EVERYONE SHOULD BE LASER ENGRAVING THIS WAY
Рет қаралды 230,929
Күн бұрынWant to learn how to improve laser engraving of images? It’s easy to go from-run-of-the-mill laser engraving of photo images to images that really pop off the material. There’s a cheap and effective secret to making this happen using common material you can buy at grocery or hardware stores and with a simple coating on the material before engraving, you can create the best-engraved images you have ever seen.
In this video, I will show you how I get the best photo images and how you can too. So come and join me on my quest to make everything.
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►►►► VIDEO CONTENTS
0:00 Introduction
1:20 Preparing For Engraving
3:03 Laser Settings
5:56 Laser Cutting
8:15 Final Tips
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@Irosado65 2 жыл бұрын
I have seen this technique done on other videos but your has the most dramatic results and clear execution I have seen. Thanks for a great vid!
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks
@ChipLinck 2 жыл бұрын
This is the best technique I've seen in a long time for laser engraving. My wife uses borax. So, I've got plenty of it on hand. We're packing up to move right now, but as soon as I get the laser set up in the new office, this will be the first thing I do on it.
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Sounds like you’ve got plans for the holidays. Hope this is helpful
@MinxyMay 2 жыл бұрын
My husband & I just got a 100W Titan from FSL and we’re still learning to use it. This is a very helpful tip!!! Thank you for sharing!!
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Nice laser! Big workspace + lots of power = fun projects
@MrTobbo 2 жыл бұрын
How you finding it Minxy? Planning on buying one early january but it's either gonna be the titan or the PS36 PRO~ Did you do the 3d camera addon?
@MinxyMay 2 жыл бұрын
Mr Tobbo Yes, it’s working well, I did the camera add on and upgraded chiller option. The only way I could afford the 100W tube was the free upgrade they were offering that month with a purchase of the Titan.
@2iinfinite 2 жыл бұрын
Can’t wait to try this with a diode laser! If anyone is wondering how to engrave on glass with a diode laser, the secret is black tempera paint. Same technique.
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
this should work with a diode laser as well
@pizzaklak4564 2 жыл бұрын
so i run a company specialised in laser cutting. We know some tricks but this seems like magic to me. Definitely gonna try it out and will update about the result!
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
If you want dark engraving this will do it for you
@ainttakenanyshit 3 ай бұрын
Thank you Steve for ANOTHER great tip on getting the most out of your laser. It is on my shopping list to pick up ASAP.. Thanks again.... Hank
@SteveMakesEverything 3 ай бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
@forgeteverythingyouknow5413 2 жыл бұрын
That may be the best tip I've ever seen. . Thank you, Steve.
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Glad you found it useful
@kellyklaask7su990 2 жыл бұрын
WOW! This is a game changer. Been lasering stuff for over 10 years and I am looking forward to trying this. Headed to the store to get some Borax! Thanks for sharing.
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Borax isn’t available everywhere so if you can’t find it you can also try baking soda dissolved in water
@kellyklaask7su990 2 жыл бұрын
@@SteveMakesEverything I saw another video that compared baking soda and Borax. The baking soda was definitely an improvement over nothing but the Borax was by far the best. I will try to find some online. Thanks again!
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
@@kellyklaask7su990 Yes Borax definitely works better
@MindiLynn3 2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for this tip! I appreciate your content.
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
My pleasure!
@milosristic3876 Жыл бұрын
Man, you are genius. Thank you for sharing your knowledge 😊
@SteveMakesEverything Жыл бұрын
Ha, you should really spend a day with me in my shop. You would see lots of mistakes and wasted material😉 My goal is to just help people move forward on their Maker journey.
@franzgriffle6063 2 жыл бұрын
Wow, that awesome. Thanks for the time saver!
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Happy to help!
@yoramlavee 2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for sharing. Awesome tip!
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Happy to help
@stuartcommon4651 2 жыл бұрын
Quite like this idea, you could also do a two tone effect with a normal engraving first, leave it in place and apply the borax then do a different engraving over the top so some parts are light and some dark. I do wonder though about how it may affect the chemistry of the wood, for example long term degradation of certain finishes, like say shellac or an epoxy or PU finish
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
I like this idea. 😀
@HOODCLASSICTELEVISION 2 жыл бұрын
Good idea 👍🏾
@daminator2004 2 жыл бұрын
I did this last night …. Came out really good… added that contrast … sealed with poly once completed
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
@@daminator2004 Excellent!
