Norton White Tile Method - What's the Trick to Getting Great Results???

[@jaylange8605]

Hi Darren. Really appreciate this and your other videos, in particular the Australian content. I am yet to get my laser engraver, but have been doing a lot of 'youtube research'. White tile engraving is of interest and I was concerned that we would not stock the same paints demonstrated in the US vids. Really appreciate the time and effort put in to the video and sharing your 'secrets' throughout your journey. Cheers mate, j SA

[@mrcraftsmith]

Hey there Jay - thanks for taking the time to comment - once you get your laser you’ll be hooked I’m sure 😀 - happy to share as I learn, probably because if I left it I’d forget what I learnt haha 😆

[@LarryDMitchell]

Thanks for all the work and sharing your results. This will save me a LOT of time. 👍👍👍👍👍

[@mrcraftsmith]

Glad it was helpful Larry - thanks for watching

[@cubansli3099]

Thanks, I am currently going to try the Titanium mixture. Great research

[@mrcraftsmith]

Excellent Gil 👍- let me know how it goes

[@malcolmconnor6602]

I always enjoy your videos and learn a lot. I appreciate the effort that goes into each and everyone. Keep making these great videos and I'm sure you're subscribers will continue to go up.

[@mrcraftsmith]

Hey there Malcolm - I appreciate the positive feedback - it certainly takes time to put these together - I enjoy the process, it forces me to be more disciplined with my approach to this fantastic hobby

[@rustyp21]

I saw in another video, use 1 part Elmers White Glue, 1 part TIO2, and 3 pars water. Paint it on thinly with a sponge brush, let dry for 15 min to 1/2 hour. Washes right off and is safe. I think kids in school eat it…

[@mrcraftsmith]

I did see that one - might be worth a try sometime as well - although in the interim I have purchased a HVLP spray gun and compressor (for another project) so when I get some down time might try again

[@EvilErnie999]

I tried it with 3 parts water but the mixture is just really watery and I barely got any black at all lol. Maybe I’ll try less water but yeah whoever said it was 3 parts water and 1 of each of the other is dumb 😂

[@TheBebow53]

@@EvilErnie999 1 part water, 2 parts Elmer’s school glue then I part titanium dioxide powder, add a few drops of red food coloring which helps gauge coating thickness. I’ve been using it for over a year with great success! Hand blender to mix it. A paint strainer to remove any leftover lumps and a poly foam brush to paint the tile with.

[@EvilErnie999]

@@TheBebow53 thanks for the info I’ll give this a try. I’m going to buy the thunder laser BOLT soon so hopefully I get some amazing results with how fine the beam is from its 1.5 inch lens.

[@tomcollick8111]

Add a second part glue and sticks better and more even

[@oupaswoodshop1325]

Excellent, congratulations with your determination. Teaching me a lot today.

[@mrcraftsmith]

You're welcome - I think we all learn something new each day, I like to think of myself as always the student :)

[@jcdeaton42]

Great video. Thanks for sharing. What is the reason it is lighter sometimes at higher power?

[@mrcraftsmith]

thanks for watching - it's difficult to say, but I suspect there could be a couple of reasons, coverage may not have been even across the whole tile, inconsistencies in the concentration of Titanium Dioxide would in theory give you inconsistent results. I'm sure there are other reasons, however I would only be speculating. From what I have seen, as with most things with more practice, one can expect to get more consistent results.

[@andrewpasma64]

Darren, thanks for this video. I really appreciated it. Very helpful. Would you be willing to share the burn file you use on the white tile?

[@mrcraftsmith]

Hey Andrew - thanks for watching - glad it was helpful - the burn you are chasing - that is in Lightburn under laser tools - you set the parameters for speed and power - is that the one you mean??

[@richard8031]

Thank You for the great info. ..!!!! It's been a few months since you came out with this information. have you found out if you can make a batch of the Titanium Dioxide and store it in mason jar and have some on hand for future projects.???/ or do you have to mix up a batch and use it right away. asking for a friend.!!!!

