Summary

Engraved switch plates are a nice way to add a custom feel to your home while also adding clarity to obscure or multiple switches. It's not safe to engrave on plastic with a CO2 or Diode laser, but metal plates engrave nicely, either by burning off the painted finish or etching through and darkening the underlying metal. Wood plates are another good alternative, but most I've found are either ugly or expensive (or both). Someday I hope to make my own switch plates. That's another project for another time, though. 

This project will walk you through the steps to engrave on metal or wood paddle/Decora switch plates. Note that this project takes advantage of a fixture I created to position plates for engraving. You'll want to check that out first, and I have a link to that project in step 2.