@dalh598.1 2 жыл бұрын
@@daminator2004 2 weeks in, how's the polyurethane finish?
@originalhotrodder4337 2 жыл бұрын
Excellent trick Steve! You got yourself another subscriber.
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Welcome aboard!
@josephsmith601 Жыл бұрын
You got a subscriber for this one, thanks for sharing a industry secret with the little guys! 👍👍👍
@SteveMakesEverything Жыл бұрын
Nice! Welcome aboard 😁
@sureshotranch406 2 жыл бұрын
Love this video! Thank you!
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it!
@otherdogdesign8666 2 жыл бұрын
Very informative, thank you
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Happy it helps
@IIIofV 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Steve, great tip !!
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Hope it’s helpful
@28trooper 2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for sharing!!
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
You are so welcome!
@brentallenberg5862 2 жыл бұрын
Wow! Thanks, Steve!!!
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
You're welcome!
@TediumGenius 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for this, I appreciate the tip!
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
@eaglegolfj12 2 жыл бұрын
Very cool going to try this tonight.
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Remember to really reduce the power, and once engraved, give it a couple good layers of clear coat
@beavercreekdesign Жыл бұрын
Thanks for making the video.
@SteveMakesEverything Жыл бұрын
I hope it helps
@KodyWebb Жыл бұрын
Thanks for the tip!
@SteveMakesEverything Жыл бұрын
No problem!
@joshread3740 2 жыл бұрын
Wow, this is amazing. I've been wishing for a way to make my engravings darker. The results shown in the video are super impressive. Steve, would you recommend using this method on all types of wood with any type of engraving (photo, logo, text, etc)? Also, could you estimate how long it took for the wood to dry and be ready for engraving?
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
This will work with any type of engraving and should have an impact on most woods. It has a bigger impact on light woods though. As far as drying you can leave it overnight or use a heat gun/hair dryer to accelerate things. For the video I lightly heated my board with a heat gun and drying took less than a minute.
@zachofalltrades6116 2 жыл бұрын
@@SteveMakesEverything so this will work on metal as well
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
@@zachofalltrades6116 I don't think this will work on metal since it needs a porous surface.
@24-Card 2 жыл бұрын
@@zachofalltrades6116 the Borax is liquifying under the creating a moment of molten liquid. Borax is also used as a wetting agent in melting brass in a furnace. It significantly reduces the time involved in melting brass, and is easily skimmed off the top before pouring. Works with gold too, same reason.
@elfillari Жыл бұрын
@@24-Card So, are you claiming the Borax will effect to the picture graving positively similar as it does for the wooden materials too? How do you add this borax on the metal? Similar as wood, layering on the top of the plattern to be lazerized?
@maccaslasher 2 жыл бұрын
Awesome. What a difference that makes. Great tip thank you. One question..... how do u clean off the black sooty residue without it soiling your workpiece.
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
So if you start by minimizing the power used to create the engraving and then after engraving spray the piece with clear coat, you can protect the piece. You can’t touch the engraving until you do this otherwise it will smear. For every plus, there is a minus but this one can be mitigated.
@francoishaha 2 жыл бұрын
tks for sharing, working great!!
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
You’re welcome! 😁
@thomasheisler 2 жыл бұрын
wow thanks man, that is very helpful
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Glad it was useful
@dustinnygard3076 2 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much!! Amazing
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
You're so welcome!
@randynorthey3101 2 жыл бұрын
Steve, another great video. I can't seem to get enough of them! Odd question, can you tell me where you get your green "grid" work sheet that you work on? Thanks
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
The green mat is a standard cutting mat that you can find at most craft stores and some hardware stores.
@nipunamunasinghe 8 ай бұрын
Thank you so much! You are a legend
@SteveMakesEverything 8 ай бұрын
Lol I think you over-estimate me 😁
@ComgrowOfficial 2 жыл бұрын
You're brilliant!!!👍👍👍
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks, but let's not make claims that can't be supported by evidence 😉. I'm just happy that people are finding this channel useful.
