, achieving vibrant colors requires multiple passes with the laser, each pass slightly altering the oxidation.
- Test! Because the results are highly dependent on your equipment and settings, I recommend testing on scrap metal so you don't ruin your expensive blanks.
I don't have as much experience with this myself, but this video by TAOW walks you through the process 👇
Stainless Steel Engraving Ideas to Inspire You
Need some inspiration? Here are a few ideas of stainless steel items you can engrave (and we've linked our own best-selling stainless steel blanks to most of them):
- Flasks
- Water Bottles
- Jewelry
- Sippy Cups
- Mason Jars
- Pet Tags
- Coffee Mugs
- Barrel Tumblers
- Keychains
- Gel Pens
- Knife Blades
- Mechanical Pencils
- Spatula
- BBQ Grilling Tools
More Resources For You
I want to make sure you have everything you need to succeed with laser engraving. And we've got a ton of resources here at MakerFlo to help you on your creative journey.
If you're looking for design inspiration, you can find tons of free laser engraving files to get you started.
If you're newer to laser engraving and want to learn the basics, we've got some great guides on laser engraving for beginners, how to engrave a tumbler, and how to engrave metal.
And of course, if you need any materials, blanks, or equipment, we've got you covered there too. You can check out our 10-piece Stainless Steel Tumbler Starter Pack to get going with tumblers, or get 10% off any bulk order with our Stainless Steel Tumbler Build-a-Bundle Offer.
[product=10-pack-starter-pack-stainless-steel]Dive into crafting stainless steel tumblers with this 10-piece starter pack.[/product]
Finally, I'd love for you to connect with other crafters in our Official MakerFlo Facebook Community. It's a great place to ask questions, share your projects, and get inspired!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can you laser engrave on stainless steel?
Yep, you sure can!
What is the easiest way to engrave stainless steel?
In my opinion, using a fiber laser engraver with at least 50W of power is the easiest and most efficient way to engrave stainless steel.
Will stainless steel rust after engraving?
Stainless steel can rust after engraving. But the outer edge of the stainless steel should re-oxidize after engraving, protecting it from rust again. If you're concerned about rusting, consider adding a protective coating to the outside of your creations. (Just make sure the coating is food-safe if making kitchen & drinkware items.)
How to clean stainless steel after engraving?
Cleaning stainless steel after engraving is pretty simple. Just use some soap, water, and a soft microfiber cloth.
Can you engrave stainless steel with a Dremel?
You can engrave stainless steel with a Dremel tool, but it's going to require a steady hand and probably some kind of template or design transfer. For really precise designs, especially if you're doing bulk work, laser engraving is the way to go.
