Cleaning Laser Bed?

[Mike Chance in Iowa]

Not surprising. Its been an "underground" tool to remove anodizing on aluminum pieces for years. I suppose we could use it too eh? Laser cut a mask. Spray easy off on the exposed areas. Wait 5 minutes and then wipe the anodizing right off. But, on bare aluminum, I would assume it would eat into the surface like an acid etch would. Probably why stuff sticks to your honeycomb more now. Its got more surface area to sink its teeth into.

Oh it's sinking it's teeth into it! In no time, I went from an essentially brand new, barely dirty honeycomb to a grid that looked 40 years old, pitted and breaking apart. I didn't even really need to clean it, but because it was only about a month old, I wanted it to look "purty and spotless" again and followed the advice of my salesman. I had no idea engraving forums existed at the time. A few months after I destroyed the honeycomb, I discovered the forums and found others had been told to use easy off and their grids were trashed too!

[Kev Williams]

Seriously Kev/ way to much work. like i said before just pick up a $7 gallon of super clean from walmart auto dept. put some in a spray bottle and gently spray the alum bed, wipe off with a few paper towels. I also take my honycomb to the kitchen sink or out side when ol ladies home LOL sray it and hose right off. quick easy and does the job. I've tried verything else and this is the best for me

I love SuperClean, but it won't clean my table by itself. Nothing will. That's why I use 3 cleaners. And razor blades and scotchbrite pads.

But then, I don't clean my table very often, so when I finally get around to it, it's pretty bad...

And btw, the reason Superclean and oven cleaners work, is good ol' sodium hydroxide, aka LYE. It WILL eat aluminum and steel, given enough time....

[Gary Hair]

I clean my machine pretty much every day, more than that if I cut then engrave anything that leaves any residue. It looks like it's almost new and it's 8 years old! I use DNA and a paper towel, for really sticky stuff I'll use a gray scotch brite pad - nothing sticks with that combo.

[Gary Hair]

But then, I don't clean my table very often, so when I finally get around to it, it's pretty bad...

Yep, it's only a several-thousand-dollar machine, why clean it?

[Robert Tepper]

I clean my vector table daily since most of my work is vector cutting. Last year the aluminum just basically wore out. I was able to find replacement aluminum vector table material from a company called Plascore. I purchased a 4 x 8' sheet cut into four pieces for $200 plus $100 for shipping. I changed it once so far with the new material and when it stated to wear, I opened up the frame and just flipped the material over. BTW it cuts like butter on a table saw with a carbide blade.


Robert

[Rich Harman]

Steel honeycomb tables have the great advantage of being magnetic. An aluminum one would be a big problem for me. Much of what I cut needs to be held flat, strong magnets are a simple and effective way of accomplishing that.

I've cleaned my honeycomb table once in three years, it is certainly due. The table beneath has been cleaned many times, pretty much every time I remove the honeycomb.

[Bert Kemp]

Kev said"And btw, the reason Superclean and oven cleaners work, is good ol' sodium hydroxide, aka LYE. It WILL eat aluminum and steel, given enough time...."

I clean my bed at least once a week and I'm sure it doesn't get a 10th of the use yours does, maybe a couple hours a day if that. I also take a clean damp rag and wipe off the super clean afterwards, so hopefully my bed will be ok, besides that laser is dead and not in use now anyway and I don't know if I'll even bother to see whats ailing it . Might be a good cat bed like one of are other members 2 fsl lasers are being used for LOL

[Nicolas Silva]

Don't be a jerk. We were talking about the down draft table not the laser itself. It does not reside in the laser unless it needs to be
used which as I indicated isn't very much. The laser itself gets cleaned regularly.

[brentton huey]

On mine what i use is the mr clean magic sponges. no mess no spraying and liquid but works great. definetly my first option

[Kev Williams]

Yep, it's only a several-thousand-dollar machine, why clean it?

Why indeed.

I make no apologies. My machines aren't for looks, I keep them busy. I work from 7:30am to 1am every day just to keep up with the work. I don't have time to play janitor. Maintenance- keeping the belts & lenses clean, guide rails & lead screws cleaned & lubed, etc, the IMPORTANT stuff- I do regularly. But dirt & grime simply does not bother the machines, or me. I have a 33 year old Concept 2000, three 25 year old 5000's, three 20 year old V3400's, a 20 year old V3200, a 9 year old IS7000, a 4 year old IS400, a 17 year old ULS laser and an 11 year old LS900 laser.. And they all work and make me money. That's 229 years in service spanning only 12 machines, and I've never paid anyone a dime to maintain or repair any of them. And repairs have been minimal.

I clean stuff up when I find spare time. Which I rarely find...

[Josh Borlovan]

Scrubbing Bubbles. It cleans the wood residue like a champ! Recommended by my rep so I used it and I can't even imagine anything working any better

[Kevin Gregerson]

Can't believe anyone hasn't said it. But your lens cleaner actually does pretty good on the bed. You can also use acetone on the bed(only place recommended to use it), just make sure you wait a bit for it to evaporate before using the laser.

-Kevin

[Bert Kemp]

Steel honeycomb tables have the great advantage of being magnetic. An aluminum one would be a big problem for me. Much of what I cut needs to be held flat, strong magnets are a simple and effective way of accomplishing that.

I've cleaned my honeycomb table once in three years, it is certainly due. The table beneath has been cleaned many times, pretty much every time I remove the honeycomb.

Wow if I don't clean the honey comb it flares up from the crud on it, I think keeping it clean is more important that the bed.

[Rich Harman]

Wow if I don't clean the honey comb it flares up from the crud on it, I think keeping it clean is more important that the bed.

I agree, I wish it wasn't such a big production to clean it, it's over 4ft x 3ft.

[Mike Audleman]

I agree, I wish it wasn't such a big production to clean it, it's over 4ft x 3ft.

Its not the removable honeycomb I was originally asking about. It was the aluminum base plate thats attached to the Z screws.