@FamousHec 2 жыл бұрын
What's up Stevo?!! Thanks for the tip 👍
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Good to hear from you again and you are very welcome 😀.
@paulmay2437 2 жыл бұрын
wow, impressive. Thank you.
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Happy to help
@jimmym2719 2 жыл бұрын
You are awesome 👏 thanks for sharing 💕
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Happy to help
@shadowliving6858 2 жыл бұрын
Great work. Love it. Time to go buy some Borax.
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
If you can’t find Borax you can try Baking Soda as well. Doesn’t have quite the same effect but Borax isn’t available everywhere
@gillieskyler 10 ай бұрын
Just tried it wow amazing
@SteveMakesEverything 10 ай бұрын
Glad you liked it
@wavealip8059 2 жыл бұрын
Wow! Nice tip.
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Glad you liked it!
@orlandomosquera4784 2 жыл бұрын
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Appreciated
@scottmorris4914 8 ай бұрын
great video, thanks. This is how scorch pens work.
@SteveMakesEverything 8 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it
@PCLye 2 жыл бұрын
Great knowledge
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
So nice of you
@msyverson3 2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for posting this. I'm literally dialing in my engraving this week and trying to step up my game on that. I've been getting pretty good results, but this is a big step up and exactly what I'm after. Quick question- looks like you have an FSL laser. What wattage is you cutter and do you have an idea of what the mm/s equates to when cutting at 100% speed? Trying to relate it to my 50w OMTech. Thanks again for this tip!
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Yes I have a Muse 3D which claims to be 45W but it's really only ever driving it to 40W peak power. I can't honestly say what the real speed equates to (one of the things that annoys me a bit about the RE3 software. I would say you could use math to solve the problem. Your laser is 25% more powerful so you should be able to guess what your 100% velocity is to get some like a mm/s per % number. Subtract 25% from the Muse speed percentage and multiply the result by your calculated speed. It would get you close.
@msyverson3 2 жыл бұрын
@@SteveMakesEverything Thanks Steve. I'll dive into it. Gonna try some Borax and Baking Soda tests this weekend!
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
@@msyverson3 Let me know how it works out for you. I've haven't had as much luck with baking soda - not as much sodium in it I think.
@PaulJarrett Жыл бұрын
@@msyverson3 So how did your testing go, please share
@msyverson3 Жыл бұрын
@@PaulJarrett Hi Paul, sorry for the long delay- I did some testing with both and I really wasn't happy with either result. The borax does indeed burn nice and dark and the baking soda a bit more yellow. You need to handle them carefully can clear coat them as the Borax doesn't seem to bond all that great to the wood (unless I'm doing something wrong). I've been focusing more on getting good solid burns on the wood itself and pretty happy with the results. Good luck
@josephmetzger8648 2 жыл бұрын
Borax works great on killing ant too! I will have to try this next time I engrave.
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
It's my go-to ant killer too. 😀
@design8studio 11 ай бұрын
cool. Thanks!
@SteveMakesEverything 11 ай бұрын
You bet!
@aztecwarrior1421 Ай бұрын
Thank you
@SteveMakesEverything Ай бұрын
You're welcome
@jlo726 2 жыл бұрын
Awesome!
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Glad you think so!
@abadifoto8455 2 жыл бұрын
wow amazing !!
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Glad you like it!
@wilmercb 2 жыл бұрын
Awesome! Any added strong smell with the Borax? Thanks
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Nope! No smell at all
@epicetches4155 Жыл бұрын
Hi. I’ve been learning different techniques using the CO2. I personally like working with stain. Adjusting the threshold gives amazing results as well. Anyways half-tone dithering goes great with the borax. 250 dpi is good for this test picture. And needing less power, I’ll have to try 500 dpi and borax for quicker, cheaper jobs. I have baking soda, but is it as good as borax?
