Mass-Producing Artwork: How I Create in Quantity

Going into production mode, step by step, to sell my laser-etched artwork! Head to squarespace.co... to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code wesleytreat.
Once I started receiving orders for the ray gun panels I designed in my last video ( • Creating Retro Ray Gun... ), I had to switch from product development to production mode. That meant finding ways to create the panels as efficiently as possible.
PURCHASE RAY GUN ART PANELS
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DESIGNING THE PANELS
Watch my original video on designing the ray gun panels: • Creating Retro Ray Gun...
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TOOLS & MATERIALS FEATURED IN THIS VIDEO
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▶ Honeywell S8500 Bionic Face Shield: amzn.to/2lhycJH
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Note: I may earn a commission from certain product links.
#sellart #laserengraving #artbusiness #onemanshow

[@mrtnsnp]

"I'm not building a submarine here, the details actually matter." 💥

[@DominusFeles]

I’m so tempted to send this video to my friend who designs submarines for a living 😂 I don’t think that he agrees on that statement 😇

[@rustybucket2248]

Oh that’s cold. But totally appropriate given recent events.👍

[@joelizak6772]

Yes! That got my instant subscription!

[@myk3l9675]

"The burning sensation is the goal here!" is a great tshirt idea

[@kg4gav]

I love that you are using a laser ray gun to print...laser ray guns.

[@myk3l9675]

The butterfly subplot has me rolling!

[@stephenrider2413]

Thank you for including the section on postage and packing, something you rarely see on this kind of video.

[@TonyBullard]

I love this stuff. Weirdly enough packing up merch is one of my fav parts.

[@liam_fp]

Yeah when he said that it was the least sexy part, I disagreed. That was the *best* part. The logistics are so often overlooked, nice to see Wesley lean in and be so thoughtful about it.

[@danthemakerman]

Dude1!!! The submarine line @4:38 I litterally LOL'd!!! Awesome work on these!

[@WoodworkingforAnyone]

You are setting one heck of a standard with this channel. You even mixed humor with woodworking which is rarely pulled off well. I'm in aww

[@ralphalfiehughes]

Wesley hi...I just wanted to say that your whole attitude, skill set , dry wit and attitude is breathtaking. I'm a 60 year old guy with a dream.. after (and still) owning a precision engineering company here in the UK, I'm looking for a 180 degrees change in life direction..so I brought a large property with outbuildings in Tuscany and looking to start a laser cutting and engraving company there...sort of have a plan...loving the omtech lasers.. After seeing you and your enthusiasm has given me that extra bit of drive...thank you.. Alfie

[@wyw876]

From a business-engineering perspective, the reformulation of Wesley's treatise is the old quote, "The skillset in going from zero to one, is different from the skillset in going from 1 to 10, and different from 10 to 100, and extends for each step increase in magnitude".

[@CihaPet]

Watching new videos from Wesley is ALWAYS a treat! Boy, I bet you NEVER heard THAT one before... Your content NEVER fails to educate and entertain.

[@TheDarkPreacher65]

at about 3:40, I realized how much I miss the Jetson car noise you used to use for sawing. Now you have a Spaceley brand saw and it just sounds horrible. :P

[@jdniedner]

I'm sensing a portable spray booth project, rattling around in your imagination. To keep out that Texas heat.

[@WesleyTreat]

The space under the loft is earmarked for such. 👍‍‍

[@jdniedner]

@@WesleyTreat Nice! Looking forward to seeing that.

[@dgm_making1675]

Butterfly sound effect are awesome and hilarious

[@MrBiggybit]

ahhhh, how sweet. The love between one man and his shop vac is undeniably.

[@sentientcomet]

4:50 okay you’ve earned a subscription 😂😂😂

[@jaderem6203]

Just an FYI for you or anyone else, sign suppliers also sell a material called Luster Board which is an MDO with an aluminum sheet laminated to the face. However I don't know if I have ever seen in it matte black.

[@sgsax]

I was smiling nonstop as I received and unpacked my "print" of the B model. Looks absolutely fantastic, and I was really impressed with the care you took in packaging it just as meticulously as it was manufactured. Love your work and your videos and my print will be hanging someplace I will get to look at it every day. This behind the scenes look was just as fun as the original project video. Thanks for sharing!

[@brians5104]

That butterfly 🦋 😊

[@HomebrewHorsepower]

I received mine and it looks great. The loose hardware did slightly chip one edge of the acrylic in shipping though. Might be a good idea to secure the hardware a little better for shipping. Regardless, I love it!

