Color filling oak cutting boards

[Lynn Kull]

Hi gang, I am looking at etching some oak cutting boards with a company logo for their christmas gifts. They are oak boards with a vegitable oil fininsh. Problem is the company would like there logos darker.

Not sure how I can get them darker without color filling and then what would work and be food safe? Any ideas? Thanks Lynn

[Mike Null]

Lynn:

Take some scrap and change your settings to the highest resolution, probably 1000 dpi. Your ppi should be about 600. Do this on your normal oak wood setting then slow the speed down more to darken it more. Engrave it twice if necessary.

One caution--you will get smoke residue around the engraving that may not remove without sanding. If a mask or tape will stilck to the surface I would advise engraving through the mask to avoid the discoloration from the residue.

If you decide to do a paint fill use a clear coat of shellac, lacquer or acrylic oveer the engraving before color filling to avoid the "bleed".