When you’re choosing the right way to immortalize a deceased loved one, there are so many options available. From traditional headstones for burial to wooden urns you can use as a vessel after cremation, there are so many options that it’s almost impossible to choose the right one for the deceased.
One factor that does play into almost everyone’s choices for their lost loved one, however, is text. Whether leaving a message that encapsulates your loved one’s philosophy of life, an image that they loved or simply their name and the dates they lived, nearly everyone will have to decide between laser etching and laser engraving in Walterboro, SC.
For those unfamiliar with these processes, it can be somewhat confusing to determine the difference between engraving and laser etching, and why laser engraving may be the right choice for you.
Etching vs. engraving
Though there are distinctions to be made between the two means of adding text or images to a headstone or urn, the fundamental difference between etching and engraving is the depth at which the text or image appears. Engraving tends to carve out deeper figures into the material, while etching leaves a much shallower indentation.
The goal of laser etching in Walterboro, SC is to produce crevices just below the surface of the material. Unlike engraving, in which a craftsman carves out deep indentations in a physical process, laser etching is a chemical process in which a mixture of specialized acid and an engraving laser are combined to create etched headstones and urns.
The advantages of laser etching
The difference between etching and engraving likely won’t become part of your decision until you decide if you would prefer to inter your loved one or have them cremated. When adding text to a headstone or monument, for example, engraving is the most popular choice, as it’s suited to carve out indentations in even the hardest of stone or metal.
Laser etching, meanwhile, is a much more precise technique. A talented craftsman, for example, can use laser etching to craft a particular image or message.
What’s more, the shallow nature of laser etching saves the material that’s being worked on. That makes it more suitable for cremation urns or materials that may not be sturdy enough to withstand engraving.
On a purely practical front, etching tends to be speedier, more durable and more cost-efficient than engraving, as well.
Let us help you remember your loved one
When you’re in the midst of grief, the last thing you want is to be plunged into a complicated decision-making process. That’s where Steedley Monument Works comes in. We’re a fourth-generation monument maker with the experience and dedication you deserve when it comes to immortalizing your loved one.
For more than 50 years, South Carolinians have relied on Steedley Monument Works for craftsmanship and compassion when memorializing their loved ones. We’re proud to offer a wide variety of services, everything from headstone creation to sandblasting to laser etching in Walterboro, SC. Visit us online or check out our indoor-outdoor showroom to find out more.