[@WesleyTreat]

Oh no! I'm sorry about that. No hardware should not have been loose in the package. I received one other report that the little bag split, so I imagine that's what happened here, too. I'm already looking at alternatives. Contact me through my website and I can replace the acrylic. 👍‍‍

[@HomebrewHorsepower]

@WesleyTreat Thanks Wesley. The chip is so minor that it doesn't bother me at all. I just wanted to offer that feedback so you can improve your processes.

[@randallmasoner]

​@WesleyTreat when I saw the screws go in the bag I thought they would split. May I suggest plastic packaging tubes, hope it helps.

[@C3DPropShop]

Like an endmill sleeve? Or what those 608zz bearings come in?

[@WesleyTreat]

@@HomebrewHorsepower Thanks for the feedback! Let me know if you change your mind.

[@NWGR]

Holy crap the sub joke @4:32 lmao! Never change Wes.

[@davidquerry8869]

I'm glad these were a success for you.

[@WesleyTreat]

Thanks!

[@TonyBullard]

I totally get you enjoying going into production mode. Creative problem solving and developing a new system! It's fantastic.

[@justinbanks2380]

The sound effects for the butterflies, like jets and ominous music followed by a fart noise. 😂😂😂

[@tonegriffey9463]

"I have to open the shop door. In July. In Texas." LOL I know the feeling.

[@SmoothAlf]

All the 😂😂😂 in this vid! Love the build, love what you do.

[@dbradford32]

Very well placed, "double bag it, just in case... Like I do with your mom!" 😂🤣😂🤣 I laughed way too hard for way too long! 😂

[@evren.builds]

They look great! If I had a stable residence would get one in a whim. I love that you used a microfiber cloth instead of using other throw away packing material ^^

[@bennyfactor]

One of the most fun videos you've posted, love it.

[@ClintonCaraway-CNC]

Nice laser...Both the Thunder and the project!!

[@MostlyMajestic]

I've bought one of these and they are awesome. Great quality for the price. Very nice piece. This is a great addition to the creation and Sale.

[@KK4CNM]

"I'm not building a submarine here, the details actually matter." That made me LOL

[@jonathankr]

Talented, creative and funny. Great video.

[@crztrn1]

1st time on your channel and i love your sense of humor and i'm happy for your success

[@videogalore]

Feels satisfying that you're using crazy machines of the future to reproduce crazy machines of the future!

[@James-lz6eh]

You get a sub, for humor..do not disappoint me!

[@Sbwhalers]

Subscribed for the great content. The 'your mom' joke at the end was gold. 🤣

[@JamesRichman138]

Loved the transitions and the humor. This is one of your best.

[@criznach]

Deft lacquer! That's my personal favorite.

[@bytesizedengineering]

I guess we now know what your spirit animal is... These are so cool!

[@jasonreplogle616]

As soon as you said double bag....I knew it was coming. 😂😂

[@korukoru2010]

Since you have the equipment maybe you could make a little cardboard insert with a cutout that runs the length of the bottom of the panel that you could slip the hardware into, It's another process but it would eliminate the hardware from moving.

[@TheM750]

For the future, they make drill point end mills. Would shave a bunch of cycle time off of your CNC op (as would cranking that rapid speed way up).

[@meltonmakes]

My kids and I made a snow sled out of the usps pinky swear box. It’s fast!

[@dennismorford3292]

Would it be possible to get them in the blueprint blue color? That would look totally fantastic

[@thegentlemanmaker]

Mom said ‘let Wesley know I’m free Thursdays’.

[@BenKDesigns]

I started watching for the content...but liked and subscribed for the weird flavor of humor. Good stuff. :D

[@slinger1991]

Brilliant…….not only very informative but also hilarious……you should be on mainstream TV…..😂😂😂😂. Great product too….

[@davidlewin2744]

Refreshingly original content and entertaining to watch 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@MyGrowthRings]

Thanks for the discount, but I just had to go with my heart. Look forward to chatting with you. Scott

[@klashnacovak47]

First time watching and it was a great watch start to finish.

[@DCDLaserCNC]

Did you have to turn off your Sawstop triggering unit when cutting the boards with the aluminum skin attached? Just curious if cutting the aluminum would trip the saw retraction feature.

[@WesleyTreat]

Yes, it will. I accidentally tripped it once when making the prototypes. A $160 mistake.

[@DCDLaserCNC]

@@WesleyTreat oh no!

[@BrooksMoses]

I've heard of one being tripped by the static electricity buildup from cutting insulation foam. And certainly the foil lining on some insulation foam will trip it. Aluminum compound angle jigs will also set it off, if they're misadjusted to hit the blade. Our maker space lost enough brakes to that that they needed to put the angle jig in an "instructor access only" cabinet.

