Least Favorite Material to cut or engrave and Why

[Mike Null]

Bert

Color matters when engraving plastic laminates. The red stains the white worse than any other color combination and it's a real chore to clean. I've had to pitch pieces because I couldn't clean up the red stain. It has to do with the pigment in the red.

[Bert Kemp]

Mike are you referring to the Rowmark and if so are you saying I'll be OK with the Gold on Black I just bought this morning. I hope so It will be going on MIAP. Veterans Urns and I want it to look really sharp.

Bert

Color matters when engraving plastic laminates. The red stains the white worse than any other color combination and it's a real chore to clean. I've had to pitch pieces because I couldn't clean up the red stain. It has to do with the pigment in the red.

[Scott Shepherd]

Gold and black engraves beautifully Bert. It's the red, along with a few other colors that are a little picky. Nothing major, they just aren't as clean cut as doing some other colors. We engraved 10 quarter sheets of red today, once you get used to it, it's not too bad.

[Dee Gallo]

Back when I first started experimenting with substrates, I found I never want to use extruded acrylic again. It's just a disappointment all around. But I agree on the red cap on white - it's a pain.

[Bert Kemp]

I guess what I actually have is a very thin piece of laserlights. The instructions on laserbits are for a 35 watt laser. I have 60 watts
I get the impression that it should be attached to a solid object before engraving I don't have that option, can I just lay the sheet on the bed and engrave?

Gold and black engraves beautifully Bert. It's the red, along with a few other colors that are a little picky. Nothing major, they just aren't as clean cut as doing some other colors. We engraved 10 quarter sheets of red today, once you get used to it, it's not too bad.

[Scott Shepherd]

I guess what I actually have is a very thin piece of laserlights. The instructions on laserbits are for a 35 watt laser. I have 60 watts
I get the impression that it should be attached to a solid object before engraving I don't have that option, can I just lay the sheet on the bed and engrave?

Just put it on the bed, engrave and cut it. I've never attached it to anything before engraving.

[Doug Griffith]

I hate cutting steel. Probably because it doesn't work.

[George M. Perzel]

Hi Guys;
My vote is with Scott and Keith- stamp rubber is awful and am very surprised that the EPA has not mounted a major campaign against it. I guess they are too busy trying to save the yellow striped, one eyed snail darter........
Best Regards,
George
Laserarts

[Gary Hair]

[QUOTE=George M. Perzel;2444593I guess they are too busy trying to save the yellow striped, one eyed snail darter........[/QUOTE]

As soon as they find out it lost the other eye in a laser incident you can bet they will be scrutinizing everything we do..

[Kev Williams]

If "actual" engraving with tools qualifies is this discussion, then my least favorite material to engrave would be 68 Rockwell-hardened Glock slides. They're brutal on tools, and there's always the 'hope I don't screw this up' white-knuckle stress always going on...

But as much as I hate engraving them, the satisfaction of a job well done helps.
This is a retirement gift I did last night. The 'fire authority' lettering is .048" tall,
the entire 'unified' logo is only 5/8" x 11/16". And a quick plug to Anatares cutter tools, I'm amazed at what I can do with them. Even if I hate to.

DSC04136 (Large).JPGDSC04144 (Large).JPGDSC04149 (Custom).JPG

[Bert Kemp]

Kev you do awesome work and a true professional at your trade and not to mention a little crazy for taking on jobs like that. The stress not to screw up a high priced gun like that must be tremendous , great job I'm sure the recipient will be over joyed.

If "actual" engraving with tools qualifies is this discussion, then my least favorite material to engrave would be 68 Rockwell-hardened Glock slides. They're brutal on tools, and there's always the 'hope I don't screw this up' white-knuckle stress always going on...

But as much as I hate engraving them, the satisfaction of a job well done helps.
This is a retirement gift I did last night. The 'fire authority' lettering is .048" tall,
the entire 'unified' logo is only 5/8" x 11/16". And a quick plug to Anatares cutter tools, I'm amazed at what I can do with them. Even if I hate to.

DSC04136 (Large).JPGDSC04144 (Large).JPGDSC04149 (Custom).JPG

[Keith Winter]

Fantastic work on that gun Kev!

[Tucker Alford]

I guess what I actually have is a very thin piece of laserlights. The instructions on laserbits are for a 35 watt laser. I have 60 watts
I get the impression that it should be attached to a solid object before engraving I don't have that option, can I just lay the sheet on the bed and engrave?

I put a piece of brass plated steel engraving material down & then use small magnets to hold the laserlights in place atop the steel.

[Bert Kemp]

I have a iron honey comb magnets will work on that. any idea what settings on a 60 watt?

I put a piece of brass plated steel engraving material down & then use small magnets to hold the laserlights in place atop the steel.

[John Stevenson]

Mine is yellow on black Romark. No matter what the setting the yellow always seems to burn the edges, even with extra tape on.