Frequently Asked Questions
Company
Can you Engrave the plates?
We do not offer any engraving services but sell the best quality and priced BLANK engraving plates for our customers to engrave.
How do I contact you?
You can contact us by email or phone here. We usually respond quickly but allow up to 24-48 hours.
What are your hours?
We are open M-F from 9am - 4:30pm EST. We are closed on weekends and holidays.
Shipping
How is it shipped?
We send both UPS (several services) and Via U.S. Mail using First Class or Priority services depending on the weight. You can choose the shipping carrier and service level at checkout.
Do you ship internationally?
Yes, we ship to more than half of the world but because of frequent changes in the policies of the carriers, please go through our checkout on our website to make sure that your country is included. You will also get an updated rate/cost for the shipping live on our website.
Can I get a tracking number?
Yes, all shipments are sent with tracking and you will be sent an email with the tracking number when the package is shipped.
How Much Are Shipping Costs?
Enter your full address and shipping address (if different) on the website after you place the items into the cart. In the checkout area you will be able to view ALL shipping options and costs. Note; shipping services that are available depend on the weight and address they are being shipped to.
See our Shipping Policy for more information on shipping.
Returns or Problems
What is your return policy?
All engraving plates that are custom cut with holes, cut corners, custom sizes, or have had tape applied are considered special orders and are non returnable. Contact us with any product defects or quality problems.
See our Return Policy for more information on returns.
Payment
Purchase Orders
We do accept purchase orders with terms after approval. We can provide quotes for purchases that will pay via credit card also.
Orders requesting PO terms: For orders totaling less than $200, we kindly request that our customers place their orders directly through our website. Processing smaller custom orders manually involves several intricate steps, which increases the potential for errors and requires significant time and resources.
Quotes
For quotes please email us the material/sku, size, and any customization along with the quantity and shipping destination. A screenshot of the shopping cart is acceptable.
Can I use credit card to checkout?
Yes; through the checkout you can pay with all major credit cards including Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. The PayPal payment will be a login page if you want to use PayPal.
Pricing
Do you offer coupons?
Yes, at times we have coupons and specials available by signing up to our newsletter on the Home page.
Are there "Wholesale" or quantity discounts?
We do not have a dealer or wholesale account discount - we use quantity discounts. The more items you order, the less expensive those items are. Most products have quantity discounts built in that you will see as you change the quantity. If you have any questions on large orders, pricing, or discounts, feel free to contact us.
Tax Exempt
Our website will not charge any tax if you are outside of Minnesota or Florida. If your company is located in MN or FL and Tax Exempt (or government, non-profit, etc.) please email us your tax exemption information and be sure to have a registered account on our website with your email. We will set your account so that no tax is charged online.
The Process & Products
Ordering Custom Size Plates
We can do this for customers at no charge (up to 2 items per order) If you have 3 or more items for custom sizes, please email us for a quote. Follow the instructions below to order custom size plates;
We can cut ANY sheet material listed on our website accurately up to 12 x 12" maximum size. For sizes that are not listed on our website, find the nearest size using sq in calculation (L x W) and choose from our dropdown list the closest sq inche size to place your order.
Example: 4 x 2.25" = 9 sq inches / choose size 3 x 3" (Round up over ½”)
Then you can add any customizations (holes, tape, and corners).
If you order using these methods remember to send us a note in the shipping area "Order Comments" of checkout or send us an email after you order with your custom size request.
NOTE:
* Corners cannot be Notched on Plates under 3/4"
* Corners cannot be Rounded on Plates under 1/2"
How long does the custom engraving plate cutting process take?
Your item will generally be shipped within 1-2 days. The size, type of material, and customization will determine the time it takes to do the actual work.
Orders of 500pcs or more (or over 200pcs with several customizations) may take up to a week to process.
Do you have rush service?
Yes, we do offer a rush service which will give your order priority when you checkout with UPS Next Day Shipping. This does not guarantee that your oder will be manufactured on the same day (it depends on the quantity and customization). We can provide overnight shipping in many cases very quickly - please contact us if you have a urgent order and are on a timeline.
Can I get a sample?
We strongly suggest you get a sample and do some testing before proceeding with a large order and we will provide free samples on any material listed on our website at no charge. When ordering, you can ask for a calibration plate (in order notes) so that you can setup your equipment before engraving on the product.
What shapes can you cut engraving plates into?
We provide square, rectangle, and round/disc (1, 1.5, and 2") shapes at this time. Square and rectangle engraving plates can be customized with notched or rounded corners and we can punch holes in many locations. If you need a specific hole location or pattern, please email us the details.
Double Sided Tape Coverage
You should expect to see between 60 - 80 % coverage for plates ordered with double sided tape. This helps avoid tape showing on the sides when the plate is mounted. For plates that are mounted on stone, cement or other difficult surfaces, it's suggested that you may need a special 3M tape to adhere.
We can provide three types of adhesive backing (Some are premium adhesives and have a higher price)
1) Removable Adhesive 2) Perminent Adhesive 3) Outdoor Adhesive
You can request "Removable" or "Perminent" at no additional charge by adding a note when you place an order - just be sure and choose the "Standard" adhesive when customizing your plates.
Learn more about our adhesives here ; Engraving Adhesive
Can the engraving plates be bent, heated, or soldered?
Plates can be easily bent or curved. Customers have used the solid metals for many industrucal production products even at 45 angle bending. Slight rounding is not diffult (including the colored plates) and can be done with a wooden dowel and a curved surface (like a metal coffee can or a cooking pot) by rolling the wood gently over the plate after engraving. Thicker anodized (.032 - .040") is an exception and can be difficult to bend. Heating or soldering is difficult - the base metals (Brass, Aluminum) without colors all have a lacquer coating and there can be some surface discoloring - you may need to protect the metal when heating or polish it after. Plates with coloring should not be heated or soldered. To see results of bending or heating you should do some testing before large or important projects.
How deep can I engrave safely in the plates?
Rotary (or scratch) engraving should be less than 0.25 mm deep to prevent distortion or potential breaking. Laser engraving should be less than 0.15 mm for optimal speed and performance.
Can the colors wear off?
Solid metal brass and aluminum will maintain their color for many years used on indoor applications. Painted or coated plates can deminish with wear or abrasion or when the plates are significantly bent, heated, or exposed to chemicals. The anodized metals are designed to withstand weather and wear and will maintain their surface over a decade even with outdoor exposure, sunlight, and moisture. (EXCLUSING direct abrasion)
What other materials do you provide for engraving? Plastics, titanium, platinum, ceramic, carbon fiber, etc?
The majority of our engraving material is aluminum, brass, and some steel. Feel free to contact us with any requests.
Can you provide other colors of engraving plates?
Yes, there are some other colors that can be special ordered. The process takes about 10-14 days, please contact us with your requests.
How are the engraving plates made?
We take sheet stock of large pieces of raw materials and use specialized industrial equipment to shear and stamp the shapes.
What are the most popular engraving plates?
Our best sellers are Brass and Aluminum (Brushed are a bit more popular than Bright) that are used on trophies, plaques, awards, memorials, desk nameplates, and other engraving work. The aluminum colors can be used to match a background or picture and the anodized aluminum is designed for accessories or outdoor use. If you need help choosing plates, just contact us and we will try to provide some help in choosing the best plates for your needs.
Other Questions
Do you provide any engraving services or sell engraved products?
At this time we are not doing any engraving. We provide the highest quality metal engraving blanks and products at wholesale prices.