@SteveMakesEverything Жыл бұрын
Baking soda works but isn’t quite as good as borax, but with either you will be able to use more speed or less power
@thetagmarket1058 2 жыл бұрын
Borax (products made from chemicals in the Borate Group) are no longer sold in the EU and UK as they have been classified as "toxic" (classified as a Reprotoxic Category 2). It is obtainable, from specialist chemical companies, but not to private individuals. Companies who use these compounds need to prove that they have appropriate safety systems to handle, use, and dispose of it. One could try this with Bicarbonate of Soda (baking power might do) - give it a go Steve and see if it performs the same.
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
yes I’ve tried baking soda in the past and it helps improve engraving but doesn’t have quite the same impact. it’s too bad the regulations are so tight in the EU, especially since it’s a material that occurs in nature
@pd1jap Ай бұрын
Sorry, you are wrong. I live in the Netherlands and can buy Borax without restrictions.
@wannabechoppers8612 Жыл бұрын
Thank you for the hint! Do you know if this also works on metal and other materials, or is this specific for wood/plywood?
@SteveMakesEverything Жыл бұрын
Sadly this process is specific to wood material
@Alohakoa59 10 ай бұрын
Excellent!!! Thank you!! Does it only work on wood?
@SteveMakesEverything 10 ай бұрын
Porous wood only
@vincentrodak9734 2 жыл бұрын
What a great video! Thanks so much for sharing this information! Do you know would this have a different affect when using a diode laser instead of a CO2?
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
I think it should have the same effect. Give it a try
@QuixoticEnt 2 жыл бұрын
It works the same with diode lasers. Keep in mind, though, that this produces a very black burn, which some find artificial-looking. A similar mixture with baking soda will produce a darker burn that still shows the wood. However, if you use too much baking soda it will yellow the wood.
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
@@QuixoticEnt Baking soda will indeed work and both it and Borax will darken the burn. One thing to keep in mind is that you will need to reduce the power quite a bit to avoid too much of that "fake" look. Thanks for confirming that this works with diode lasers too.
@vincentrodak9734 2 жыл бұрын
@@QuixoticEnt Awesome! thanks for filling in the blanks here! Appreciate the insight.
@wmielke2 2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for this tip. Normally I laser out of focus to darken the color. Do you do this “In Focus”?
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Yes I do! borax makes the surface very sensitive. in fact you will probably need to reduce the power by 30-50% or it surface will be charred
@willrogers5913 2 жыл бұрын
Hi Steve, great tip it works great. One question if you don't mind. What is the best way to clean the piece before clear coating? If I rub the engraved image after burning it seems to smudge pretty bad. Do you just blow it off and slap clear coat straight on? Thanks in advance!
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
In general don’t touch it with anything. Just clearcoat it
@johnmood5653 2 жыл бұрын
Some folks use a very light soapy water (barely wiped over, no scrubbing], and rinse after that thoroughly, very clean of smoke deposition. Try it on some scrap wood, see what you like best.
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
@@johnmood5653 I try to make best efforts to minimize deposits in the first place. It's always best to tinker with settings to avoid surface cleaning down the road whenever possible.
@michaela4141 2 жыл бұрын
Hey Steve, great video. Is the Borax treated engraving have the char wiped off of it? Or is that with the char on?
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
The one in this video is right off the laser. I wouldn’t wipe this off at all, but rather just spray a bit of clear coat on it to protect the surface
@MrNugs67 Жыл бұрын
You probably already answered this question but what type of wood did you use in this video? Thanks for making this video. Greatly appreciated..
@SteveMakesEverything Жыл бұрын
It’s just laser grade Baltic birch
@appleraika 2 жыл бұрын
Amazing hack 😍
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
I hope it helps
@luke752010 Жыл бұрын
My congratulations for this outstanding video! In order to obtain that result, Borax must be applied always before engraving or it is possible to applied borax after engraving ? Which power and speed should we use (for example I have a 10W diode laser)?
@SteveMakesEverything Жыл бұрын
You definitely need to apply the borax first, since it is what causes a reaction with the laser. Power is trickier since there is no clear setting that works. All I can tell you is to really cut the power back (about a third of what you would expect) and experiment from there on a few pieces of scrap material.
