Can’t wait to try this with a diode laser! If anyone is wondering how to engrave on glass with a diode laser, the secret is black tempera paint. Same technique.
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
this should work with a diode laser as well
@stuartcommon4651
2 жыл бұрын
Quite like this idea, you could also do a two tone effect with a normal engraving first, leave it in place and apply the borax then do a different engraving over the top so some parts are light and some dark. I do wonder though about how it may affect the chemistry of the wood, for example long term degradation of certain finishes, like say shellac or an epoxy or PU finish
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
I like this idea. 😀
@HOODCLASSICTELEVISION
2 жыл бұрын
Good idea 👍🏾
@daminator2004
2 жыл бұрын
I did this last night …. Came out really good… added that contrast … sealed with poly once completed
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
@@daminator2004 Excellent!
@dalh598.1
2 жыл бұрын
@@daminator2004 2 weeks in, how's the polyurethane finish?
@ChipLinck
2 жыл бұрын
This is the best technique I've seen in a long time for laser engraving. My wife uses borax. So, I've got plenty of it on hand. We're packing up to move right now, but as soon as I get the laser set up in the new office, this will be the first thing I do on it.
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
Sounds like you’ve got plans for the holidays. Hope this is helpful
@NotOnLand
2 ай бұрын
I've used Borax solution to make wood fire-retardant before, but never considered it could help a laser like this. Great tip!
@SteveMakesEverything
2 ай бұрын
Glad I could help!
@Irosado65
2 жыл бұрын
I have seen this technique done on other videos but your has the most dramatic results and clear execution I have seen. Thanks for a great vid!
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks
@MinxyMay
2 жыл бұрын
My husband & I just got a 100W Titan from FSL and we’re still learning to use it. This is a very helpful tip!!! Thank you for sharing!!
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
Nice laser! Big workspace + lots of power = fun projects
@MrTobbo
2 жыл бұрын
How you finding it Minxy? Planning on buying one early january but it's either gonna be the titan or the PS36 PRO~ Did you do the 3d camera addon?
@MinxyMay
2 жыл бұрын
Mr Tobbo Yes, it’s working well, I did the camera add on and upgraded chiller option. The only way I could afford the 100W tube was the free upgrade they were offering that month with a purchase of the Titan.
@otallono
2 жыл бұрын
I am used to using baking soda, when I learned about borax in a different video, I really wanted to try it. Images were turning out pure black, dots were melting in to each other so there was no more grayscale effect. So I doubled the speed and halfed the power, no change. I increased the speed even more, lowered power and the borax kept charring the wood no matter what except some of the wood wouldn't get touched so it would be like an incomplete yet black image. Very weird stuff, I really prefer the baking soda, it gives something in the middle and I get the grayscale effect. I've only tested these on basswood, that may be why. Ortur master 2 20W so it's not a powerful laser. I don't think this video really demonstrates a photo style engraving though, more like a vector so there's not much grayscale. So it seems excellent for that type of engraving. I may just need to practice more with it.
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
I’m not sure how a diode laser works o this but I’m going to find out soon
@epiendless1128
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the baking soda tip, since borax isn't available in my country.
@TheGuitarman1968
6 ай бұрын
Some basic high school chemistry 101 to ponder: Sodium tetraborate (Borax) is a mild alkaline with a PH between 8 and 9. When mixed with dihydrogen oxide (water), it becomes hydrogen peroxide. Borax is basically bleaching the wood at the molecular level. You would think the added whiteness/brightness that Borax gives the wood would be counterintuitive to using a laser since it would reflect the laser light, but hey, it works somehow to create a darker burn. Borax is not only used as a cleaner and laundry brightener, among other industrial uses. It is also a great insecticide for ants and termites. Just mix it with corn syrup, and it dehydrates the insects from the inside out when they eat the mixture. Those Terro ant traps are basically corn syrup and Borax. Good stuff! My question is. What do you do after engraving with Borax to clean and seal the wood? If you wipe the wood after engraving, the dark soot gets everywhere and ruins the project. I have heard some other laser engravers say they use a vacuum and a spray poly or lacquer to seal the wood without any wiping of the project. I was just wondering what you recommend after engraving with Borax so that the project does not get ruined by the dark soot getting everywhere? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. 😊
@SteveMakesEverything
6 ай бұрын
You can spray it with a couple coats of clear coat, though reducing the power more will help balance the darker color with the fragility caused by layering the Borax. Run some material tests to find the best settings
@TheGuitarman1968
6 ай бұрын
@SteveMakesEverything Thanks for the advice. I will definitely try lowering the laser power even more, and spraying some clear coat after engraving. Unfortunately, this won't work with cutting boards though, as they have to be rubbed and wiped with food grade mineral oil. I will figure something out though. 😊
@hungrycolby
6 ай бұрын
@@TheGuitarman1968 thanks for sharing the science behind why this works. For your food grade option you could maybe try baking soda.
