Patiently Waiting

I don’t have a glowforge to play with yet, can you paint something with multiple layers of paint and then burn off only one layer with the glowforge? what if you clearcoat between layers of paint?

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There are quite a few threads on Elecro-chemical etching and etching with Acids on this forum.
15th century Tech meets 21st century technology.

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Yes I have experience with chemical etching and will now search the forum for any threads that may have some further detail. I was just hoping I could etch the metal with my Glowforge, but now see it doesn’t contain enough power. So now I will look at using this on wood. Thanks for the input

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Would the Cermark work with the 40 watt? Or do I need to use something stronger?

This maybe an option.
Thanks

Not sure if this is the video you saw, but this would work for acid etching on metal. You could even just paint a metal plate black lacquer and etch that. It would look great.

I wonder if you could paint multiple layers of lacquer in different colors and get the laser just right to etch one layer of paint. Then you could do all of the colors in the picture, then just seal it with clear lacquer when you’re done.

Man I want my laser to start trying this stuff!!!

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I have yet to buy any. (Shtuff’s expensive!) But, as I understand it, minimum is 30W.

Why is that stuff so crazy expensive?

Thanks for you help. I am now looking at MANY posts about this. I now have my work cut out for me…too many ideas running through my head. Thanks again

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THANKS everyone for your input. I am not researching all the other options. I haven’t spent much time on the forums, but am now amazed at how much help there is here. LOT’s of ideas now running through my head. One being use the Laser to “cut” the mask and Electro-Chemical etch from there. Now onto more reading.

Thanks again…I think I have found my people

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From what I understand, because it just works. People have come up with their own, similar formulas for this and have worked to varying degrees.

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Yeah, I guess when you’re the best, you can charge what you want.

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It also helped they bought out their only serious competition :wink:

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Re: marking solution. I read years back that molybdenum lubricant works well as a low-rent Cermark and I’ve had a bottle sitting on my workbench. I’ve yet to try it personally, though.

http://www.evilmadscientist.com/2013/laser-moly/

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@smcgathyfay did some excellent testing on the diy solutions, as i recall

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Because only one company (now) owns the patents :slight_smile:

I use CRC Dry Moly Lube from the auto parts store ($11/spray can) for a more gray finish (and only gray/black, none of the colors that are available from Cermark/Thermark). It works for some purposes but others require the real thing.

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Is there a way of reclaiming the unused stuff? It seems like you only laser a tiny fraction of it so if it could be recycled it wouldn’t cost much at all.

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I used this w/ a 40W and it is not what I would call permanent. You could remove the stuff with ethanol and light scrubbing :confused:

I wonder that myself. But every video I see shows them literally washing the balance down the drain. So it looks like you just need to carefully plan were to put the stuff.

I’m pretty sure that’s an application issue.

It’s got to be the dry moly lube and not any with the liquid carriers. It also has to be sprayed on (multiple light coats seem to work for me) and then let set - e.g. don’t just throw it into the laser. Then I usually use full power, low speeds and wash with isopropyl alcohol. Then absent intentionally scrubbing it away it seems to act more like an anodization layer remnant than a scratchable paint or other surface coating.

@smcgathyfay did a lot of comparison tests if I recall correctly and dialed in some pretty good settings on her 30(?)W laser.

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