@ismailbakry 2 жыл бұрын
Thank you sir
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Happy to help
@otallono 2 жыл бұрын
I am used to using baking soda, when I learned about borax in a different video, I really wanted to try it. Images were turning out pure black, dots were melting in to each other so there was no more grayscale effect. So I doubled the speed and halfed the power, no change. I increased the speed even more, lowered power and the borax kept charring the wood no matter what except some of the wood wouldn't get touched so it would be like an incomplete yet black image. Very weird stuff, I really prefer the baking soda, it gives something in the middle and I get the grayscale effect. I've only tested these on basswood, that may be why. Ortur master 2 20W so it's not a powerful laser. I don't think this video really demonstrates a photo style engraving though, more like a vector so there's not much grayscale. So it seems excellent for that type of engraving. I may just need to practice more with it.
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
I’m not sure how a diode laser works o this but I’m going to find out soon
@epiendless1128 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the baking soda tip, since borax isn't available in my country.
@matthewbickham4065 Жыл бұрын
Very interesting.
@SteveMakesEverything Жыл бұрын
Keep in mind that the tax you will pay is the need for a couple good coats of Clearcoat to protect the engraving
@TheGuitarman1968 3 ай бұрын
Some basic high school chemistry 101 to ponder: Sodium tetraborate (Borax) is a mild alkaline with a PH between 8 and 9. When mixed with dihydrogen oxide (water), it becomes hydrogen peroxide. Borax is basically bleaching the wood at the molecular level. You would think the added whiteness/brightness that Borax gives the wood would be counterintuitive to using a laser since it would reflect the laser light, but hey, it works somehow to create a darker burn. Borax is not only used as a cleaner and laundry brightener, among other industrial uses. It is also a great insecticide for ants and termites. Just mix it with corn syrup, and it dehydrates the insects from the inside out when they eat the mixture. Those Terro ant traps are basically corn syrup and Borax. Good stuff! My question is. What do you do after engraving with Borax to clean and seal the wood? If you wipe the wood after engraving, the dark soot gets everywhere and ruins the project. I have heard some other laser engravers say they use a vacuum and a spray poly or lacquer to seal the wood without any wiping of the project. I was just wondering what you recommend after engraving with Borax so that the project does not get ruined by the dark soot getting everywhere? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. 😊
@SteveMakesEverything 3 ай бұрын
You can spray it with a couple coats of clear coat, though reducing the power more will help balance the darker color with the fragility caused by layering the Borax. Run some material tests to find the best settings
@TheGuitarman1968 3 ай бұрын
@SteveMakesEverything Thanks for the advice. I will definitely try lowering the laser power even more, and spraying some clear coat after engraving. Unfortunately, this won't work with cutting boards though, as they have to be rubbed and wiped with food grade mineral oil. I will figure something out though. 😊
@hungrycolby 3 ай бұрын
@@TheGuitarman1968 thanks for sharing the science behind why this works. For your food grade option you could maybe try baking soda.
@avcfinancialgroup 2 жыл бұрын
Happy Holidays, Great tip. Will this process work on slate, granite or sandstone also. TIA
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Good question. I'll have to try this when I have time
@pegboydscrafty 2 жыл бұрын
Wow nice!
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the visit
@MsChimpe Жыл бұрын
how amazing Steve , does it work with glass ?
@SteveMakesEverything Жыл бұрын
Not on glass. A CO2 laser will engrave glass anyway. A diode laser would require some sort of treatment (like paint) to engrave glass.
@hejolli 2 жыл бұрын
Hi, thanks for the tip. Is it working for poliuretane leather as well? Thanks and Happy New Year!
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
It should, though I haven't tried it. I don't work with leather too often. Maybe there is justification to do a follow-up video on different materials.
@hejolli 2 жыл бұрын
@@SteveMakesEverything Thank you so much for your quick reply!
@kelseyhinshaw1746 2 жыл бұрын
What camera are you using inside your machine to record your laser jobs? I feel like you’ve said before in one of your videos but I can’t remember which one it was (I’ve watched too many! Haha) thank you for the great videos!
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Most times I I use my Logitech C920
@kevinebonywong9499 Жыл бұрын
Nice work...is there any special Borax that you have to use...or just any Borax power detergent power?