@FatluckCreations
2 ай бұрын
So if what he says is try, why not just use hydrogen peroxide ?
@thetagmarket1058
2 жыл бұрын
Borax (products made from chemicals in the Borate Group) are no longer sold in the EU and UK as they have been classified as "toxic" (classified as a Reprotoxic Category 2). It is obtainable, from specialist chemical companies, but not to private individuals. Companies who use these compounds need to prove that they have appropriate safety systems to handle, use, and dispose of it. One could try this with Bicarbonate of Soda (baking power might do) - give it a go Steve and see if it performs the same.
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
yes I’ve tried baking soda in the past and it helps improve engraving but doesn’t have quite the same impact. it’s too bad the regulations are so tight in the EU, especially since it’s a material that occurs in nature
@pd1jap
4 ай бұрын
Sorry, you are wrong. I live in the Netherlands and can buy Borax without restrictions.
@g3ldrith
3 жыл бұрын
Unfortunately Borax is banned in UK/EU but you get a similar result with Baking Soda (Bicarb)
@SteveMakesEverything
3 жыл бұрын
Well that's too bad, though indeed baking soda will also work, just not quite as well.
@iwannaapple7190
2 жыл бұрын
I make and sell soap. I watch other videos and I've seen some of the most peculiar and simple items, even in the soaping world, banned from the UK. Now Borax!? Really!! Why do they ban things like this in the UK? The US cant say much either. Hell, they've banned Dukes of Hazard for the sake of racism (reason for everything). Even though that is a lie why would England ban borax and other simple items?
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
@@iwannaapple7190 I wish I had a voice for government. It's a weird thing to ban given that is it naturally occurring in nature. Personally I would also ban the Dukes of Hazard, though not specifically because of racism, but rather because as a kid, I always thought it was a pretty terrible show (and I know I'll take heat from my Kentucky viewers, though I've been to Kentucky and the state is quite scenic) :-)
@samesta5695
2 жыл бұрын
Good to know. I’m horribly allergic to Borax.
@veselkadogcoats692
Жыл бұрын
Easy to get it on ebay
@pizzaklak4564
2 жыл бұрын
so i run a company specialised in laser cutting. We know some tricks but this seems like magic to me. Definitely gonna try it out and will update about the result!
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
If you want dark engraving this will do it for you
@kellyklaask7su990
2 жыл бұрын
WOW! This is a game changer. Been lasering stuff for over 10 years and I am looking forward to trying this. Headed to the store to get some Borax! Thanks for sharing.
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
Borax isn’t available everywhere so if you can’t find it you can also try baking soda dissolved in water
@kellyklaask7su990
2 жыл бұрын
@@SteveMakesEverything I saw another video that compared baking soda and Borax. The baking soda was definitely an improvement over nothing but the Borax was by far the best. I will try to find some online. Thanks again!
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
@@kellyklaask7su990 Yes Borax definitely works better
@joshread3740
3 жыл бұрын
Wow, this is amazing. I've been wishing for a way to make my engravings darker. The results shown in the video are super impressive. Steve, would you recommend using this method on all types of wood with any type of engraving (photo, logo, text, etc)? Also, could you estimate how long it took for the wood to dry and be ready for engraving?
@SteveMakesEverything
3 жыл бұрын
This will work with any type of engraving and should have an impact on most woods. It has a bigger impact on light woods though. As far as drying you can leave it overnight or use a heat gun/hair dryer to accelerate things. For the video I lightly heated my board with a heat gun and drying took less than a minute.
@zachofalltrades6116
2 жыл бұрын
@@SteveMakesEverything so this will work on metal as well
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
@@zachofalltrades6116 I don't think this will work on metal since it needs a porous surface.
@24-Card
2 жыл бұрын
@@zachofalltrades6116 the Borax is liquifying under the creating a moment of molten liquid. Borax is also used as a wetting agent in melting brass in a furnace. It significantly reduces the time involved in melting brass, and is easily skimmed off the top before pouring. Works with gold too, same reason.
@elfillari
Жыл бұрын
@@24-Card So, are you claiming the Borax will effect to the picture graving positively similar as it does for the wooden materials too? How do you add this borax on the metal? Similar as wood, layering on the top of the plattern to be lazerized?
