Question Regarding "Stamping" Plastic

Fettbat

Active Member

• Jan 29, 2017

• #1

Hey all,

I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to stamp plastic (I think that's the right term). I'm trying to add serial numbers to a couple of my props and I'm not sure where to start with it.

Thanks

- AR

 

division 6

Master Member

• Jan 29, 2017

• #2

You can try branding it.
You can get custom brands on Etsy.

Or you can find metal stamping tools that you could heat.

Something like this.

 

Last edited: Jan 29, 2017

Fettbat

Active Member

• Jan 29, 2017

• #3

Thank you for the help division 6, heating the metal stamps seems so obvious now!

- AR

 

GrenadeKing

Sr Member

• Jan 29, 2017

• #4

If you use metal stamping tools, you probably won't need heat. If it's a sturdy enough prop, a few taps with a hammer should imprint a number fairly well. I was able to "stamp" a plastic airsoft gun with just hand pressure.

 

Duncanator

Sr Member

RPF PREMIUM MEMBER

• Jan 29, 2017

• #5

I'd be careful cold stamping. Some plastics are brittle (like acrylic, for instance) and will crack or shatter if you try to stamp them.
The hot stamp/branding should work better on those. And it doesn't have to be glowing red hot either, just warm enough for the plastic to soften
when you press it into the surface.

 

Fettbat

Active Member

• Feb 10, 2017

• #6

Thanks for the info, Duncantor and GrenadeKing. I imagine if it was too hot the plastic would goo up on the stamp yea? It's the cheapo airsoft ABS plastic I'm thinking of stamping.