PVC veneer

[shaanmajid]

I’ve read about not cutting PVC with lasers…

but what about veneers made out of PVC?

[johnbrooker]

Which would you rather face, a small amount of unpredictable damage, or no damage ?

John

[evansd2]

If you already know not to cut pvc, I don’t quite understand what you’re asking.

Laser cutting PVC is bad, regardless of the form it’s in. But like @johnbrooker says, there is a certain amount of degree that matters here. PVC veneer is probably thin, so your cuts won’t be going through that much PVC [and therefore won’t be making much chlorine/HCl gas], but it’s still not a great idea. Why fool with it? There are lots of alternatives, including… wood.

[jbv]

Don’t cut PVC.
Don’t cut stuff made from PVC.
Veneers made from PVC are made from PVC.
Don’t cut PVC.

[wbgraphic]

Understood.

But what about cutting PVC?

[jbv]

Instructions can be found here.

[rotors]

I couldn’t resist. Haven’t been a victim of that in years, so it was rather refreshing. Now I’ll go laser my ears.

[Jules]

459 million + victims.
(It’s the goofy grin.)

[rpegg]

I’m so happy that the audio circuit on this laptop no longer works.

[jgf]

At least it was not a goatse link…

[kittski]

Anyone who pays attention here knows I love a good visual, so here ya go.

This is your laser after cutting PVC…

This is your laser after cutting PVC veneer…

[chris1]

What about lasering drugs? Or eggs?

[johnbrooker]

I’m now wondering if I could cut egg-shell with the GF ?
I know the technique for ‘blowing’ eggs, but I’ve never tried it, so I think that goes on the ‘to do’ list !

John

[chris1]

[johnbrooker]

Chris, you either have a strange word-association sense of humour, or 'blowing eggs means something else in USA !

[Jules]

Yes you can!

Egg-ztra Exciting Eggs

Yes, it’s possible to laser those blown egg shells. I’m still working out the optimum settings for it, and there are a couple of tricks to get a clean egg, but I’ll get there eventually. I’m gonna have to set it aside for a bit starting tomorrow, but I thought y’all might want to see the progress before I have to go play accountant and do other assorted family related things. (Man, I hate tax time…) But anyway: [image] [image] [image] [image] [image] DO NOT look a…

[johnbrooker]

Thanks Jules. I missed that one.
meets Faberge ? That might work.

John

[Jules]

I dunno, I tried for some thin fancy flourish designs and kept breaking them…they’re just so thin after you cut and pick parts away that they don’t hold up. (You can cut a blocky shape out of them like a star or an oval, and they are pretty stable, but the usage is limited, so I never went back to the medium.)

[johnbrooker]

Coat the inside with something before cutting - epoxy ? Acrylic ?
I have a pint of uv acrylic
John

[Jules]

Maybe. It turns out to be more work than carving with a Dremel though, it might be best to leave the eggshells to something like a very small CNC.

(Fully expecting the gods of laser to strike me down now. Must be ready to duck.)