@scottmorris4914
11 ай бұрын
great video, thanks. This is how scorch pens work.
@SteveMakesEverything
11 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it
@forgeteverythingyouknow5413
2 жыл бұрын
That may be the best tip I've ever seen. . Thank you, Steve.
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
Glad you found it useful
@C3qrT
Ай бұрын
I'm super eager to do this! Thanks
@SteveMakesEverything
Ай бұрын
Give it a shot. Note that Borax isn’t available everywhere.
@maccaslasher
2 жыл бұрын
Awesome. What a difference that makes. Great tip thank you. One question..... how do u clean off the black sooty residue without it soiling your workpiece.
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
So if you start by minimizing the power used to create the engraving and then after engraving spray the piece with clear coat, you can protect the piece. You can’t touch the engraving until you do this otherwise it will smear. For every plus, there is a minus but this one can be mitigated.
@jrard92
2 жыл бұрын
I think once done with Engraving. If we have to clean the surface with light damp cloth or polish with oil/lacquer, burnt borax will be all over the place spoiling the picture with blackness ? Has it happened to you?
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
It's easier if the surface of the material is ready for finishing before you do the engrave and then after you can just spray it with clear coat (avoiding contact with the engraving of course).
@milosristic3876
Жыл бұрын
Man, you are genius. Thank you for sharing your knowledge 😊
@SteveMakesEverything
Жыл бұрын
Ha, you should really spend a day with me in my shop. You would see lots of mistakes and wasted material😉 My goal is to just help people move forward on their Maker journey.
@ScardyKatArts
6 ай бұрын
If you use hardwoods, cherry or aspen, the engraving is dark and rich. For cheap wood, this is a nice trick.
@SteveMakesEverything
6 ай бұрын
Woods that are harder or have smaller grains won’t work as well, though there will be benefit with this
@MindiLynn3
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for this tip! I appreciate your content.
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
My pleasure!
@josephmetzger8648
2 жыл бұрын
Borax works great on killing ant too! I will have to try this next time I engrave.
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
It's my go-to ant killer too. 😀
@josephsmith601
2 жыл бұрын
You got a subscriber for this one, thanks for sharing a industry secret with the little guys! 👍👍👍
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
Nice! Welcome aboard 😁
@ymmvmeuk
2 жыл бұрын
For anyone outside of the USA; you need to look for sodium tetraborate or sodium borate from industrial suppliers (ebay is a good starting place) - prices are lower than trying to buy "borax". I don't understand why borax is on the shelf in USA but Kinder Eggs aren't!
@ymmvmeuk
2 жыл бұрын
Oh, some Aldi "Almat" branded washing liquids (not concentrated or gel) do contain sodium borate ("borax"), which is about the only place to buy it in a shop in the UK, but that will stain your wood blue and you can't paint over it.
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
Ha. This made me laugh 😁. I like Kinder eggs.
@MrNugs67
2 жыл бұрын
You probably already answered this question but what type of wood did you use in this video? Thanks for making this video. Greatly appreciated..
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
It’s just laser grade Baltic birch
@yoramlavee
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for sharing. Awesome tip!
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
Happy to help
@JasonPeltier
2 жыл бұрын
That's an amazing practice. 20% power would make the diode last forever!
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
Interesting. I hadn’t considered trying this with a diode laser
@GoCreateSomething
7 ай бұрын
Borax is boric acid. I suspect you could use lemon juice to do the same thing. Borax isn't too tough to find so you might as well use that, though. As a side note, I used to play tennis with a guy that was a supervisor for 20 Mule Team. There is actually a 20 Mule Team exit on the way to Lancaster, CA that takes you to the factory. Does this work for materials other than wood? I suspect you could coat the item with epoxy to make an even tougher finish. Thanks for the video!
@SteveMakesEverything
7 ай бұрын
While borax (Na₂[B₄O₅(OH)₄]·8H₂O) and boric acid (H3BO3) are both in the borate family, they aren’t the same thing. I haven’t. tried lemon juice myself but I’ve heard some people say it has some impact on engraving. I think you would be better with baking soda dissolved in water. Unfortunately, none of these will work on anything wood, and not even all woods. After engraving, epoxy poured into the engraving would definitely protect it.