[@mrcraftsmith]

Hi Richard - to be honest I have been flat out in my regular business and have had no time to do anything with laser engraving, however i feel the tide has changed and I can see light at the end of the tunnel, I'm itching to get back into it :) so will hopefully have that on the list of things to test

[@marquessave]

Enjoyed the video but I must have missed it because i couldnt find what model and power laser you are using

[@mrcraftsmith]

Hey there - my bad if I didn't mention - I am using the Ortur LM3 10w laser

[@noelbiggins5279]

Hi Darren. How refreshing to actually get another Aussie making sensible, well explained videos. I am just a confused old Viet Vet here in Adelaide and I have just bought myself a Falcon 2 laser and want to etch tiles. Your video is great, but no matter where I look (Bunnings local, Mitre 10, etc) nobody seems to stock and Rustoleum products with greater than 2-10% Titanium Oxide. Before I go down the powder and mix track I would like to try the spray paint first. Can you please tell me exactly what the spray was called? Anyway, great video and you have a really clear manner of explaing things. Cheers mate. Noel

[@mrcraftsmith]

Gday Noel - appreciate you tuning in - so the one I got from Bunnings is Rust-oleum 2x ultra cover paint and primer - satin heirloom white

[@trevorbroadbent1604]

Once again a very interesting video

[@mrcraftsmith]

Once again Trevor - thank you for tuning in 👍

[@johnhogan9288]

I used titanium oxide powder and Crayola white and water as thinner and recieved great results. Thanks for your video

[@mrcraftsmith]

Thanks for watching John - what was your application process?

[@johnhogan9288]

@@mrcraftsmith i used the small top flow spray gun.it gave a great even spray with a reasonable thick crosshatch single application. I have tried water and metho but decided the cayola white was needed to keep the titanium powder supported and stuck to the tile. Idid try black cayola also but found the white best. Hope this helps all the best

[@mrcraftsmith]

I just picked up a compressor yesterday and a top flow spray gun so will start experimenting over the coming weeks - thanks for sharing your workflow 🙂

[@youmbgtube]

John - I played a little with TiO2 but very interested in what product Crayola white is. Can you share a link or more detailed description? Thanks

[@jshendrickson1]

Never heard of using glue, but if you mix it into some 90% isopropylic alcohol, you can spray that like paint. Let it dry, do the engraving, and wash the unlazered parts off to get your shiny tile back.

[@mrcraftsmith]

Yep have tried the isopropyl alcohol mix

[@monabo1]

Good stuff brother

[@mrcraftsmith]

Cheers Mona 👍

[@mikeduke57]

How do you clean off the excess paint after engraving?

[@mrcraftsmith]

@mikeduke57 I have used acetone - a bit messy and not ideal but it works

[@kenthansen1188]

thank u kent

[@kwasg3]

Hi Darren. Subscribed. Just getting my laser delivered so this is all new to me. Have you tried using the powder spread lightly dry? or maybe over a light layer of spray tach? Also, do you think multipasses on the same spot would matter? I am curious sort also so can't wait to try some things.... Thanks for vids!!

[@mrcraftsmith]

I have a theory on another application method that I’m keen to experiment with - I’ll keep you posted

[@CarkeekW]

Did you work out TiO2 in the end ?

[@mrcraftsmith]

I have had some limited success - haven't really had much time to work with it unfortunately - I'm in the middle of a very busy photo season (my regular business) so hoping to have more time to experiment in the coming months

[@CarkeekW]

@@mrcraftsmith my best so far is 25 pct tio2 and iso only via a spray gun . I saw a paper that said max light dissipation required 30 pct tio2 and spacing between particles , I assume the more fight the tio2 puts up the more it absorbs the energy from the laser? No paint companies will tell me the exact tio2 content, it must be a guarded core component in their formula. But knowing light scattering maxes at 30pct then drops off seems significant

[@ach2935]

Hi Darren did you ever get good results with the titanium dioxide powder mixed with alcohol. I have tried this but the application is a nightmare. With a spray it blotched and with a brush the lines are visible and thickness varies. Have you heard of, or come up with any other method of application?

[@mrcraftsmith]

I did try a couple but similarly I couldn't get an even coating with what I had available at the time - I kinda lost interest after that and have moved onto other stuff - I do have a spray gun now that might work but i also thought of doing like a dip - it works in my head at least - my schedule with my regular business means I have very little time for that type of experimentation unfortunately :(

[@jodidonovan3191]

How long did you let your paint dry before using the laser? I have found that if you let dry 24 hrs then burn it.. I have had NO issue of paint flecking or peeling.. I run coffee cups thru at 1500 speed and 75 power with a Xtool D1 10 watt ( not pro ) laser with chuck rotory

[@mrcraftsmith]

a couple of hours to allow drying - but too impatient to wait 24 hrs - might give it a go some time :)

[@TTC1940]

Been watching some of your videos. What laser do you have?

