Laser Engraving Designer Slate Coasters [3 Easy Steps]

Amazing laser engraving ideas to engraving slate coasters and colour it gold.
It's a great way to make money with your laser.
In this step-by-step guide, we'll show you how to create custom, coloured slate coasters using your laser cutter. These stunning coasters make a great addition to any home decor or make for the perfect personalized gift.
We'll take you through the entire process, from selecting the right materials and tools to designing and engraving your coasters with precision. You'll learn how to add colour to your coasters using a special masking technique that will make your coasters stand out from the rest.
Follow along as we share our expert tips and tricks for achieving professional-looking results. By the end of this video, you'll be ready to create your own custom coasters that will wow your friends and family. Get ready to elevate your crafting game with this fun and creative project!
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Below are some affiliate links. If you click on them and make any purchases I do receive a small commission.
🇺🇸US Links:
Large round cut slate ⇨ amzn.to/4cIBqxb
Small smooth slate coasters ⇨ amzn.to/4amk1Zr
Small rough cut slate coasters ⇨ amzn.to/4cP79Np
🇬🇧UK Links:
Large round cut slate ⇨ amzn.to/3xepvXA
Small smooth slate coasters ⇨ amzn.to/3W0dmAb
Small rough cut slate coasters ⇨ amzn.to/4agkfBD
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Tools needed:
laser cutter/ engraver
masking tape
duct tape (or any other strong tape)
clear lacquer
Best airbrush for the paint: amzn.to/3TKx3Jg
paint used: amzn.to/4cJpMCn
Paint thinner: amzn.to/49mvrLI
Files used in this video available here:
/ marc_am

[@adamarzo559]

Haha, I just got back into using my laser after not being able to and I love LV but would never buy it due to price, anyway this quickly popped into my head too. Put some LV pattern on a coaster just crudely then was checking videos for ideas to feed my brain so I can design real stuff and saw this. Diy is great, feel bad for people not into it tbh.

[@MARCAM]

Great minds think alike 😉

[@walesara54]

Another great video Marc. With regards to the centering of the coaster you could always mark the diameter of your coaster on your board as a reverence. I have a Chinese 40w and actually have possibility of the job starting from wherever the laser stands ( immediate) or take that away and then it comes to do the job wherever it is on the the screen like you. So I have cheap 2mm mdf 300 x 400 and make templates whichcan be screwed to my bottom plate then those 100mm coasters holes get cut out and then place 6 at a time if necc. in the cut out holes. I then just change the design and save it but the template is the same each time. Hwyl fawr.

[@MARCAM]

That’s a great idea. I’m never that organised unfortunately to have a template like that work 😂 So it’s always a case of marking a new outline every time haha

[@Graeme758]

If you don't want the hassle of trying to align your tape, use transfer tape from signwriting. Available in wide sizes like 300mm. I use med tack, it sticks well to anything clear coated but removes easily. I also place a vector line around the design, run that as a way to position the coaster, then run the engrave.

[@MARCAM]

Fantastic little tip. Will definitely give that a go :)

[@karenpartridge2930]

Great video! Thanks for sharing 😊

[@benjaminpastrana9662]

🤩 amazing. Thanks for sharing your technique

[@MARCAM]

Thank you 😊

[@robertobrasero5646]

Beautiful!!!

[@MARCAM]

Thank you😊

[@MarAwanaDISPOCO.]

Dope

[@danielcrewe732]

Really daft question incoming, how do you turn the focus light on when trying to center the coaster? I've tried googling it but not having much luck I'm afraid, thanks for any help

[@MARCAM]

Are you using lasergrbl? If so, there’s a button at the bottom that says ‘focus’. That will turn a low power beam on for you. If you’re using lightburn then this should help forum.lightburnsoftware.com/t/how-do-i-turn-on-my-diode-at-low-power-to-focus-it-or-frame-a-job/10520

[@ThomasEWalker]

I want to try this but I am just going to do some gifts for now. To get a good price for making to sell I have to wait for China!

[@MARCAM]

I’ve found slate from china isn’t much cheaper that getting it from places like kitronic (UK)

[@wsparry1066]

Excellent video, just wondering what make of gold paint you used

[@MARCAM]

I use this paint amzn.to/3vzuwcY Along with a couple drops of this amzn.to/43JMhD0

[@Azarathification]

Great vid! Couple of questions, one is there a recommended max time to have the masking tape on? Taped a coaster up yesterday but didn’t realise I didn’t have the gold spray-paint, went to get it today and after removing the tape it left quite a bit of sticky residue. What else could you recommend instead as I had a little bleed through the tape in places (not on the edges of the tape)?

[@MARCAM]

Thank you! Should be able to leave tape on as long as needed. I do recommend spraying a clear coat on before masking. This will allow you to wipe off any residue afterwards. If you find you’re having any bleed through, try spraying another coat of clear coat on after engraving. This will help stop any bleeding. If it persists, try looking into a different brand of masking tape. I know some cheaper brands don’t stick too well.

[@Azarathification]

@@MARCAM Cheers! I did do an initial laquer before masking, though I think I may have gone too heavy on the coats when spraying, the second one has turned out perfect, and after a final laquer coat can't feel the tackiness. One thing I do differently, is I score it and peel off the parts to be painted instead of just burning the entire parts away, seems to be much faster doing it like that with the F1

[@MARCAM]

@Azarathification that’s good to hear 👍🏻 I did try scoring and then weeding the cuts out to paint but I found it too time consuming with some designs so that’s why I just burn them away now 😅

[@jimhamilton2680]

are you putting any finish on the coasters to protect the paint from coming off down the line?

[@MARCAM]

I just realised I mentioned about putting a clear coat over the top after painting but never actually put it in the video. So yeah? A quick coat of clear lacquer over the top to finish it all up 👍🏻

[@modernfossil8866]

can you cut out the round slate with the laser machine

[@MARCAM]

You probably can but it’s definitely not worth doing. You would probably have to run very high power and a load of passes.

[@CityWoodDesigns]

where do you get the round slate from? cant find any on amazon uk

[@MARCAM]

Get mine from North Wales. Check eBay. There’s a few sellers that sell it from Penrhyn slate mine

[@walesara54]

@@MARCAM Me to, although only when in Wales. Live in Sweden for last 20 years so bags are loaded going back after a visit.

[@abshappy1]

What’s your airbrush setup?

[@MARCAM]

25l air compressor hooked up to an air line and I’m using a cheap external mix airbrush. Works a charm for projects like this

[@georgeblank2648]

Might want to clean the coasters first

[@MrJimpurvis]

Did you know you can get a gold color without paint at all by simply adjusting you power & settings

[@MARCAM]

I did indeed. I don’t like how it looks though. Looks dirty to me and none of that gold shine like my paint gives off

[@PhilBurn-mp5fp]

Pauline burn

[@giuseppe4909]

Not impressed…looks like it is just a stencil job… not enough depth of the engraving…

[@MARCAM]

That is literally what it is. You do not engrave depth on slate.

[@ALUMNI2K]

Looks good