@GoCreateSomething
7 ай бұрын
Is borax acidic? I think lemon juice would work because it was used for invisible ink. The application of heat was what made it visible if I remember my history correctly. Might be able to use milk or onion juice also. I'm thinking a product that gets used for insect control would probably be a bad choice for engraving a cutting board or something that comes in contact with food... I wonder if borax in water would serve as an invisible ink. Thanks for the chemistry lesson on Borax.@@SteveMakesEverything
@SteveMakesEverything
7 ай бұрын
@@GoCreateSomething I believe Borax is actually a base rather than an acid. It will kill ants, but my mother always used it as some sort of laundry whitener. Either way, I wouldn't use it in contact with food because it is suspected to be carcinogenic, which is why it is banned in the EU. It is mined from the ground, so I'm not sure how they could ban it successfully. As I noted, try lemon juice to see if it does anything, but I have a feeling that a laser will heat it enough to obliterate it before it has a chance to turn the wood dark.
@erinsullivan2727
6 ай бұрын
Can you use this technique on regular engraving to make it darker but not have as much burn/. Also, can you use this technique on any material? Thanks for the video
@SteveMakesEverything
6 ай бұрын
This only works on more porous woods. You can get darker engraves without much burn, but you really need to drop the power or increase the speed to achieve this.
@originalhotrodder4337
2 жыл бұрын
Excellent trick Steve! You got yourself another subscriber.
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
Welcome aboard!
@brandonstone3072
5 ай бұрын
Thank you for this! How long does it need to dry before engraving? Does this make the product not food safe? Can it be lightly sanded after engraving?
@SteveMakesEverything
5 ай бұрын
You can use a heat gun to dry it if you’re in a rush. I wouldn’t use this in area where there is food. Any toxicity aside, the surface will be fragile unless you pour some clear resin over it. Sanding isn’t recommended after engraving, but you can sand before and then mask the surface before engraving.
@brandonstone3072
5 ай бұрын
@@SteveMakesEverything awesome thank you for the reply can’t wait to go try this out
@franzgriffle6063
2 жыл бұрын
Wow, that awesome. Thanks for the time saver!
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
Happy to help!
@Alohakoa59
Жыл бұрын
Excellent!!! Thank you!! Does it only work on wood?
@SteveMakesEverything
Жыл бұрын
Porous wood only
@ainttakenanyshit
6 ай бұрын
Thank you Steve for ANOTHER great tip on getting the most out of your laser. It is on my shopping list to pick up ASAP.. Thanks again.... Hank
@SteveMakesEverything
6 ай бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
@constantinosschinas4503
6 ай бұрын
Will Borax or Soda blacken metal engravings as well? Does it work with any type of laser (diode, CO2, fiber etc.)?
@SteveMakesEverything
6 ай бұрын
Sorry, this will work only with wood, but it should work with diode or CO2 lasers
@josephdunston9378
Жыл бұрын
Can I expose my Noob ignorance? Clear coat?? Clear spray paint? I have been searching for how to treat wooden objects after engraving when I found this video. Thanks
@SteveMakesEverything
Жыл бұрын
All questions are welcome here 😁. Yes clear spray paint. I typically use flat or satin finish
@duckmcnutty
2 жыл бұрын
Great tip. Thanks for sharing!
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
Hope it helps
@gillieskyler
Жыл бұрын
Just tried it wow amazing
@SteveMakesEverything
Жыл бұрын
Glad you liked it
@luke752010
Жыл бұрын
My congratulations for this outstanding video! In order to obtain that result, Borax must be applied always before engraving or it is possible to applied borax after engraving ? Which power and speed should we use (for example I have a 10W diode laser)?
@SteveMakesEverything
Жыл бұрын
You definitely need to apply the borax first, since it is what causes a reaction with the laser. Power is trickier since there is no clear setting that works. All I can tell you is to really cut the power back (about a third of what you would expect) and experiment from there on a few pieces of scrap material.
@shadowliving6858
2 жыл бұрын
Great work. Love it. Time to go buy some Borax.
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
If you can’t find Borax you can try Baking Soda as well. Doesn’t have quite the same effect but Borax isn’t available everywhere
@jakerazmataz852
Жыл бұрын
The laser seems to be doing a lot of left right travel that looks unnecessary. Would removing the background prevent that? Stuff is cheap. $6 for 65oz. Walmart.
@SteveMakesEverything
Жыл бұрын
Getting rid of the background may help but it's an image with a specified size, so its possible it moves over the whitespace anyway.
@vincentrodak9734
2 жыл бұрын
What a great video! Thanks so much for sharing this information! Do you know would this have a different affect when using a diode laser instead of a CO2?
