Interesting technique and the sign looks fabulous. Thanks for sharing. I'm looking forward to hearing of any refinements such as the best number of coats of dish soap, and how long to leave after coating before engraving to get the cleanest removal. 💯👏
I'll share any improvements that I come up with. Going to try putting on one coat letting it dry and then put on a thin wet coat and laser it and see how that works.
Very nice sign! I’m curious…couldn’t you put down your Dawn, let it dry and then mask it, engrave, clear seal, paint, etc. Seems like masking tape would reduce the area that you had to scrub and your 1st use of Dawn would prevent the bleeding.
Thank you! I usually put down a thick 1st coat of soap and let dry and then come back and put another layer but not as thick and let it dry for a little bit so its not messy to handle and laser it. But the sign in this video set for a few days, because during making this video my daughter went into labor and gave birth to two heathy boys! But the delay didn't seen to make a difference.
There’s definitely a possibility of warping, but I avoid soaking the wood. I usually just run water over it and dry it off with a towel. Out of all the pieces I’ve made, only a couple have warped slightly, and they were both pine. I mostly use this soap process when making rustic-style signs, where taping or sanding won’t give me the results I want. Typically, I use cedar fence boards for these projects, but I do occasionally use pine if the piece won’t be used outdoors. Give it a try and let me know your results!
Wood and water dont mix well, specially since the ends are not sealed either. I can only imagine the warp that wood is going to have later. So much easier to just mask the wood before engraving
I agree, this process is not for all project or wood types. The wood I am using the video is cedar fence boards. I have also used pine fence boards. Did have one pine one get a little of bow but not much. I try not to soak the wood more than necessary. It works for me for the purpose I use it for.
@@steveusn6852 If you want to leave your wood rough and don't want to have to sand it. The dish soap acts as a removable barrier. You can just paint over your design and the paint will wash off where the soap is and will stay where the laser engraving removed the soap from the wood.
@@lastlight05It allows you to paint the engraved area only. The engraving process removes the soap, allowing the paint to only stick to that area and the paint will not stick to the soap. So when you wash off the soap it also removes the paint that is outside the engraved area.
Interesting technique and the sign looks fabulous. Thanks for sharing. I'm looking forward to hearing of any refinements such as the best number of coats of dish soap, and how long to leave after coating before engraving to get the cleanest removal. 💯👏
I'll share any improvements that I come up with. Going to try putting on one coat letting it dry and then put on a thin wet coat and laser it and see how that works.
Try sealing with clear before the dish soap... it seems to me that the dish soap is soaking into the wood rather than just drying on the surface.
You could do that if you wanted a clear or mat finish when done, that is definitely an option.
Very nice sign! I’m curious…couldn’t you put down your Dawn, let it dry and then mask it, engrave, clear seal, paint, etc. Seems like masking tape would reduce the area that you had to scrub and your 1st use of Dawn would prevent the bleeding.
Thank you! I usually put down a thick 1st coat of soap and let dry and then come back and put another layer but not as thick and let it dry for a little bit so its not messy to handle and laser it. But the sign in this video set for a few days, because during making this video my daughter went into labor and gave birth to two heathy boys! But the delay didn't seen to make a difference.
@@tgif3657 Congrats on the birth of your grandsons!
Now that you have that piece of wood soaked with water, what is going to stop it from warping?
There’s definitely a possibility of warping, but I avoid soaking the wood. I usually just run water over it and dry it off with a towel. Out of all the pieces I’ve made, only a couple have warped slightly, and they were both pine. I mostly use this soap process when making rustic-style signs, where taping or sanding won’t give me the results I want. Typically, I use cedar fence boards for these projects, but I do occasionally use pine if the piece won’t be used outdoors. Give it a try and let me know your results!
Love the rustic look. Great info, subbed!
Awesome! Thank you!
Pretty cool idea. I'm thinking that Tempura water based paint would wash off a lot easier.
What do you use to seal it with before and after?
Wood and water dont mix well, specially since the ends are not sealed either. I can only imagine the warp that wood is going to have later. So much easier to just mask the wood before engraving
I agree, this process is not for all project or wood types. The wood I am using the video is cedar fence boards. I have also used pine fence boards. Did have one pine one get a little of bow but not much. I try not to soak the wood more than necessary. It works for me for the purpose I use it for.
good job. what font is hopkins?
I believe the font was Shadowed Serif.
I seal mine with clear and than engrave and paint with no issues. What's the point of the Dawn?
@@steveusn6852 If you want to leave your wood rough and don't want to have to sand it. The dish soap acts as a removable barrier. You can just paint over your design and the paint will wash off where the soap is and will stay where the laser engraving removed the soap from the wood.
You're washing solvent-based paint down the drain?!?
Is that water based paint?
@@gaylewilliams7353 No just regular spray paint.
I dont understand how this works. Why would it not remove the engraved area as well?
@@lastlight05It allows you to paint the engraved area only. The engraving process removes the soap, allowing the paint to only stick to that area and the paint will not stick to the soap. So when you wash off the soap it also removes the paint that is outside the engraved area.
OK, so what’s the whole process? It’s pretty cool looking.
Watch the video for the whole process.
What do you use to seal it with before and after?
I spray it with mat or gloss clear, depending on the look I want.