Making a redwood wedding plate and wondering how well the redwood takes laser engraving? It will have several coats of lacquer sanding sealer on it first.
Thanks in advance,
Ernie
[OP]
Member
Making a redwood wedding plate and wondering how well the redwood takes laser engraving? It will have several coats of lacquer sanding sealer on it first.
Thanks in advance,
Ernie
Ernie on-the-dry-side; WA
Contributor
I don't know about Redwood, but I do not recommend laser engraving Redheart. Nor does my doctor or my insurance or my hubby or my boss or my pharmacist or my sis-in-law the resp. therapist, etc.
Leigh Costello
Epilog Mini 24, 45W, Corel X4
Smile, make them wonder what ya did.
Moderator
Easy--a good wood for the laser.
Mike Null
St. Louis Laser, Inc.
Trotec Speedy 300, 80 watt
Gravograph IS400
Woodworking shop CLTT and Laser Sublimation
Dye Sublimation
CorelDraw X5, X7
Member
I would think redwood would behave like cedar. I'd be afraid to raster or vector very deep. I don't think the wood will like the laser. Test a small piece of wood before you get going on making that plate.
Redwood is a dry semi soft wood. I think the key will be using low power.
Carol VanArnamEpilog Helix 60w, Corel 12, I like chocolate.....
Member
My experience with redwood.....It's easy enough to do and looks good when finished, but it takes me two passes on my 30w machine to achieve what one pass on alder gets me.
I use a masking tape, laser, spray paint the lettering, pull off mask....Finished!
When I made routed redwood signs I just spray painted the letters and ran the sign through my planer. Of course the router gave me greater depth than the laser.
Contributor
Ok, I'll bite: why the concern with that wood in particular? (As opposed to rosewood, bubinga, or a couple dozen other exotics, or domestic species for that matter.)Originally Posted by Leigh Costello
I don't know about Redwood, but I do not recommend laser engraving Redheart. Nor does my doctor or my insurance or my hubby or my boss or my pharmacist or my sis-in-law the resp. therapist, etc.
My initial reaction is, if you don't think it's a good idea to engrave that particular wood, either (1) it probably isn't a good idea to engrave any wood or (2) you badly need to upgrade your exhaust system.
Yoga class makes me feel like a total stud, mostly because I'm about as flexible as a 2x4.
"Design"? Possibly. "Intelligent"? Sure doesn't look like it from this angle.
We used to be hunter gatherers. Now we're shopper borrowers.
The three most important words in the English language: "Front Towards Enemy".
The world makes a lot more sense when you remember that Butthead was the smart one.
You can never be too rich, too thin, or have too much ammo.
Contributor
I "signed" a small redwood turning with the laser, no problem. Of course, that was a bone-dry piece (from a 4x4 that had been in my garage about 15 years)...the problem with cedar is the oil.
Yoga class makes me feel like a total stud, mostly because I'm about as flexible as a 2x4.
"Design"? Possibly. "Intelligent"? Sure doesn't look like it from this angle.
We used to be hunter gatherers. Now we're shopper borrowers.
The three most important words in the English language: "Front Towards Enemy".
The world makes a lot more sense when you remember that Butthead was the smart one.
You can never be too rich, too thin, or have too much ammo.
[OP]
Member
To all:
Thank you so much for your suggestions, warnings, etc. I've printed everything off and will give it to the guy that is going to "burn in" a copy of the invitation into the plate for me. I also have a prepared smaller sample for him to experiment with.
Lee, this piece is bone dry too. Was in someone's garage for who knows how long. Think it was part of a bar top at one time since it had a coating of decoupage type epoxy on one side. It is dry.
Again, thanks to all.
Ernie
Ernie on-the-dry-side; WA
Contributor
I cut that Epilog box out of 1/4" cedar. Does a nice job, a little dark on the cuts but it looks fine. Air assist is a must thou flame like crazy when I forget to turn it on.
Last edited by Mike Shauer; 07-25-2007 at 12:11 AM. Reason: sp
Member
Ernie- I was on ebay and saw a wooden box laser cut out of redwood and it was also rastered. It looked really nice check it out.
Carol VanArnam
[OP]
Member
Mike,
Thanks for the info about keeping the air on. I will pass that along to my engraver.
Carol,
After looking at that box, I'm convinced that the plate out of redwood will work. Thank you so much.
Ernie
Ernie on-the-dry-side; WA
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