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
I think it should have the same effect. Give it a try
@QuixoticEnt
2 жыл бұрын
It works the same with diode lasers. Keep in mind, though, that this produces a very black burn, which some find artificial-looking. A similar mixture with baking soda will produce a darker burn that still shows the wood. However, if you use too much baking soda it will yellow the wood.
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
@@QuixoticEnt Baking soda will indeed work and both it and Borax will darken the burn. One thing to keep in mind is that you will need to reduce the power quite a bit to avoid too much of that "fake" look. Thanks for confirming that this works with diode lasers too.
@vincentrodak9734
2 жыл бұрын
@@QuixoticEnt Awesome! thanks for filling in the blanks here! Appreciate the insight.
@nipunamunasinghe
11 ай бұрын
Thank you so much! You are a legend
@SteveMakesEverything
11 ай бұрын
Lol I think you over-estimate me 😁
@beavercreekdesign
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for making the video.
@SteveMakesEverything
Жыл бұрын
I hope it helps
@NathanBuildsRobots
2 жыл бұрын
I tried the same thing using dishwasher detergent and it worked just as good. Thanks for sharing this great tip!
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
I’ve been looking for alternatives so I’ll try this. Soap would be a bit hard to clean off the material though.
@NathanBuildsRobots
2 жыл бұрын
@@SteveMakesEverything Oh, I mean automatic dishwasher detergent. It looks a lot like borax so I thought it figured it would work about the same.
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
@@NathanBuildsRobots Well that makes a whole lot more sense. 😀
@IIIofV
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Steve, great tip !!
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
Hope it’s helpful
@larrykent196
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks, good information but now the world knows. Thanks again.
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
It’s not a national secret 😁
@willrogers5913
2 жыл бұрын
Hi Steve, great tip it works great. One question if you don't mind. What is the best way to clean the piece before clear coating? If I rub the engraved image after burning it seems to smudge pretty bad. Do you just blow it off and slap clear coat straight on? Thanks in advance!
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
In general don’t touch it with anything. Just clearcoat it
@johnmood5653
2 жыл бұрын
Some folks use a very light soapy water (barely wiped over, no scrubbing], and rinse after that thoroughly, very clean of smoke deposition. Try it on some scrap wood, see what you like best.
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
@@johnmood5653 I try to make best efforts to minimize deposits in the first place. It's always best to tinker with settings to avoid surface cleaning down the road whenever possible.
@StephenBoyd21
Жыл бұрын
Borax is not available in the UK because it contains hazardous borate.
@SteveMakesEverything
Жыл бұрын
Yes, Borax isn't generally available in the UK or most of Europe. However you can use common baking soda and get almost the same result, though it tends to yellow wood slightly when applied.
@FamousHec
3 жыл бұрын
What's up Stevo?!! Thanks for the tip 👍
@SteveMakesEverything
3 жыл бұрын
Good to hear from you again and you are very welcome 😀.
@wannabechoppers8612
Жыл бұрын
Thank you for the hint! Do you know if this also works on metal and other materials, or is this specific for wood/plywood?
@SteveMakesEverything
Жыл бұрын
Sadly this process is specific to wood material
@ecsoftball
Жыл бұрын
Steve great video. My results, with a diode 5W laser were very similar to yours...that is until I ran my fingers across the borax one. The dark design basically rubbed off on my fingers and all over the wood. After cleaning it up, there was no difference in the two designs. Needless to say it was very frustrating. Have you ever had this problem?
@SteveMakesEverything
Жыл бұрын
This is the tax you pay. The first solution is to greatly reduce the power when you're engraving (or increase the speed). The reaction with Borax is so fast that the endency is to cook the surface. The other way to solve this is to spray wih a couple good coats of clearcoat, or alrenately you can fill the engraving with some clear resin.
@okra23
Жыл бұрын
What type clear coat do you recommend to seal in the black color?
@SteveMakesEverything
Жыл бұрын
@@okra23 I just usually spray some Rust-Oleum Painters Touch, and I typically use flat if I still want the surface to look like wood when I'm finished. You can get it at most hardware stores
@brentallenberg5862
3 жыл бұрын
Wow! Thanks, Steve!!!
@SteveMakesEverything
3 жыл бұрын
You're welcome!
@Nobel0
2 жыл бұрын
Wow what an awesome trick.. Thanks a lot sir. Is Borax like Tide guys? Borax is not available in our country :) ...
