StevenB Posted April 24, 2012 Report Share Posted April 24, 2012 Anybody got any advice or tips on engraving wood? I've got a customer that wants a piece of wood engraved for a memorial, and I seem to have said I'll do it, despite never having engraved wood before... I look forward to lots of helpful replies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kobblers Posted April 24, 2012 Report Share Posted April 24, 2012 I treat wood like any other material Steven and never have any problems. The only real piece of advice I can offer as we have such different machines is to make sure that the wood has a good, tight grain to it to minimise tearout. If you're going to fill the engraving afterwards then it's probably a good idea to engrave through some sort of tape and apply your paint or wax before you remove the tape or you may find that the fill sits in the surrounding wood grain. Rick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted April 24, 2012 Report Share Posted April 24, 2012 woods pretty much like plastic, except occasionally you have to give it a couple of run throughs because of the wood grain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenB Posted April 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2012 How come after 20 years in the trade I've never engraved it then? Puzzling. Thanks for the advice guys, I'll post a pic if it's not a disaster. If it is, I'll post lots of pics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray Posted April 24, 2012 Report Share Posted April 24, 2012 I concur Rick. I engraved a love spoon once, loose grain came out shite. Fekin horrible job. Was ashamed at my attempt. I don't do them anymore. Stick plates on them now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hibsjo(SCO) Posted April 24, 2012 Report Share Posted April 24, 2012 LASER ALL THE WAY! carry on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray Posted April 24, 2012 Report Share Posted April 24, 2012 I had a horrible nightmare last night.. I dreamt I was in Dolgellau. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kobblers Posted April 24, 2012 Report Share Posted April 24, 2012 I concur Rick. I engraved a love spoon once, loose grain came out shite. Fekin horrible job. Was ashamed at my attempt. I don't do them anymore. Stick plates on them now. What the hell's a love spoon? Loose grained wood's a nightmare, I agree but I think a way around it would be to seal the wood with summat that acts like a glue/filler in the grain and then engrave it as the surface would be more dense. (I've never actually tried this by the way but I'm confident it would work) I might give it a go using that rotten wood treatment liquid as I think that solidifies wood to an extent. Rick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenB Posted April 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2012 I did advise the customer that it would need to be hardwood for the very reason mentioned above. They are aware that the quality of wood that they provide will influence the quality of the finished job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
autolock Posted May 9, 2012 Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 I had a horrible nightmare last night.. I dreamt I was in Dolgellau. whats up with dolgellau ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray Posted May 9, 2012 Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 Hibs keeps asking me how far away Dolgellau is from me. He's obsessed with Dolgellau to the point where I think he needs psychiatric care..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Friend Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 Did you know Balsa is considered a 'hard wood' ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kobblers Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 As is Cherry Rick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenB Posted May 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2012 They are aware that the quality of wood that they provide will influence the quality of the finished job. And this is what they brought me... Well actually, they firstly brought in a lump of wood like this, but about 3" thick. "Sorry matey, that ain't going to fit in the machine. Thin it down & try again" So here it is, rough sawn, thickness varying across the width of it. A disaster waiting to happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray Posted May 11, 2012 Report Share Posted May 11, 2012 Might be an idea to sand it down a bit first. I forsee a knackered nosecone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenB Posted May 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2012 First problem, how the feck do you fix it to the machine bed? Wedge it in place with marble blocks & then gaffa tape it down. Job's a good 'un. I elected to use the depth profile function so as to not need to use a nosecone. I think I got away with it! Glad I didn't have to colour fill it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Friend Posted May 11, 2012 Report Share Posted May 11, 2012 \:D/ \:D/ \:D/ \:D/ \:D/ \:D/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray Posted May 11, 2012 Report Share Posted May 11, 2012 Looks good to me =D> From one extreme to the other Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenB Posted May 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2012 Amerzone script, works every time. Nicely done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray Posted May 11, 2012 Report Share Posted May 11, 2012 Thanks for you know what Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenB Posted May 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2012 Hey, nice logo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forest Cobbler Posted May 12, 2012 Report Share Posted May 12, 2012 Out of interest, StevenB, how much did you charge for that fabulous job? I have been engraving for many, many years and have not yet attempted wood, but you have inspired me. Thanks. Valerie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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