I have a stack of laminate that I had planned to engrave…its ok, makes a mess…can’t cut it with my lower 35 wt laser.
The top was engraved and colorfilled…the color wouldnt stay…I also tried using a sharpie but the color dulled…so I decided to just use vinyl instead…
The white works really good!
I took a number of sample pieces from Home Depot and lowes to try out. They all just burned on the surface and little to no material was removed.
You might be able to engrave the uncoated backside, but you might as well just get some MDF.
Boo.
I was wondering about my bamboo flooring scraps, with the aluminum oxide finish (guaranteed for 35 years).
No big deal, the variation in the laminated pieces produced stripes in an engraving anyway.
To be honest I didn’t have any bamboo flooring. All of the pieces I tried were MDF covered with some sort of veneer or laminate. If it’s straight bamboo it could potentially work, but you’ll probably have to sand that coating off.
I used 100% power and 5 speed on my 30wt. and it engraved about 1.5 mm deep. It’s actually HDF which is like rock that they use as a core for the more durable longer lasting brands… I should go get some really cheap stuff… maybe that will do better…lol
If it’s actual bamboo, it may have better results…
I had an interesting learning experience. I bought baltic birch plywood and it lasered really well. I then thought I would be smart and buy “marine grade” plywood so my outdoor pieces would last longer. Similar wood, but different glue holding the plies together. That stuff would not laser regardless of how many passes I used.
The moral of the story is that not only is it the material that makes up the laminate that is important, but also they type of adhesive holding the lamina together.
I’m glad to be back on the forums. I’ve got a few things to take pics of that I made in the interim for a Pokemon con and some other card game related things. I need to update my site first, but I expect to get this all dealt with after I install that flooring.
I planed the samples down to about 1/8 - top 2 are original thickness rest are cut thin.
. But will try with the thin pieces and playing with settings. On the other hand, the pieces make some nice bases for laser art or cut on cnc some shapes out of those samples… Every time I go to home Depot I pick up a couple as well as the paint sample cards for my silhouette ( or even laser).
Love the outline of Stitch
I’m this far on the restoration of the basement/future Glowforge workshop/animancave.
Just got the last row of laminate that needs to be handsaw/jigsaw cut all the length of the plank and to get to the centerline of the doors to the adjoining rooms. I expect to tackle that and getting a start to the sheetrock in this weekend.
love the space, slightly jealous 
Very nice! I do hope you get the Email on the day you finish!
Coming along! It looks like you didn’t have to cut too far up the walls to remove the damage. Perhaps an opportunity to add some more outlets and a dedicated circuit for the GF?
Thank you for reminding me! I have 16 power outlets around the room, adding any more would be overkill, but it’s likely I can repartition them.
Looking great! 
I’m not sure it’s worth the effort for you, but I bet you could get the original look you wanted with some colored epoxy. In terms of fill, I mean. I agree that the white really pops.