@SteveMakesEverything Жыл бұрын
Just the typical Borax used to whiten laundry
@erinsullivan2727 3 ай бұрын
Can you use this technique on regular engraving to make it darker but not have as much burn/. Also, can you use this technique on any material? Thanks for the video
@SteveMakesEverything 3 ай бұрын
This only works on more porous woods. You can get darker engraves without much burn, but you really need to drop the power or increase the speed to achieve this.
@macrumpton 2 жыл бұрын
I am assuming it does not cause the wood to discolor or otherwise become less attractive over time. This would be really great for diode lasers that have low power and good speed.
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
I haven't seen any change over time that wouldn't be there naturally for unfinished wood regardless.
@stevehlinka4004 2 жыл бұрын
Will this work with diode lasers? I am going to try it but wondering if it has been tried already. Thanks for The great video and tip
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
I think a few people have had success doing this with diode lasers
@devianpctek 2 жыл бұрын
That's an amazing technique, I just bought a laser engraver and want to do dome engravings on cutting boards, is this solution food safe?
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Technically Borax won't kill you but I doubt it's very healthy regardless. What I do on cutting boards is engrave and then fill them with resin. It takes longer but it's durable.
@sherryleggett1612 Жыл бұрын
The solution coloured the wood as well. Would rinsing it remove that?
@SteveMakesEverything Жыл бұрын
The easiest way to fix this is to reduce the concentration. It really requires little to get darkened engraving.
@RussellRay 2 жыл бұрын
It looks as if when you were brushing the Borax on the maple that it changed the color of the wood. It looks like on the video it made it yellowish color. Is this right or is it just a camera illusion?
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
There is very minor color change with Borax. If you use baking soda instead you will see a lot more yellowing.
@markchapman826 2 жыл бұрын
so was that added straight to the wood or was there any protective coating.I like your Videos.
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
No coating, just paint it on lightly and let it dry.
@markchapman826 2 жыл бұрын
@@SteveMakesEverything ok thank you im going to try that because ive been having people ask me about portraits on wood.
@jrard92 2 жыл бұрын
I think once done with Engraving. If we have to clean the surface with light damp cloth or polish with oil/lacquer, burnt borax will be all over the place spoiling the picture with blackness ? Has it happened to you?
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
It's easier if the surface of the material is ready for finishing before you do the engrave and then after you can just spray it with clear coat (avoiding contact with the engraving of course).
@brandonstone3072 2 ай бұрын
Thank you for this! How long does it need to dry before engraving? Does this make the product not food safe? Can it be lightly sanded after engraving?
@SteveMakesEverything 2 ай бұрын
You can use a heat gun to dry it if you’re in a rush. I wouldn’t use this in area where there is food. Any toxicity aside, the surface will be fragile unless you pour some clear resin over it. Sanding isn’t recommended after engraving, but you can sand before and then mask the surface before engraving.
@brandonstone3072 2 ай бұрын
@@SteveMakesEverything awesome thank you for the reply can’t wait to go try this out
@jakubcerman6904 2 жыл бұрын
may i ask if you used the same laser setting (power,speed and DPI) for both picture? many thx
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Certainly you can ask. So with the Borax I actually had to dial down the power by about 50% otherwise the material would just be charred into oblivion. Speed is the same for both
@NathanBuildsRobots 2 жыл бұрын
I tried the same thing using dishwasher detergent and it worked just as good. Thanks for sharing this great tip!
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
I’ve been looking for alternatives so I’ll try this. Soap would be a bit hard to clean off the material though.
@NathanBuildsRobots 2 жыл бұрын
@@SteveMakesEverything Oh, I mean automatic dishwasher detergent. It looks a lot like borax so I thought it figured it would work about the same.
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
@@NathanBuildsRobots Well that makes a whole lot more sense. 😀
@iwannaapple7190 2 жыл бұрын
I have been thinking about getting a laser for my custom soap cutters I make and I ran across your video. Great idea and I won't forget this tip. I like the realness of your video so I would like to ask you if their are any lasers between the $300 and $800 mark that impress you. I dont have a clue as to what to look for. I've even seen one that adjusts for height by itself and has a camera on top but how would I know if things like this are good or not in making fine detail. So I am clueless as to whether or not the options are good to have or not?
