A friend of my wife asked her if I could engrave the lids of some candles. They are a thin metal (tin?) and have a faux wood print on them. My gut tells me that it’s some sort of vinyl decal, as opposed to paint. “well, can’t you just try it” she says. I can’t destructively test it to see if it is paint or vinyl, so I said no. That was not the answer she wanted. I could use some backup.
So I take it you have a morbid fear of dying.
Try this: on the inside of that lip, where it’s not obvious, poke the “wood” with a pin.
If the point goes in more than “not at all” and leaves a tiny dent, then it’s a vinyl wrap. The layer is about 3 mil = 0.1 mm thick, which is just enough to see a dent.
If the point doesn’t leave a mark, then it’s paint.
Now, with that said, remember that engraving vinyl is a terrible idea and engraving paint probably isn’t much better.
What visual effect does The Friend expect with the engraving?
If it’s “just like wood”, then this story cannot end well.
My guess is, that their expectation is that it will look like the tumblers I’ve done for her tennis team. The tumblers are, of course, anodizes aluminum. This is a whole 'nuther Kettle Of Fish™. I will attempt your suggestion and see what I find.
“So, I take it you have a morbid fear of dying.”
Yes, as a matter of fact, I do.
Update: Based on your diagnostic technique, it would appear to be paint. I found a small scuff mark that revealed what looks like white primer underneath the surface paint. The question remains, what to do? I got the impression that it was going to be more than a one off. If it was one and done, I might consider it. More than that, I don’t think so.
How about doing the multi-media route? Cut out the design on thin wood or MDF or even cardboard stock, and GLUE it to the candle lid. Prest-o! Three dimensional and you can even paint the wood/mdf/cardboard to the color of her desires.
+
-or-
go with an iron on leather patch…
-another example of multi media
That is definitely not what you’re gonna get out of it, no how, no way. Vinyl on cheap stamped steel is not equivalent to powder-coat on aluminum / stainless steel.
If you can’t test a sample to find out how it engraves, you’re not going to get it right on the first attempt anyway.
Bonus: engraving vinyl release chlorine gas, which is an excellent way to corrode the guts of your laser.
It’s better to just not bid on some jobs and this looks like one.
My daughter has a Cricut, maybe I can pass the commission off onto her.
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It looks like it’s paint.
The “pass the commission to your daughter” concept has legs …
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