laser engraver

[zimmerstutzen]

Interested in information from anyone who uses or has one. Mostly about ease of use quality of results etc. Thought one may come in handy for decorating pistol grips, loading accessories etc.

 

[Pete G]

All of the stuff I have seen that was laser engraved looked a lot like etching. Not a good substitute for engraving.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

I have a neighbor who does laser engraving and from what I have seen, it looks like it was burned with a laser, rather than cut with a tool. By that, I mean the laser engraving will not have the same depth cut engraving will have.

 

[The O'Dea]

I have a M1816 musket that has(had) laser engraving. Not good,and not even close to historical markings. My musket is in the hands of Mr. J. Zimmerman of Harpers Ferry, Virginia. He fixed my M1842 musket a few years ago. His work is the closest to original arsenal marking that I have seen :thumbsup:

-The Irish Mick
Arizona Territory

 

[44-henry]

I have a Epilog Helix 75 watt laser in my lab and for what you are talking about using it for you would be likely unhappy with the results. The laser is nice for a lot of things, but would find few uses in this line of work. For the $30K+ you would spend for a new laser like the one we have you could purchase a lot of more conventional and useful tooling.

 

[jerrywh]

The trouble with a laser engraving machine is it always looks like it was done wit ha laser engraving machine.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Gee, I have seen some really nice portraits burned onto wooden plaques by a local trophy company. I was told it was done with a computer guided laser engraver. Looked almost 3D.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

A laser is bound to burn a much deeper kerf in wood than it will in metal, and it is impossible to get the same effect that a V or other shaped tool can have when removing metal.

 

[Zonie]

A engraving tool will leave smooth, continuous surfaces if it is used properly to cut metal.

A laser burns away or vaporizes millions of tiny bits of the metal to "cut" the design.
That makes it virtually impossible for the surfaces left behind to be smooth.

Can the laser cut fancy designs and patterns? Sure.

Will they look like they were actually engraved? Never.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

Very well put as usual, Zonie. :thumbsup:

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Unfortunately Zonie, I am referring to the ones used to burn pictures in wood, plastic, and other non-metals.
They are called laser engravers but have no ability to do metals.

 

[jerrywh]

They still do work very inferior to actual wood carving.

 

[Rifleman1776]

As others have said, laser engraving is not compatible with 'our thang' and olde guns. It is fine but not traditional.
However, many CNC engraver/routers are coming on the market and do beautiful work. But, they are pricey.

 

[Zonie]

Unfortunately Zonie, I am referring to the ones used to burn pictures in wood, plastic, and other non-metals.
They are called laser engravers but have no ability to do metals.

Sounds a bit like the old wood burning tool I had when I was a kid.

I'm sure, in the hands of an artist that ol wood burner would do great and wonderful things.

With my artistic skills, it was kinda like putting an axe in my hand and asking me to carve a rose petal out of balsa wood.

I guess it's fortunate my folks took that wood burning tool away from me when they did.
The wooden arm on my mom's favorite couch was looking mighty tempting to me. :rotf:

 

[longcruise]

I use one of those on leather items and it does take a tremendous amount of skill, which I don't have, but it passes for something that might have been done by a frontiersman.

Out member, Mike Brines, has some sort of engraving device. He did an eagle for me when he was just learning and it was very nice. Maybe he will chime in.

C'mon, Mike.

 

[jerrywh]

Even the CNC engravers are very inferior to hand engraving.

 

[wayne1967]

I'm going to send an FAL to Orion to have israeli lettering lasered on the receiver. Never heard of doing it on wood.