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
If you can’t get Borax then you will need to try Baking Soda
@Nobel0
2 жыл бұрын
@@SteveMakesEverything thanks a lot.. Will try it out.. Thanks
@randynorthey3101
2 жыл бұрын
Steve, another great video. I can't seem to get enough of them! Odd question, can you tell me where you get your green "grid" work sheet that you work on? Thanks
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
The green mat is a standard cutting mat that you can find at most craft stores and some hardware stores.
@kevinebonywong9499
Жыл бұрын
Nice work...is there any special Borax that you have to use...or just any Borax power detergent power?
@SteveMakesEverything
Жыл бұрын
Just the typical Borax used to whiten laundry
@eaglegolfj12
2 жыл бұрын
Very cool going to try this tonight.
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
Remember to really reduce the power, and once engraved, give it a couple good layers of clear coat
@wilmercb
2 жыл бұрын
Awesome! Any added strong smell with the Borax? Thanks
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
Nope! No smell at all
@msyverson3
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for posting this. I'm literally dialing in my engraving this week and trying to step up my game on that. I've been getting pretty good results, but this is a big step up and exactly what I'm after. Quick question- looks like you have an FSL laser. What wattage is you cutter and do you have an idea of what the mm/s equates to when cutting at 100% speed? Trying to relate it to my 50w OMTech. Thanks again for this tip!
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
Yes I have a Muse 3D which claims to be 45W but it's really only ever driving it to 40W peak power. I can't honestly say what the real speed equates to (one of the things that annoys me a bit about the RE3 software. I would say you could use math to solve the problem. Your laser is 25% more powerful so you should be able to guess what your 100% velocity is to get some like a mm/s per % number. Subtract 25% from the Muse speed percentage and multiply the result by your calculated speed. It would get you close.
@msyverson3
2 жыл бұрын
@@SteveMakesEverything Thanks Steve. I'll dive into it. Gonna try some Borax and Baking Soda tests this weekend!
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
@@msyverson3 Let me know how it works out for you. I've haven't had as much luck with baking soda - not as much sodium in it I think.
@PaulJarrett
2 жыл бұрын
@@msyverson3 So how did your testing go, please share
@msyverson3
Жыл бұрын
@@PaulJarrett Hi Paul, sorry for the long delay- I did some testing with both and I really wasn't happy with either result. The borax does indeed burn nice and dark and the baking soda a bit more yellow. You need to handle them carefully can clear coat them as the Borax doesn't seem to bond all that great to the wood (unless I'm doing something wrong). I've been focusing more on getting good solid burns on the wood itself and pretty happy with the results. Good luck
@TediumGenius
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for this, I appreciate the tip!
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
@christopherfugle6592
2 ай бұрын
Hi Steve...do you think this trick will work on a small 10W laser (xTool M1) as well?
@SteveMakesEverything
2 ай бұрын
Yes, This will work with pretty much any laser.
@DavidALovingMPF102
2 жыл бұрын
Great tip. Some people have used baking soda.
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
Yes baking soda also works and is the only way you can do this in most of Europe because Borax appears to be banned. It doesn't work quite as well as Borax but is definitely better than engraving with nothing applied to the surface.
@paulmay2437
2 жыл бұрын
wow, impressive. Thank you.
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
Happy to help
@hejolli
2 жыл бұрын
Hi, thanks for the tip. Is it working for poliuretane leather as well? Thanks and Happy New Year!
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
It should, though I haven't tried it. I don't work with leather too often. Maybe there is justification to do a follow-up video on different materials.
@hejolli
2 жыл бұрын
@@SteveMakesEverything Thank you so much for your quick reply!
@JayzStudio
Жыл бұрын
i feel like that box of borax is legit from the 1980s hahaha mine looks a lot different
@SteveMakesEverything
Жыл бұрын
It’s nostalgia packaging. Bought not too long ago
@devianpctek
2 жыл бұрын
That's an amazing technique, I just bought a laser engraver and want to do dome engravings on cutting boards, is this solution food safe?
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
Technically Borax won't kill you but I doubt it's very healthy regardless. What I do on cutting boards is engrave and then fill them with resin. It takes longer but it's durable.
@epicetches4155
2 жыл бұрын
Hi. I’ve been learning different techniques using the CO2. I personally like working with stain. Adjusting the threshold gives amazing results as well. Anyways half-tone dithering goes great with the borax. 250 dpi is good for this test picture. And needing less power, I’ll have to try 500 dpi and borax for quicker, cheaper jobs. I have baking soda, but is it as good as borax?
