Here is another idea for you to reveiw and it is just another option for using a laser. Wood is a great material for engraving and the possibilities are extensive but the list of materials available are almost endless.
This is simple line art engraved on AlumaMark material. AlumaMark is an aluminum material available in .005" and .020" thickness with a special coating that reacts to the laser when engraved and can accept shading. AlumaMark is available in gold and silver.
im not familiar with lasers. so ill just ask a general question.
im building a bar and the top center piece will extend past the other two sections left and right. a bump out,possibly held up by columns and capitals. not sure yet as i create as i go.
ive consiidered etched glass with lights in side on the very top section . it is a square section with an arched bottom. how difficult to put letters and outlines on a certain size piece?....jacl
Have you considered what retail stores do when they move in?
They get a sign company (one with the computers & films etc) create the image in a frosted-looking film and adhere it to the glass. Looks just like frosted glass at a fraction of the price and allows the landlord to peel it off in case the owner moves etc.
ill be doing the etching myself. just havent got to that part yet. hoping to practice on some samples before i actually do the real pieces. doing a laser design in wood is actually what i meant.
curious if anybody has a laser system in the kansas city area?....rebel
If you can't find a local engraver get back to me, I can engrave your wooden material and ship it to you via UPS. You can sandblast wood yourself, the effect isn't at all like laser engraving but it can be a very nice technique if you do it right.
When glass is the meduim there are a couple options to consider.
- There are acids that you can purchase and etch glass using a template mask.
- You can sandblast glass, again using a mask and preferably a very fine grit...I use glass beads in my cabinet. When a job is too large for my lasers engraving cabinet I use the engraver to vector cut a rubber mask. The mask then is used to sandblast the large areas of the glass. This same technique works for making template masks for painting.
Tip---
Lasers can cut gaskets from a variety of meterials, engrave and cut cloth and be used to make engineering models from wood and plastic.
Also, using the laser an adhesive mask of your logo can be cut
out. Once you apply the mask, you can
purchase an aerosol "frost" used for faux-frosting glass--
looks very real, even up close. (And no, not the stuff you
use to put frost on the windows at Christmas time-- that stuff
is designed to look like actual frozen frost; this stuff is much
smoother.)
The frost will come off using soap and water, and will
allow:
1. Much larger areas to be frosted, and
2. Removal of the frost in case you decide to move, and
3. Lower cost than actually frosting or sandblasting, and
4. Self application by the consumer, rather than a professional.