Etching on wood

[Knot Competent]

There was a recent post on here with pics showing words etched onto wood. I've hunted, honest! but can't find it. I'd like to be able to do this, and wonder if it's possible in a low budget way. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Glynne]

Are you sure it wasn't pyrography rather than etching?

 

[Knot Competent]

No, it was beautifully precise and even, either done by laser or transferred print.

 

[Glynne]

Etching is achieved using acid and would normally be on a hard surface i.e metal or glass - hence my question.

If it was done by laser, then that is pyrography, burning on wood. You can use a laser, soldering iron, hot wire pyrograph etc. but you essential burn your design / writing into the wood. You can also mill writing into wood and for really precise work this is often done using CNC machines.

There was a recent thread about burning a name on turned pieces so it may have been that you are referring to?

 

[harryd]

Google 'Transfer inkjet print to wood' or 'transfer laser print to wood'. Bear in mind that you may have to reverse the print beforehand.

 

[Knot Competent]

Yup, I've seen that, Harry, and I'll give it a try if I have to. But I'm sure what I saw was described as laser etching, which is head and shoulders above what you describe.

 

[Knot Competent]

Yup, I've seen that, Harry, and I'll give it a try if I have to. But I'm sure what I saw was described as laser etching, which is head and shoulders above what you describe. And I wondered how on earth it was done.

 

[James C]

I posted over in the show what you've made thread recently.

An example of laser "engraving" or "etching".

It is actually a form of Pyrography technically. The laser burns into the wood but deeper than a pyrography iron. The laser beam is focus at 1mm below the surface of the wood so removes material down to that depth and leaves a burnt surface behind.

There are places around where you can get this done as a service.

 

[Knot Competent]

That's it! What sort of equipment is needed to do that, please? Are we talking megabucks, or beer money?

 

[Claymore]

Have a look on Ebay for them...... I saw one recently go for around £500 which isn't cheap but they would be a useful bit of kit and probably pay for themselves pretty quick.

 

[Knot Competent]

I might look on e-bay, but I have no idea what the equipment is called, as I've already said.

 

[ColeyS1]

Cnc laser might throw up a few [WINKING FACE]

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

[shuggy]

You might like to try a DIY with a Rasberry PI? Looks like an interesting project https://www.raspberrypi.org/home-made-c ... -engraver/
:idea: :idea: (hammer) :idea:

 

[novocaine]

some of what can be done in the more strange and wonderful world of lasers.

http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/ ... ect?page=1

guys doing all sorts of stuff with his.

 

[acewoodturner]

Here's one I recently did for a customer. It measures 18" by 12" and is made from sycamore

 

[Knot Competent]

Oh my stars! Not cheap, are they? But I love what they can produce! Some lovely examples there, guys, thanks!
OK, beginner's question - you can't rout and laser with the same unit, can you?
I presume a CNC router could be a bit of a messy process, whereas the laser is pretty mess-free?

Ah well, I can dream! Thanks for all your answers.

 

[xy mosian]

You might like to try a DIY with a Rasberry PI? Looks like an interesting project https://www.raspberrypi.org/home-made-c ... -engraver/
:idea: :idea: (hammer) :idea:

OO! That's very tempting. I've a couple of duff printers, perhaps a 300mm x 300mm bed?
Thanks for the link, I think.
xy

 

[Alf Beharie]

You could try looking for a Trend "Router Sketch". It's literally dirt cheap (less that £30) compared to a CNC laser engraver. It allows you to transfer complicated detailed drawings/artwork and/or text/writing to a work piece using a router. Apparently they stopped selling them fully assembled some years ago but you can still buy all the separate parts to assemble one. You can change the thickness or profile of the routed engraving simply by choosing a suitable router bit and setting the plunge depth on your router.
Here is one I found on amazon:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trend-Routasket ... B005ASRQJ0

 

[Knot Competent]

Thanks for that suggestion, Alf.
I'd go for that in a flash, but it looks as though it could be really difficult to use. You'd have to move
the router as you followed a pointer on the drawing, which could be very cumbersome, and open
to big errors - unless I've misunderstood the picture?

Have you used one? Personal experience is valuable.

 

[Alf Beharie]

No but I was tempted to buy one and try it. I read somewhere that it takes a bit of practice to use but if you can draw freehand accurately then you should be able to use one accurately. That one I linked to says it has holes for a "Rotozip"...I looked it up and apparently its a handheld "spiral saw"'...a strange device to use as a precision eching tool! I amuse you must be able to use it like a router and change the bits for router ones?