LA Hobby Guy

I'm as obsessed with silver and copper coins as @JoeJones is with laser cutters :lol: As a mechanic, I bought a coin with "Dirty Hands" on one side and "Clean Money" other the other. That came with what I didn't know at the time was a matching coin that says "Clean Hands&quo...

saggi wrote: ↑Tue Jun 10, 2025 9:12 am I use isopropyl alcohol and a cotton towel for the dark edges. This removes the smoke on the plywood after cutting. Whether it helps here, I don't know.

That's usually what I do. I was just hoping there was a way to avoid having to do that, but ...

I appreciate it.

GeneMpls wrote: ↑Sat Apr 26, 2025 9:46 am Transfer or Application tape works better than masking tape- sign shops use it to hold vinyl letters etc together before applying them.

I'll check that out. thanks!

joejones wrote: ↑Thu Mar 06, 2025 5:37 pm Did you forget about the FEDS?

Joe

What they don't know won't hurt you ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

JimNM wrote: ↑Thu Apr 24, 2025 8:11 am Honeycomb does not help, if you don't have a downdraft or a cross draft built in under the piece. You need direct air flow to carry the smoke and debris away from the cut. Just sitting on top of a honeycomb makes the airflow worse.

I didn't know that. I'll try that. Thanks.

For cutting all the way through, be sure to allow for gas and soot to have an exit from underneath, as well as from above. Simple spacer to hold the work piece off the surface by 1/8" (~3.2mm) would be perfect. My metal cutting surface has ridges built in that allows air to flow through the ch...

Wood type? If you are using plywood, it will have more than most hardwoods. I made a ribbon caddy for the wife today, and was reminded that plywood has the dustier sooty edges that then move to the surfaces when handling. Never have the same issues when working with my maple boards. It's supposed t...

Good ventilation into and out of the work space, and make sure there is cross ventilation from inlet across the work to the outlet. Faster passes Lower power Better focus Season to taste. Two passes at 75% power will leave less soot than a slower single pass at 100% power. Also, use a layer of thin...

Keeping with my love of silver coins, my girlfriend and my astrological signs: IMG_20250420_234824532.jpg IMG_20250420_235026596.jpg BUT.... HOW CAN I ELIMINATE OR at least REDUCE SOOT? This is straight off the laser: IMG_20250420_182607496.jpg This is after sanding: IMG_20250420_183010417.jpg The e...

That is some mighty black engraving you got there. Did you do anything special to achieve that? The black around the big letters isn't engraved. Its carved using a router and then painted. You can see the technique here: https://www.youtube.com/@oldave100 I used the laser to lay it out and mask it,...