[@robinyilmaz1155]

This is really cool, and I think this can be done much faster still. Some thoughts on an alternative process: 1. Stick the aluminum sheet to the wood 2. Put the full sheet in the laser cutter, and engrave your logo on the back. 3. Spray lacquer on the back side of the full sheet. 4. Take it to the cnc mill, and cut V- grooves where the smaller plates will later be cut. These gooves are chamfers, so avoid having to sand anything. 5. All face-down operations are now done. Take off the protective film from the aluminum. 6. In the cnc mill, now cnc mill, now cut the top surface V grooves, and drill the holes. 7. Take the full sheet back to the laser, and engrave the patent design. 8. Cut out the individual plates in the cnc mill. I know this takes more time than the table saw, but it takes YOU less time. 9. Forget about laquiring the sides of the wood, its gonna be indoors anyway. Say it is to avoid spreading aerosols into the environment or whatever. Extra: maybe use a thinner piece of plywood 😂 I'm sure I have misunderstood some parts of the process, but see if you can get any inspiration from it

[@robinyilmaz1155]

Oh another idea, for those hangers and silicone bumpers on the back. Putting each of those in must take quite a lot of time. How about instead cnc machining a little pocket hole in the back, that the wall-screw just sits inside of. Sure, the hole may need a lip or something for the screw to hang on, but that could be made by using a dovetail cutting router bit

[@n9bc296]

Nice touch at the end of the video. WT.

[@marloswedzinski6166]

Can you add the name of the supplier of the pre finished aluminum sheet to the list? please!

[@MattTester]

Ah the spinning platform, I had a 24" CRT TV on one of those when I was a kid, so I could spin it around to use my racing wheel with my PlayStation. Amazed that it didn't fall off.

[@Samcraftcom]

@2:53 Bwahahaha every dang time with the sleds!! I'm not alone!! 😂 Great video, and great process! I learned a lot from it!

[@JunkWorkshop]

Always smart and funny. Great work buddy. Greetings from Sicily

[@jonsaircond8520]

Those are very awesome and love your work flow for these. Thanks for the laughs I needed them

[@awesomearizona-dino]

Its a nice feeling to buy High tech shop equipment and have it rock out lots of product.

[@iq0099]

I just finished 500+ Plaque orders! More or less went into the same stages and more.. It was a 140x140 wooden cherry plaque for an event.. finished with wipe on 😷 poly polyurethane 20000 hours!

[@witnessriders]

I stumbled across this video and I must say I really enjoyed it.

[@zoenagy9458]

great work!

[@Superwoodputtie]

"The burning sensation is the goal here." Hahaha

[@justinbanks2380]

"if the birds were tinier... And drunk." 🤣

[@robertochavarria1972]

Hi i would have make the square frame in the aluminum plate with the router when you are drilling the holes, i think one small depth pass will do it, and maybe you can save some time on the lasser. Geat work. congrats.

[@TheOffGridFamily]

A great and fun video. You sir are a legend. Thanks for passing on your knowledge

[@toyfiretrucking]

interesting insight into something I would never think about. good job.

[@brianatbtacprod1989]

Very well done. It's always good idea to think about what happens if something you design actually sells, and I have to make a bunch of them. CNC, and laser engravers are a huge improvement these days too over the ways we did things in the past.

[@shinigamilee5915]

I love futuristic retro art. I think it's a fun way to hide from the uncomfortable conversation starting part of every one on one communication. 😂

[@robertdiffin9136]

“The burning sensation is the goal here.”

[@AW_DIY_garage]

I really like the run down on batching. I would love a rough estimate on what batching them has saved you in time. Like if you were to make 1 it would take you ~1.5-2 hours however, you can batch a whole 4x8 sheet in 3 hours and it makes 15 plaques. Great video

[@WesleyTreat]

Thanks. It's hard to say, because I was working on a video at the same time. I could probably do a 4x8 sheet worth of blanks in a day, before engraving.

[@AW_DIY_garage]

@@WesleyTreat that makes sense. Also the time when the laser is going you can be prepping for other jobs. I know for me, trying to figure out batching is so important to maximize productivity. Thank you for the video.

[@drethedog]

Could someone kindly enlighten me about the brand and model of pants he is currently wearing?

[@WesleyTreat]

They're the Britts from dovetailworkwear.com. They're marketed for women, but several men in the maker community wear them, because they're great pants.

[@seanobrien7169]

@@WesleyTreat So you're wearing my mom's pants too?

