Stainless Steel (with spray)
☀ UV Stable
⬡ Chemical Resistant
Overview
Stainless steel cannot be directly marked by diode lasers. Cermark or LaserBond 100 marking spray is applied to the surface, then the laser fuses the compound to the steel permanently. Spray is washed off after.
Properties
Difficulty
intermediate
Flexibility
rigid
Enclosure
no
Dry Storage
no
Pros
- Extremely durable permanent marks with compound
- Professional industrial marking
- Corrosion resistant
- High-end appearance
- Widely used for awards and tools
Cons
- Cannot mark bare stainless without compound
- Compound adds cost
- May need multiple passes
- Reflective surface requires caution
- High power needed
Best For
- Knives
- stainless tumblers
- cooking equipment marking
- dog tags
- medical device marking
Avoid For
- Cutting steel
- bare steel without cermark spray
- aluminum (different chemistry needed)
Storage
Store Cermark/LaserBond at room temp. Shake before use.
Laser Compatibility
Same approach as bare aluminum — requires CerMark or similar spray coating. Fiber laser marks directly without coating. CO2/diode: apply CerMark, engrave 200mm/s 40W, clean off excess. Permanent black marks result.
Brands
CerMarkTherMark