Failed Slate Engravings Are Costing You BIG TIME!

[@dwwoodbuilds]

Really appreciate your "to the point, no fluf" videos!! Thank you Curtis!!

[@LetsMakeAThing]

You're welcome!

[@daviddollard3845]

Nice video. Thanks for the tip on saving material. Preventing the waste is a good bonus for this too.

[@LetsMakeAThing]

You're welcome! Glad you found it useful!

[@hickser2272]

Thank you so much for this info . I have so many coasters I have failed on and now knowing I can reuse them , just made my day! Thank you thank you thank you !!

[@LetsMakeAThing]

You are so welcome!

[@gilbertboyer9936]

Hi there, I have been watching some of your videos and I am very impressed not only with the work presented but also your mindset and attitude. Thank for your great presentation and please keep them coming.

[@LetsMakeAThing]

Glad you're enjoying the videos!

[@Optikification]

Now this is great info, i started lasering a few months ago and have multiple ruining slates in my shed. Thanks for the tip.

[@LetsMakeAThing]

Glad it helped!

[@okin8949]

Hi! I also like to reuse my "bad" slates, i remove the engraving by sanding, but i do a finish sanding with a 240 grade sand paper. This gives me a very even surface which can display more details than a raw slate. I never tried coating it before lasering - i use stone sealer after the engraving. These are also available in matte, silk and glossy. With the finish after the engraving i can protect the slate and also have the engraved areas sealed. This also avoids chemical fumes from the engraving. The output with sanded slate will have much more contrast than raw slate.

[@LetsMakeAThing]

Thanks for sharing!

[@Grossvatti]

Hi Curtis, quick note: If you don't want to use the spray use a rag with mineral oil - the thing you prepare your cutting boards with. Darkens fine, is food safe and gives good contrast when lasered

[@LetsMakeAThing]

Great tip!

[@bigsubful]

Hello, oil used before lasering, I suppose. Is it right?

[@ainttakenanyshit]

So, you think that a burnt on oil layer would be "good"? Me, not so much....

[@nancyperkins7267]

Definitely like the Matte finish

[@LetsMakeAThing]

I think it looks the best too!

[@DaveEtchells]

I’m just starting to play with slate so this was super-useful, thanks! (A tip on sourcing: I discovered that my local Michael’s art/craft supply store has nice 4x4” coasters in shrink-wrapped packs of 4 for only $5. No problems with coasters getting chipped or broken in shipping, and cheaper than most sellers on Amazon. I don’t know how widespread Michael’s is, but they’re a great source for lots of stuff if you have one near you.)

[@LetsMakeAThing]

Glad you found it useful! And thanks for the coaster tip!

[@williamrozinski9069]

Short and to the point

[@LetsMakeAThing]

Thank you.

[@quigleyscorner4881]

I'm just starting out, really appreciate being able to reuse coasters, I don't have to go to the craft store, order them and wait, no one else seems to talk about this. Thank you!

[@LetsMakeAThing]

Glad you found it helpful!

[@krisknowlton5935]

You make an enjoyable video to watch as well as educational. If you are going to laser engrave coasters for profit you should think about getting a fiber laser with at least a 30 watt output. Then you can pump out a coaster about every 50 seconds in which case resurfacing coasters is counter productive for sure. But I have been resurfacing coasters for about a year now because I don't believe in wasting material.

[@LetsMakeAThing]

Thank you, appreciate the compliment!

[@rrudolph0011]

Great Video, Very informative! You explain things easily! BTW, Can't fine the laser learning Foundation resource.

[@LetsMakeAThing]

Sorry, the eBook is outdated at this point and so it's no longer available.

[@steveo3012]

I appreciate the trials of different coats. I think I might try matte soon. When it comes to slate, I am havign a TERRIBLE time getting photos right. Can you do a tutorial on that? Or point me to one?

[@LetsMakeAThing]

Couple things I would recommend. Have you done a ramp test and made a custom focus block? Have you done any DPI tests to see what looks best with your laser? When it comes to engraving photos you need to have your laser settings really dialed in. I will add a tutorial on doing the image processing part to my video creation list!

[@buddysmith7080]

Another great video. I can't find the link to the Free Laser Learning Foundation. Can you please provide the link?

[@matthewjason5330]

Reusing is great for testing

[@chucklenz9011]

Nice and informing.

[@LetsMakeAThing]

Thank you! Glad you found it helpful!

[@RobSandstromDesigns]

Thank you. Have you tried using black paint vs. clear coat?

[@LetsMakeAThing]

I have not tried using black paint.

[@Reverend_Funky]

I've been working with lasers for about 3 years and this video conformed something I was asking myself for a while. . I like the matte finish personally fyi

[@LetsMakeAThing]

Glad it was helpful! I am in agreement with you on the matte finish.

[@EdHempstead]

Must be blind, can't find the link for Free Laser Learning Foundation

[@pavoliring8398]

why do you spray them before engraving?

[@LetsMakeAThing]

I've found that if I spray them after engraving I lose detail. The spray will cover over the lighter areas of the engraving making it look darker.

[@RobSandstromDesigns]

Do you ever put a clear coat on after engraving - seems like my design is hard to see if I clear coat after engraving

[@LetsMakeAThing]

Yes I've clear coated after engraving. It works better on vector graphics as opposed to images where there is a lot of grayscale going on. Clear coating an image results in the image being difficult to see as you said.

[@johnmartin5072]

I couldn't find your link for any "free" anything. Can you post it here?

[@buddysmith7080]

I can't find the link to the Free Laser Learning Foundation. Can you please provide the link? Are you no longer providing this free resource? I asked a month ago and have received a response.

[@LetsMakeAThing]

Sorry for the delay, I must have missed your message. The e-book is no longer available.

[@tomcollick8111]

sanded to which grit

[@LetsMakeAThing]

I used 80 grit.

[@iskrazpolski1715]

Hello. I have question i bought longer b1 30w. And why i cant for example make more speed then 9999 mm/s its not possible to put more value on my lightburn. Also it dont cut well i think i musted use speed 10mm/s and 100% power to cut 0.5mm wood with setup 2 times cutting. When i set up 30mm/s and 3 times cutting then it wasnt cutted... i dont understand this because probably it should be easy cutted on much higher speed. Maybe you know where is the problem? Also when i haved for example 300mm/s its showed shorter time to finish then on 3000mm/s??? I dont understand or im stupid

[@LetsMakeAThing]

It sounds like you have Lightburn set on mm/second. If you're following my videos, all my speeds are in mm/minute. Try changing the setting in Lightburn to mm/minute and see if you get a better result. Since you have the B1 also check and be sure that you set the driver in Lightburn manually. If it auto selects the driver when setting up the laser it will choose the wrong one and cause issues.

[@blmartech]

Fine to use them for testing, but once you sand them the surface is too smooth to use. You can't offer a consistent product that way.

[@ltsky311]

if you had a thickness sander this would take your time investment to as much as just throwing a bunch on the belt and walking away a few minutes.

[@LetsMakeAThing]

Great point!

[@Blondemommadesigns]

A&d

[@Reverend_Funky]

Well done good sir. Subscribed and looking forward to checking out your channel. Thanks!

[@LetsMakeAThing]

Welcome aboard! Thanks for the sub and I hope you find more inspiration on the channel!