[@InebriatedEngineer]

Ordered the chonky one! 🍻 Love the videos, long time subscriber!

[@matthiasrandomstuff2221]

If you could somehow change that artwork to vector art, that would etch a lot faster than raster scanning it.

[@WesleyTreat]

I take the low-res patent scans and convert them to vector art in Illustrator. (I show some of it in the previous video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJXPYql6iraLgpY.) But the sketch lines are too thick to just outline, so I still need to raster scan them when engraving.

[@cenizasfenix]

Usted es genial!! Y su maquinaría lo es aun más. Por el momento ya tengo un desarmador de 3 dólares y 30 años por delante, a su edad, ya habré alcanzado el estatus en maquinaria! 🤗

[@NamelesshunterGaming]

lol that submarine joke made me laugh

[@Eizenz]

Gave me a couple good laughs and taught me some things. Thanks, subscribed.

[@bentsprockettech]

Thank you so much for doing this one. Very detailed description of the process. :)

[@hgillett2584]

Love it. So glad I found your channel. Or it found me. Whatever. Looking forward to the next one. I’ve gone way back through the catalog. The butterfly fly-by audio had me giggling 😅. Glad the product seems to be a success.

[@SensSword]

3:50 and I like this channel now...

[@travisg1759]

Watched your last one and I had to try it myself. All I had handy was some aluminum flashing and rattle-can black paint but I'm pretty impressed with the results. I used the patent drawings for some Stanley wood planes for mine, but there are so many possibilities!

[@AngieWilliamsDesigns]

I’ve done something similar but it wasn’t as nice of a product. These are great. Thanks for sharing.

[@jj6595]

19:59 Dorothy Mantooth is a saint!

[@timinwsac]

Great video, as usual, well worth the thumbs up but..... A jig controls and guides the cutting tool to work at a predefined location on a workpiece. Fixtures are used for supporting and locating a workpiece.

[@d0mbee87]

the mom joke got you my like 🤣

[@DivineMisterAdVentures]

Finishing: Glue-All (Elmer's) or Titebond White All Purpose. Just roll it on. Dries clear. If you want UV (you don't) use ZnO3 powder - great with most adhesives. ALSO - it's 1-coat .. can be glossy to flat (add wax) Q: Aren't you going to sign them? You need a paper label.

[@notaquitter]

I'm just north of you in South Arkansas. Yeah, it is a hot one. I like those guns Wesley you're the closest maker to me that I watch to my knowledge, and I would like to say thank you for all the entertainment and ideas. I don't know if you are shorts that I think you would get a kick out of my 3D time machines AKA wall clock. Maybe you'll reply to this, and I hope so. Thanks again, take care

[@High_Road]

Awesome video and appreciate you sharing your adventure. Keep it up.

[@davebauerart]

Nice work. From what I know of makers and other creative weirdos, there' s as much art in the process and problem-solving as in the end products. Congratulations on developing a reproducible process to get the people what they want!

[@LiquidWhisp3r]

REPEAT TO YOURSELF: "ITS JUST A SHOW" "I SHOULD REALLY JUST RELAX"

[@moth.monster]

This is basically an advertisement, but I still love it, and kinda want one now. Also, just FYI: The USPS small flat rate box and flat rate envelope are SUPER good deals, especially for dense metal stuff. You made the right choice :)

[@CopyCatGarage]

I love your presentation style!

[@tracylund7407]

Robot roll-call!

[@henrikhjortshj6671]

Great video.... thanks.

[@klaymann888]

From a Kiwi in Australia Luv your humour bro 🤣🤣🤣🙃

[@johnnydee6340]

nice video your a very talented man 👍

[@absurdides]

if I wasn't dirt poor I'd totally buy both sets Wesley, keep up the great work man!

[@absurdides]

I also really like C, reminds be of something Klingon

[@kevinwillis6707]

they look great wesley! can you tell me what the little stand off doohickeys are called please? im making a coffee table and i want to look them up online for a perspex top, thanks, Edit , never mind ive found them 😄

[@AlexFalkenberg]

Feel free to share what you found out with everyone else who might also have the same question. :)

[@kevinwillis6707]

@@AlexFalkenberg i just googled steel wall standoff or maybe aliminium standoff for sign and they came right up as an amazon link.

[@Lorddanielrushton371]

The post office will pick those up for you, as long as you pinky swear no regular mail is in them. Lol

[@RaisingtheBARdesigns]

Awesome video inside the thunder laser, what camera is that? Your videos are awesome!

[@WesleyTreat]

Thanks! I use either a spare phone or my DJI Osmo Action.