Full Version: Making Wood darker
From: shari (APPLIK) [#1]
5 Apr 2005
To: ALL
I need some input. I am going to do some wood plaques for samples to show a client. Some have a semi glossy finish and some are unfinished. The design (mostly lettering) does not show up very well. I have read about the LaserDarc for finished plaques. Does it work well or is there something that works better? But what about the unfinished wood. What can I do to get the image darker as well? I don't want colors, I just want the lasered part to show up nice.
Thanks,
Shari
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#2]
5 Apr 2005
To: shari (APPLIK) [#1] 5 Apr 2005
Shari,
In the past, I've used "Old English" brand, scratch cover. Available in most grocery stores, it looks like used motor oil :-)
Darkens, the incised image, and wipes off the surface of the wood, without significantly altering the color.
David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri
DGL Engraving
Port Hueneme, CA
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#3]
5 Apr 2005
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#2] 5 Apr 2005
I tried masking some raw wood then lasering and using black spray paint. Do not try that. It seeps so far into and along the grain that it is absolutely awful.
From: shari (APPLIK) [#4]
5 Apr 2005
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#2] 5 Apr 2005
David,
I actually have some of that! Will try it out. That is for the finished wood right?
Thanks,
Shari
From: Pete (AWARDMASTERS) [#5]
5 Apr 2005
To: shari (APPLIK) [#1] 5 Apr 2005
Another thing you might try is black liquid shoe polish. On the unfinished wood you may have problems with seepage into the grain surronding the cut. It has worked well for us on finished plaques, but we have not used it on unfinished wood as I remember.
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#6]
5 Apr 2005
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#3] 5 Apr 2005
Harvey,
On woods needing a darker image I will apply a laser mask material, engrave and spray lightly with a flat black Krylon enamel paint. If you get aggressive and heavy with the spraying it will seep into the grain. I hit it with a couple of very light coats on finished and unfinished woods and don't seem to have any seeping problems.
EDITED: 5 Apr 2005 by DATAKES
From: laserman (MIKEMAC) [#7]
5 Apr 2005
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#3] 5 Apr 2005
Harvey,
A trick we learned was to spray a clear coat over the lasered masked plaque then let it dry and then spray the black. We also found the the black paint for plastic works better. It must be a thicker paint so it won't bleed as much.
I know Rawlings engraves bats on site at the ballparks and they apply car wax to the surface of the bat and then laser it and then fill it with black paint. I don't know what the paint is but I think it is a water base paint. They let it dry for 30 minutes and wipe it off it works great with no bleeding into the grains. and produces a stunning look.
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#8]
5 Apr 2005
To: laserman (MIKEMAC) [#7] 5 Apr 2005
Thanks to both.
It is a very light wood and the clear discolors it a bit, (it gets stained with a light stain afterward, but still shows a bit), but does seal the grain from the color. I tried the Krylon black. I guess it needed a much lighter first coat to act as a sealer. Staining it first then filling is not a possibility due to the mask that needs to be burned through with the artwork for color filling.
A latex paint might work far better. It is thicker and might even start to set up as the wood absorbs the water to the grain. A very good suggestion also.
The wax trick is a great one, but the product is totally unfinished and that look is required. A polished surface would not work. The stain is used with the sealer as part of it. That gives a good rustic look and protects it from dirt such as fingerprints.
From: scroller (JEFF) [#9]
5 Apr 2005
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#8] 5 Apr 2005
From: Nick (KOZASNJZ) [#10]
5 Apr 2005
To: shari (APPLIK) [#5] 5 Apr 2005
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#11]
5 Apr 2005
To: shari (APPLIK) [#4] 7 Apr 2005
Shari,
Finished, or unfinished, I think?
David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri
DGL Engraving
Port Hueneme, CA
From: Jim (JEARMAN) [#12]
6 Apr 2005
To: shari (APPLIK) [#1] 7 Apr 2005
From: Barbara (RGILE) [#13]
7 Apr 2005
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#3] 7 Apr 2005
I have also been told that hard floor wax will work. I learned that in a class that I took.
Good luck! all of the suggestions are good. I have used black polish also and it works good if the wood is not soft.
Barbara
RGile Engravers
From: shari (APPLIK) [#14]
8 Apr 2005
To: Barbara (RGILE) [#13] 12 Apr 2005
Many thanks to all for all the suggestions. I will be trying them all! If I discover something else, I'll be sure to share. I just love this forum. It seems there is nothing someone hasn't already done or tried. You are all great inspiration.
Thanks again,
Shari