Lasering a mirror

[Joe Hillmann]

Small text (say under one inch tall) is very hard to read if you engrave from the front. You see the engraving as well as the reflection of the engraving and it becomes blurry.

[john passek]

Are there any precautions to take if engraving the front, like masking. can the beam be redirected causing risk to eyes. I have always engraved the back, much nicer results, for me anyways.

[Dan Hintz]

Are there any precautions to take if engraving the front, like masking. can the beam be redirected causing risk to eyes. I have always engraved the back, much nicer results, for me anyways.

CO2 wavelengths can't make it through the glass to be reflected, so you're safe.

[Keith Outten]

Tougher as well from memory isn't it Keith?

cheers

Dave

Dave,

Yeah, acrylic mirror is more forgiving then glass mirror but the down side is that it will scratch if abused and glass won't. I can't say that I use the two for the same purposes but acrylic gives me another substrate to use for less common types of projects. I use gold acrylic mirror on top of black acrylic mounted on a wooden plaque a lot. The look can be quite elegant on some signs and its cheap and fast to produce.
.

[Jiten Patel]

Send it to me Matt - wedding is what we do - no need to bother yourself with such menial tasks!!!

From the back works best!

Also be careful when using acrylic mirror - warp on larger sheets can create a hall of mirrors effect.

[matthew knott]

I may very well send her to you Jit, she's the wife of a guy we do work for and she does a side line in wedding bits and pieces so i said i would help her out, i will mention your sexy stationary when she comes in.

[Patrick Licata]

Hello,
Bringing up an old post here. What kind of settings do you recommend for engraving the backs of mirrors. I know it will depend on the coating etc., but what starting point would you suggest? I have a 35 watt Epilog and I know they recommend 30s 100pwr for 400dpi for plain glass.
Thanks,
Patrick

[Jerome Stanek]

Thanks guys, back it is then !!! not something i would normally do but its a 'favour' no doubt it will all go wrong as 'no good dead goes unpunished'

Just remember to mirror your engraving

[Jess Phiz]

We engrave the front, just masked up then finish with some Rub 'n' Buff as we do on all glassware, the finished product turns out well
MCM 1.jpg

[Bryan Jater]

If you use fiberlaser it works well from the front

[Tim Bateson]

Hello,
Bringing up an old post here. What kind of settings do you recommend for engraving the backs of mirrors. I know it will depend on the coating etc., but what starting point would you suggest? I have a 35 watt Epilog and I know they recommend 30s 100pwr for 400dpi for plain glass.
Thanks,
Patrick

Too little power and the coating or some of it will remain - run again. Too much power (with-in reason) and you engrave the back of the mirror - probably what you want. So, unless you are applying so much power as to break the mirror, test away. I would note however, if you start with low power & need to run again - please INSURE the piece is secure and cannot move between runs.

[Bert Kemp]

Don't think anyone mentioned that if you do decide to engrave the front DO NOT! run your fingers or hands over the engraved area unless you want a hand full of glass slivers.ouch! On the rare occasion I engrave the front I always take it to the sink and use the sprayer to rinse off the piece first before rub and buff

[Mitchell Tutty]

If you tweak the settings just right, you can engrave just the backing off, and not etch the glass at all.

It has an incredibly cool subtle effect.
Depending on what the mirror is reflecting, it looks different at all angles.
It may reflect a dark wall, and be incredibly contrasting, or as you walk past it reflect a white wall, where you can't notice it at all.

I engraved an entire shop front in mirror tiles, as you approach it is hardly visible and definitely not noticeable. But as you're just about to drive past it's incredibly contrasting and catches your eye.
Will see if I can dig up a few photo's.

Mitchell

[Jerome Stanek]

I have done the back and then spray painted it to give it some different effects

[Bill Cunningham]

I've done lots of photographs on mirror, and always engrave and colour from the backLooking.jpg