help with the stripe that seemed to not engrave as well as the rest of it.
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it is the grain of the wood that caused that. i think it looks great as is.
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is it better to engrave WITH the grain?
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I am no expert but grain means variations in properties such as color and density Same laser energy is applied per unit area so rhe result will be different across different parts of the grain. Higher power or slower might help but grain is the great randomizer of engraving. Embrace it?
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I agree, I think the stripe enhances the design. Tbh couldn’t ask for better!
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Looks like sun on the rocks! Nice effect!
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I agree, I think it looks great!
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Welcome to the community! Having lived previously in Nevada for 20 years, I absolutely love that design! I agree with others that the stripe looks like a sunray, especially with the angle of the design on the board. Had you done the shape straight up and down, then the stripe would’ve looked completely different and not enhanced it as well. Great job!
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As long as you’re aware when you set up your design that a significant difference in grain may mean the engrave will look different there, then “better” is a judgement call. Do a search on here of Bamboo and you’ll see literally hundreds of posts about grain issues (bamboo being a grass it is hugely varied in grain density).
If you need something to be absolutely even then your best bet is using a plywood with an MDF/Draftboard core - but that can never be exposed to water or the core will fail without pretty extraordinary methods used to seal it.
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