[@mrcraftsmith]

Hi Jim - my apologies for not getting back sooner - I have the Ortur Laser Master 3 10w - I would however like to upgrade at some point to a Co2 laser to speed things up a bit :)

[@MD-Coin]

What do people do with the tiles after they're engraved?

[@mrcraftsmith]

only a hobby for me so in my case not much haha, others may sell them - although in my experience the time required to burn them would not make them very profitable for what you could get for them

[@christhomas8626]

Did you use gloss or matt finish tiles ? What was the ratio of acetone/ TiO2 in a spray bottle ?

[@mrcraftsmith]

Hi Chris - they are gloss tiles - as for the ratio I couldn’t say as didn’t have precise measurements

[@TrevorMatthews]

Would this work on other surfaces that are difficult to do with the diode laser?

[@mrcraftsmith]

Hi Trevor, I haven't done any research on that so I wouldn't know, what material/s were you thinking?

[@TrevorMatthews]

@@mrcraftsmith Was wondering about stainless steel. I may just give it a try :)

[@mrcraftsmith]

@@TrevorMatthews funnily enough I did a quick try on stainless steel and it does kinda work but not very well in my opinion - if I look at the stainless steel under the high powered loupe I have I can see where there is some bonding but would require a lot more testing to see if it is a viable technique

[@TrevorMatthews]

@@mrcraftsmith I appreciate the feedback. Thinking about it, it’s probably a lot more work than it’s worth painting on the steel anyways and then cleaning it again after . Maybe if I just got some of the powder and did a suspension mixture it would be worthwhile.

[@mrcraftsmith]

@@TrevorMatthews that's what I did it with, just the powder suspended in water and then let dry

[@CilantroZipolite]

I have also gotten sucked down the norton tile rabbit hole...punchy blacks seem to be hit or miss...with a 20W ortur laser between 500mm/min to 1500mm/min I am getting a good range from 20-100% power. Now about 75 tiles in, I am realizing that how thick you spray on the rustoleum 2x Smoky beige - a thin coat does the trick...the thicker you spray it on, the higher the power/slower the gantry you need to go and it can also be overdone. So, consistent application of the paint is about as important as the other parameters...at 750mm/min and 100% (20W laser) seems to be the trick...but you are also talking about 1.5hrs for one greyscale 110mmx110mm tile to complete. You also have to clean your laser when you notice output weakining

[@mrcraftsmith]

Thanks for the feedback Luis - lots of variables with this method 😀

[@MrSuburban92]

KZbin found this video,, I was actual looking for engraving on porcelain. Here is what I use on ceramic tile Cermark Ultra a bit expensive but you will love the deep darkengrave. However if you are doin g photos you will beed to play with the setting. Clean up is just water no acetone paint thinner JUST WATER do a video

[@mrcraftsmith]

Thanks Jerry - for the price of Cermark I’m not convinced it’s worth the investment for me - I’ll be doing some testing with the Titanium Dioxide powder in the coming weeks that will only require water cleanup as well

[@MichaelOliverSW]

@@mrcraftsmith I'm looking forward to this video about the powder testing! Thanks for all your work.

[@mrcraftsmith]

Thanks Michael - my regular schedule is pretty right but working on getting to it soon - I’m excited to give it a try but the problem is finding a spare day to make it happen 👍

[@l0I0I0I0]

Just mix titanium dioxide with water and laser. Gl!

[@mrcraftsmith]

Yep that will work too

[@l0I0I0I0]

Water is cheap and safe!

[@tuschki78]

Would the mixture of titanium Pulver and water just stick to the tile?

[@l0I0I0I0]

Just spray it on, Lazer it, then wipe off the excess. No hazardous chemicals or extra expense needed, no smell. I would use pure water, the purist you can get. Not sure how physical level would effect it, but it would make a cool video to experiment with it?

[@kenlipper874]

Great videos mate. Looking forward to your pure titanium dioxide results! I'm in Brisbane, where are you located?

[@mrcraftsmith]

Hey Ken - thanks for tuning in - I’m up on the Sunny Coast 👍

[@morrismurray3621]

@@mrcraftsmith love the video, I am down in sunny Melb. What laser do you have (power). I have a 20W (really 5w) Foxalien one

[@mrcraftsmith]

I have the OLM3 10w output - who are you kidding with Sunny Melbourne- haha 😂