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
Baking soda works but isn’t quite as good as borax, but with either you will be able to use more speed or less power
@otherdogdesign8666
2 жыл бұрын
Very informative, thank you
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
Happy it helps
@mrgrinch61
2 ай бұрын
great tip THANK YOU
@SteveMakesEverything
2 ай бұрын
This works well
@naRevolution
2 жыл бұрын
This really is amazing, but I think the most important thing to speak about when using Co2 lasers is whether or not a material is safe to work with depending on your level of PPE and ventilation. Borax from what I understand is an organic material and should be safe but safety is my biggest concern so if anyone has any enlightenment on that I would greatly appreciate it.
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
No hazard with Borax. Things that are dangerous tend to be compounds with Chlorine or Fluorine in them
@naRevolution
2 жыл бұрын
@@SteveMakesEverything Cheers, Merry Christmas
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
@@naRevolution Merry Christmas to you and everyone else on the channel who is celebrating
@MileyonDisney
Ай бұрын
Every time I see borax, I think of Ronald Reagan. We old folks should get that one.
@SteveMakesEverything
Ай бұрын
Sadly, I get it 😉
@sureshotranch406
2 жыл бұрын
Love this video! Thank you!
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it!
@arikamade
Жыл бұрын
Wow. Trying toddy. Thank you.
@SteveMakesEverything
Жыл бұрын
Hopefully it works for you. Remember to reduce the power a lot or you’ll just char everything
@arikamade
Жыл бұрын
@@SteveMakesEverything awesome. Thank you.
@thomasheisler
2 жыл бұрын
wow thanks man, that is very helpful
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
Glad it was useful
@KodyWebb
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for the tip!
@SteveMakesEverything
Жыл бұрын
No problem!
@MrJimpurvis
2 жыл бұрын
Does this work on metal too? I say that because you mentioned parts at the beginning thanks
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
No. You're out of luck using Borax on metal. You would need to use something like Cermark for that. It's expensive but it works well.
@saintslows
8 ай бұрын
Would this do anything on glass or acrylic ?
@SteveMakesEverything
8 ай бұрын
No, this will only work on wood and in fact, will generally work best on softwood and plywood.
@wmielke2
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for this tip. Normally I laser out of focus to darken the color. Do you do this “In Focus”?
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
Yes I do! borax makes the surface very sensitive. in fact you will probably need to reduce the power by 30-50% or it surface will be charred
@pdep
Жыл бұрын
No Borax in Europe - any suggestions for alternative or, better still, the chemicals causing the effect, please?
@SteveMakesEverything
Жыл бұрын
Baking soda works almost as well but tends to stain the wood a bit
@peterdepra
Жыл бұрын
@@SteveMakesEverything Thank you. 🙏
@mudaserlatif1710
3 ай бұрын
hi, can this be used on a dark colored wood as well?
@SteveMakesEverything
3 ай бұрын
Pretty much any wood will work, though softwoods are best. Also lighter colored woods are better.
@francoishaha
2 жыл бұрын
tks for sharing, working great!!
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
You’re welcome! 😁
@farinadewaard5870
4 ай бұрын
Dear Steve, I don't if you may be able to help me. I am a small business owner in Germany and currently aim to widen my product palette by including engraved wood products matching my art. I love your secret tip, but I have a problem: Borax is not available within the EU! I have tried to get my hands on it, but it is forbidden. Do you have an idea if I could use a substitute? Thank you and looking forward to any help =D
@SteveMakesEverything
4 ай бұрын
Try baking soda it’s almost as good
@yuccafrita9583
2 жыл бұрын
The tone color of the wood has changed to. Yellow tint. Is that because of the Borax?
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
Yes, though it depends on the concentration. You need surprisingly little Borax and it's possible to reduce the amount used to not cause this yellowing and still get the desired effect. By contract, if you are using Baking Soda, any amount seems to cause far worse yellowing.
@ComgrowOfficial
2 жыл бұрын
You're brilliant!!!👍👍👍
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks, but let's not make claims that can't be supported by evidence 😉. I'm just happy that people are finding this channel useful.
@Sophie333C
3 ай бұрын
Hi, what software are you pasting the image into? Thanks in advance!
@SteveMakesEverything
3 ай бұрын
I don’t recall which laser I used but it was probably the Muse 3D in which case it would be Retina Engrave 3
@28trooper
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for sharing!!
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
You are so welcome!
@AslanAtreyu
2 жыл бұрын
Are the fumes from the Borax safe?
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
They would be no worse than any other fumes from material. There is no chlorine or fluorine. Always make sure you are properly venting for any material though
@billmusik9794
Жыл бұрын
Will it work on metal?