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Yes there are lots of lasers in the under $1200 range, though they are all diode lasers. There tend to be lower power and generally better for engraving than cutting but they are a good buy if you are just starting out. Since so many people on the channel ask about this market segment I've been negotiating with a few companies to send/lend me one so I can do some reviews yo better cover that price range (Manufacturers, If you are out there, send me email because I'd love to cover your products!)
@iwannaapple7190 Жыл бұрын
@@SteveMakesEverything I have my laser installed on my cnc machine finally. I came beck here again cause I'm still gonna try this for my 3rd project. Just asked my wife to get some borax.
@SteveMakesEverything Жыл бұрын
@@iwannaapple7190 You can easily try this on a couple of test projects to see how you like it and to get your settings correct. You really have to cut back on the power otherwise you end up with something that is engraved too deeply and is quite fragile.
2 жыл бұрын
nice tip. need to try it. can you share the link to the "borax" product. need to find out the chemicals composition so that i can find an equivalent in europe. Thanks
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
In a previous comment I post a link to Wikipedia for Borax, but it's easy enough to Google for it. It's available in most stores that sell any kind of laundry detergents. You can also use baking soda with the same process but it isn't quite as effective.
@JJ-pi7ev Жыл бұрын
Wow - so cool! One question: do you know if the smoke from Borax would be toxic?
@SteveMakesEverything Жыл бұрын
As an organic compound Borax (B4H20Na2O17) is pretty tame. It is mostly hydrogen and oxygen and if you did inhale or consume it, it will break down quickly in your system with minor irritation. I believe the only reason it is banned in some areas is because it is toxic to insects (typically ants).
@MrJimpurvis 2 жыл бұрын
Does this work on metal too? I say that because you mentioned parts at the beginning thanks
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
No. You're out of luck using Borax on metal. You would need to use something like Cermark for that. It's expensive but it works well.
@justinbanks2380 2 жыл бұрын
Great tip, just discovered your channel! Does this treatment have any affect on the wood long term? Discoloration or can it cause any allergies?
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Assuming you use a low concentration to start, there will be minimal yellowing of the wood after the initial engraving.
@justinbanks2380 2 жыл бұрын
@@SteveMakesEverything Cool! Thanks for the response!
@osterlundm11 2 жыл бұрын
@justin banks It can cause skin irritation so I would use gloves and be careful to get it on your skin.
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
@@osterlundm11 While I don't try to spread any chemical on my skin, this is a very low concentration so irritation is unlikely, but gloves would never go astray for this. I use a spray bottle for this and then a foam brush to even it out and touching it unlikely.
@bcurtis1612 2 жыл бұрын
Have you used this method on acacia cutting boards by any chance?
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
I have not. This will work best on lighter soft woods, but I'd say give it a try. I theory the borax is reacting to the laser and that should work regardless
@constantinosschinas4503 3 ай бұрын
Will Borax or Soda blacken metal engravings as well? Does it work with any type of laser (diode, CO2, fiber etc.)?
@SteveMakesEverything 3 ай бұрын
Sorry, this will work only with wood, but it should work with diode or CO2 lasers
@mikebari3225 Жыл бұрын
Im new to this, whats the difference between this method or just doing more power ?
@SteveMakesEverything Жыл бұрын
I like these questions. You can certainly amp up the power, but you'll end up charring he surface or burning through your material before you get to the same level of darkness. With an application of Borax (or even Baking Soda) you can use far less power than you normally would, so you won't have to deal with the smoke residue and will still get darker engraving. Give it a try and you will see the difference.
@saintslows 5 ай бұрын
Would this do anything on glass or acrylic ?
@SteveMakesEverything 5 ай бұрын
No, this will only work on wood and in fact, will generally work best on softwood and plywood.
@chrisoliver3851 7 ай бұрын
Hey Steve i have a 40 watt XTool S1 will this method work for me ?
@SteveMakesEverything 7 ай бұрын
Yes for sure. You will really need to back off on the power though or you’ll be cutting holes. Do a material test on a piece of material to get a sense of the power you will want
@wfpelletier4348 2 жыл бұрын
Thank youfor sharing this knowledge. Does this technique work on other materials besides wood? What about non-porous materials (plastic, metal, etc.)?
