ELI5: What Is Engraving?

Engraving is a way of writing or drawing on hard things by carving grooves directly into their surface.

Think of it like drawing a picture in the wet sand at the beach with a sharp stick. When you draw in the sand, you push the grains away to make lines that you can see and feel. Engraving is the exact same idea, but instead of sand, people use sharp, special tools to cut words and pictures into tough materials like metal, wood, stone, or glass.

Unlike a drawing made with crayons or markers, engraved words will not smudge, wash away in the rain, or rub off over time because the design is actually cut into the object itself.

You can find engraving all around you in everyday life:

• Pet tags: The name and phone number carved into your dog's or cat's metal collar tag so they can find their way home if they get lost.
• Jewelry: A secret message, a special date, or initials carved inside a ring or on the back of a watch.
• Sports trophies: The name of the winning team permanently scratched into the shiny golden plate on the front.
• Coins: The pictures of presidents and the numbers on the money in your piggy bank are made from engraved metal molds.
• Park benches: The metal plates on wooden benches that say who the bench was dedicated to.