@SteveMakesEverything
Жыл бұрын
Nope, the surface must be wood. For metal you can use something like Cermark.
@sherryleggett1612
Жыл бұрын
The solution coloured the wood as well. Would rinsing it remove that?
@SteveMakesEverything
Жыл бұрын
The easiest way to fix this is to reduce the concentration. It really requires little to get darkened engraving.
@dougs5406
2 ай бұрын
Does it work on leather?
@SteveMakesEverything
2 ай бұрын
No, only woods, and in fact best with soft woods
@MsChimpe
Жыл бұрын
how amazing Steve , does it work with glass ?
@SteveMakesEverything
Жыл бұрын
Not on glass. A CO2 laser will engrave glass anyway. A diode laser would require some sort of treatment (like paint) to engrave glass.
@sherryleggett1612
Жыл бұрын
Could you explain the science behind this? The borax seems to give the wood a yellow cast I’m not crazy about but the diff in the engraving is worth it. Because of the yellow cast the entire project would need to be coated with it, not just the engraving area.
@SteveMakesEverything
Жыл бұрын
If you want to find out everything, you could want to know about this process, go over to Russ Sadler's channel and watch this video, where he dives very deep into the reaction that Borax and lasers have on fibrous woods. kzitem.info/news/bejne/mKZ824tns4Kcnpw
@justinbanks2380
2 жыл бұрын
Great tip, just discovered your channel! Does this treatment have any affect on the wood long term? Discoloration or can it cause any allergies?
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
Assuming you use a low concentration to start, there will be minimal yellowing of the wood after the initial engraving.
@justinbanks2380
2 жыл бұрын
@@SteveMakesEverything Cool! Thanks for the response!
@osterlundm11
2 жыл бұрын
@justin banks It can cause skin irritation so I would use gloves and be careful to get it on your skin.
@SteveMakesEverything
2 жыл бұрын
@@osterlundm11 While I don't try to spread any chemical on my skin, this is a very low concentration so irritation is unlikely, but gloves would never go astray for this. I use a spray bottle for this and then a foam brush to even it out and touching it unlikely.
@ramonhamm3885
7 ай бұрын
Does that leave black char made from Borax residue that wipes off or is it the actual wood that chars darker from the Borax?
@SteveMakesEverything
7 ай бұрын
If you reduce the power quite a bit you will get darker engraves without so much charring
@ramonhamm3885
7 ай бұрын
@@SteveMakesEverything My real question is: what is the dark char? Does the Borax burn hotter and stay as black dust that smears or does it char the wood deeper? I hope this makes sense. In other words, what exactly so dark? Burnt Borax which can smear and dust off or deeply burnt wood which stays there after a mild sweeping with a brush? It's an important distinction. Thanks.
@SteveMakesEverything
7 ай бұрын
@@ramonhamm3885 The darkness comes from the wood, not the Borax. The Borax is really just an accelerant that causes the softer fibers in the wood to vaporize more quickly. However, the engraving is more fragile than it would normally be because what remains after engraving is a structure or wood fibers that is full of holes. You can minimize this by reducing the power used to engrave though I normally spray in a couple coats of clear coat to fill the holes back in and restore the strength of the wood. (I use flat spray)
@ramonhamm3885
7 ай бұрын
@@SteveMakesEverything Thanks Steve.
@1Fotobook
8 ай бұрын
What's the remedy? I still don't understand.❤
@SteveMakesEverything
8 ай бұрын
Remedy?
@castlecodersltd
Жыл бұрын
Is this only for CO2 lasers or for diode lasers as well please? ☺
@SteveMakesEverything
Жыл бұрын
I use it for CO2 laser, but it should work for a diode laser as well.
@castlecodersltd
Жыл бұрын
@@SteveMakesEverything Thank you ☺
@lsecky
Жыл бұрын
hi, looks good... but i have a problem.. i can´t buy borax in EU... is there some similiar product? :) Thank you for your asnwer
@SteveMakesEverything
Жыл бұрын
Trying baking soda. Not quite as nice, but still an improvement over nothing.
@matthewthemanparker
6 ай бұрын
Can you use this trick to cut thicker wood than you normally could?
@SteveMakesEverything
6 ай бұрын
Probably not. This tends to burn away soft wood, so with high power this would char the material a lot.
@kelseyhinshaw1746
2 жыл бұрын
What camera are you using inside your machine to record your laser jobs? I feel like you’ve said before in one of your videos but I can’t remember which one it was (I’ve watched too many! Haha) thank you for the great videos!
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