@wfpelletier4348 2 жыл бұрын
And for what it's worth, you got a new subscriber. I do not yet own a laser (I only do 3D printing right now), but I am pretty sure I will get one some day.
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
I haven't tried honestly. I was going to try on metal to see if it did anything but no time. For metal it would be a challenge because water will bead do you would need to have a different carrier (oil??)
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Nice! It's a slippery slope. I started with a 3D printer, built my own, moved to CNC, then to Lasers and now building my own laser too :-)
@wfpelletier4348 2 жыл бұрын
@@SteveMakesEverything I have heard of people using paint on metal, then doing the engraving, and then removing the paint. But I found myself wondering if the effect of lasering Borax on wood was some sort of chemical action that was making the wood dark. Perhaps this technique would work on leather, but maybe the laser alone is good enough for leather.
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
@@wfpelletier4348 You definitely shouldn't need Borax (if it worked) for leather. It usually engraves pretty dark as it is.
@markfmoritz 2 жыл бұрын
Does this work on prefinished plaques or only raw wood? Also how durable is the image for an item such as a cutting board?
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
If the surface is pre-finished you are likely to run into problems because there won't be any way for the solution to get absorbed.
@Sophie333C 22 күн бұрын
Hi, what software are you pasting the image into? Thanks in advance!
@SteveMakesEverything 22 күн бұрын
I don’t recall which laser I used but it was probably the Muse 3D in which case it would be Retina Engrave 3
@mudaserlatif1710 13 күн бұрын
hi, can this be used on a dark colored wood as well?
@SteveMakesEverything 13 күн бұрын
Pretty much any wood will work, though softwoods are best. Also lighter colored woods are better.
@michellecolon1541 5 ай бұрын
Can you useit for a diode laser as well?
@SteveMakesEverything 5 ай бұрын
Yes it should work, but remember to really reduce the power
@bradouellette6558 2 жыл бұрын
What do you do with raised grain from wetting the wood , will a light sanding afterwards effect the image , or does it remain dark after sanding , thanks for the tip , can’t wait to try it
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
This is a good question and honestly I haven't considered it. I suspect if you lightly sand before engraving then you'll be fine. Sanding afterward would result in disappointment
@bradouellette6558 2 жыл бұрын
@@SteveMakesEverything , from my experience as a long time woodworker grain will only raise once after a fresh cut , my suggestion would be to wet the wood , let it dry and then a light sanding smooth , then wet it with the Borax and laser it. That should address the issue.
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
@@bradouellette6558 Good advice, thanks
@0508533886 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Steve for this Tips , but what should i do if i don't have Borax in my location ? is there any alternative solution ?
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Try Baking Soda
@JasonPeltier 2 жыл бұрын
That's an amazing practice. 20% power would make the diode last forever!
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Interesting. I hadn’t considered trying this with a diode laser
@ecsoftball Жыл бұрын
Steve great video. My results, with a diode 5W laser were very similar to yours...that is until I ran my fingers across the borax one. The dark design basically rubbed off on my fingers and all over the wood. After cleaning it up, there was no difference in the two designs. Needless to say it was very frustrating. Have you ever had this problem?
@SteveMakesEverything Жыл бұрын
This is the tax you pay. The first solution is to greatly reduce the power when you're engraving (or increase the speed). The reaction with Borax is so fast that the endency is to cook the surface. The other way to solve this is to spray wih a couple good coats of clearcoat, or alrenately you can fill the engraving with some clear resin.
@okra23 Жыл бұрын
What type clear coat do you recommend to seal in the black color?
@SteveMakesEverything Жыл бұрын
@@okra23 I just usually spray some Rust-Oleum Painters Touch, and I typically use flat if I still want the surface to look like wood when I'm finished. You can get it at most hardware stores
@valleypivot 2 жыл бұрын
Does the borax engrave deeper, shallower, and will it last as long as a normal engrave?
@SteveMakesEverything 2 жыл бұрын
Well you do need to reduce the power a bit (or increase the speed) with Borax otherwise you'll get a lot more charring. If you leave the setting as you would for a normal engrave it will probably look less appealing.
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