I'm lucky enough to have two lasers, so the IR will live on the WeCreate. Here are a few things I'll be using it for in the future: Engraving the back of potentiometers, engraving tuner machine heads, I can get down to even engrave screw heads if I wanted, engraving clear acrylic is now much easier than with a traditional diode laser, so many opportunities, so much potential! Take it easy!
Thank you for sharing Mark. You've definitely inspired me to go way out of my comfort zone and I am doing some pretty rad work because of it. Appreciate it.
That’s pretty rad! I’m surprised at how many of your videos are so relevant to my interests while also being very unique. I’m too broke to even think about buying a laser but my imagination is definitely sparked!
Dylan Talks Tone has been making some cool stuff with his lasers, most of which is for sale. Totally recommend checking it out! Really love the designs you came up with, Mark. We live in a cool time for guitars and making stuff!
Those pieces turned out really well. Nice vid man. I’ve found that Musiclily stuff is actually pretty good for budget builds. In a sea of cheap stuff they’re decent.
You can get many pickguards made from laminated coloured sheets. So you would be able to etch through one colour layer, to reveal the next colour layer. I wonder how that would look?
I have an upgraded K40 40-watt Co2 laser, I have used it for some neck plates for myself and some friends and the results were very good, I have one of those black aluminium pickguards on my Squier 40th Anniverary Telecaster, I might engrave that if I can find some artwork that I like on it.
Someone may have already said this in the comments, but the chrome pieces for sure, are just exposing the copper layer of the chrome plating. I don't think the neck plate or even the bridge is made of brass. Most likely mild steel that is plated. The copper plating is a step that evens out the surface and allows the subsequent layers to chemically adhere. Not that important in the scope of things, but thought you'd be interested.
7:05 - Why use plastic? : Metal pickgaurds make pickups sound more trebly because it conducts through the pickgaurd not unlike a tele bridgepickup with the metal plate. Loved the look but could not accept how it made my strat sound
They look very cool, I wonder how they will look in time with oxidation on the bare aluminium, I also wonder if you could put multiple different colours on a piece and with different settings achieve different colours maybe?
Pictural glyphs look great in themed designs. Skies the limit with tech these days. Cool demonstration, thanks Mark. Chrome generally has a brass coating as apart of the chroming process on metals, I was wondering what the laser etched finishes may have appeared after a light polish, either with Brass O or a light cutting compound ? Other: I've seen laser cut carbon fibre guitar neck plates and pick guards on line, there not cheap to buy.
What is the point of going to an IR 2W laser head vs the standard 40 W 450nm laser for engraving these parts? I have a Creality Falcon 2 40 watt laser, which, obviously I can lower the power via Lightburn.
From what I understand, the IR has a different wavelength and is absorbed differently on metal. A diode laser, for example, can not engrave on chrome or other highly reflective metals. The IR is supposed to work well with high gloss, reflective acrylics as well. All without having to use all those hacks involving sprays and coatings.
I'm lucky enough to have two lasers, so the IR will live on the WeCreate. Here are a few things I'll be using it for in the future: Engraving the back of potentiometers, engraving tuner machine heads, I can get down to even engrave screw heads if I wanted, engraving clear acrylic is now much easier than with a traditional diode laser, so many opportunities, so much potential! Take it easy!
Thank you for sharing Mark. You've definitely inspired me to go way out of my comfort zone and I am doing some pretty rad work because of it. Appreciate it.
this is great! thank you
That’s pretty rad! I’m surprised at how many of your videos are so relevant to my interests while also being very unique. I’m too broke to even think about buying a laser but my imagination is definitely sparked!
Dylan Talks Tone has been making some cool stuff with his lasers, most of which is for sale. Totally recommend checking it out! Really love the designs you came up with, Mark. We live in a cool time for guitars and making stuff!
Those pieces turned out really well. Nice vid man. I’ve found that Musiclily stuff is actually pretty good for budget builds. In a sea of cheap stuff they’re decent.
That's sick bro...
Awesome work! You can use a product like Brilliance Laser Inks if you want the laser to leave a black mark on light metal material.
You can get many pickguards made from laminated coloured sheets. So you would be able to etch through one colour layer, to reveal the next colour layer.
I wonder how that would look?
I have an upgraded K40 40-watt Co2 laser, I have used it for some neck plates for myself and some friends and the results were very good, I have one of those black aluminium pickguards on my Squier 40th Anniverary Telecaster, I might engrave that if I can find some artwork that I like on it.
Someone may have already said this in the comments, but the chrome pieces for sure, are just exposing the copper layer of the chrome plating. I don't think the neck plate or even the bridge is made of brass. Most likely mild steel that is plated. The copper plating is a step that evens out the surface and allows the subsequent layers to chemically adhere. Not that important in the scope of things, but thought you'd be interested.
You could use brass black to make that image on the neck plate stand out.
nice work
7:05 - Why use plastic? :
Metal pickgaurds make pickups sound more trebly because it conducts through the pickgaurd not unlike a tele bridgepickup with the metal plate. Loved the look but could not accept how it made my strat sound
They look very cool, I wonder how they will look in time with oxidation on the bare aluminium, I also wonder if you could put multiple different colours on a piece and with different settings achieve different colours maybe?
Pictural glyphs look great in themed designs. Skies the limit with tech these days. Cool demonstration, thanks Mark.
Chrome generally has a brass coating as apart of the chroming process on metals, I was wondering what the laser etched finishes may have appeared after a light polish, either with Brass O or a light cutting compound ?
Other: I've seen laser cut carbon fibre guitar neck plates and pick guards on line, there not cheap to buy.
I'm sorry if I missed it, but does the laser only engrave on flat surfaces?
please please do a tutorial on how to make esp japan custom shop type guitar inlays with a laser machine
What is the point of going to an IR 2W laser head vs the standard 40 W 450nm laser for engraving these parts? I have a Creality Falcon 2 40 watt laser, which, obviously I can lower the power via Lightburn.
From what I understand, the IR has a different wavelength and is absorbed differently on metal. A diode laser, for example, can not engrave on chrome or other highly reflective metals. The IR is supposed to work well with high gloss, reflective acrylics as well. All without having to use all those hacks involving sprays and coatings.
Tone pickguard.. now you've done it! 😁
You should have done a cool headstock design with your TH-cam logo
First!