Full Version: Tera Cotta Tile
From: laserman (MIKEMAC) [#1]
28 Apr 2005
To: ALL
O.K. I posted this on the New / Old forum that has now died a painful death.
So here we go again. While browsing through one of the best malls in America (Home Depot) I came across this tile. I immediately thought what would this laser like. So I bought two.
The first one I tried worked OK but it did not darken as much as I wanted.
The second one I did I masked then lasered then sprayed with black paint, removed the mask and finished with a clear lacquer.
This is the result.
EDITED: 24 Oct 2006 by MIKEMAC
From: John (JOHNRMONTG) [#2]
28 Apr 2005
To: laserman (MIKEMAC) [#1] 28 Apr 2005
From: Arkie [#3]
30 Apr 2005
To: John (JOHNRMONTG) [#2] 30 Apr 2005
Looks Great...
What did you mask with?
Was this a material you could easily peel away or did it wash off??
What's the physical size of the tile?
~Joe
EastARK LaserWorks
From: laserman (MIKEMAC) [#4]
2 May 2005
To: Arkie [#3] 3 May 2005
Arkie,
I just used transfer tape the spray paint dried within two hours and then I just rubbed off the transfer tape. It really was not that difficult.
The picture posted is not as nice as the finished piece. The tiles were 12" x 12" about .750 thick.
From: shari (APPLIK) [#5]
2 Jun 2005
To: laserman (MIKEMAC) [#4] 2 Jun 2005
Mike,
I have tried a couple of brands of black spray paint, but they don't seem to adhere that well. When I scrape off the masking tape, sometimes the paint wants to come off as well. What paint do you recommend? The paint I used (I bought them at ACE) adhered to the rough tiles better than the smooth hi gloss ones. I used P/98, S/40/ PPI/300, ID/4.
I tried the india ink but it is much too pale. (see pic in Ceramic Tile Paint post in Gen Dis) If I use a line of .003 and choose raster only in the driver, is that line too thin for paint?
Shari
From: cindy (ROBERTM) [#6]
2 Jun 2005
To: shari (APPLIK) [#5] 2 Jun 2005
Shari,
I do those type plaques on tile. I have a 25watt laser and I use 100p 20s and 500dpi. After the engraving I spay paint one coat let it dry and apply another coat. Both coats are not heavy. If the paint bleeds through a little bit just take a Qtip and a little spit and clean it up.
Hope this helps.
Cindy
From: laserman (MIKEMAC) [#7]
2 Jun 2005
To: shari (APPLIK) [#5] 2 Jun 2005
Shari,
Hope all is well I just got back from a week out of the office and it is real hard to get back into the work mode
Anyway regarding the spray paint I use Rust-Oleum black spray paint.
It seams to work the best for me The tile I did I ran at 100P 30s 500ppi I masked with transfer tape and then spray painted with two or three coats. Then to seal it I sprayed it with clear after all the mask was removed.
Your line width of 0.003 should be O.K. what might be happening is you might not be getting through the top surface of the glaze. These tiles are not very consistent in the glaze coating so it is better to go slower or do two passes in order to be sure you are through the top surface completely.
You could increase your line width to 0.007 to see if it helps it won't be noticeable on the graphic.
Good luck
From: shari (APPLIK) [#8]
2 Jun 2005
To: laserman (MIKEMAC) [#7] 2 Jun 2005
Thanks for the info. I'll pick up some of your brand and try more than one coat. Maybe I'm not getting through the glaze deep enough. Will slow the laser down and see what happens too. The tiles are fairly inexpensive, so I'll try one thing at a time to see which works.
Will post a pic when I get a "good" one.
When you say transfer tape, is that the wide stuff that looks like plain masking tape? I have some that I bought several years ago from Bron tapes. That is what I used. I have to squeegee it down, but it sticks ok.
Shari
From: laserman (MIKEMAC) [#9]
2 Jun 2005
To: shari (APPLIK) [#8] 2 Jun 2005
Shari,
Thats the stuff it cleans off pretty easily once you are done.
From: Dixie2 [#10]
5 Jun 2005
To: Arkie [#3] 6 Jun 2005
Arkie..
I see you are in East ARkansas.. Where 'bouts?
Dixie
From: Arkie [#11]
6 Jun 2005
To: Dixie2 [#10] 7 Jun 2005
About 80 miles south of you... in West Helena.
Nice to hear from another Arkie.. :)
porjoe at hnb.com