*Update:* The direct-to-rug version did not stand up well to regular usage and faded far quicker than I'd hoped. I have a plan to do a follow-up video with another technique I've seen recommended so subscribe if you want to see that update video when it goes live.
Hey Steve! Someone else mentioned Flex Seal spray awhile back and I totally want to revisit the rugs again and try that method next! Thanks for the reminder! 😊
Great video i like how the direct from laser came out, maybe you could try some kind of dye to change the color of the mat then laser it for a different effect
Hey Jordan! I’m actually due for another follow up because the direct to mat lasered version did not hold up well at all unfortunately. 😕 I’ve got another idea that I want to try that I’ve seen a few other people mention. Stay tuned for that in a few months!
@@FarbulousCreations Thank you for repsonding! and for the feedback. I have a Diode laser 20W and just started doing a mat tonight and went about it with a template done on cardboard and using flex seal spray. But did trial doing it straight onto the mat and it looked great but i feared it would not last and proves a 20W diode laser works! I did like your approach of the tape, what tape did you use for that? Might try that next, otherwise would love to hear your other approach as i need to do another mat for christmas (so need to do it soon) so if you release the video soon, I would love to see what you did.
I tried lasering a mat last year. Looked good for a while, but I too, found out it didn't hold up over time. I think one of the problems is that the laser really only gets the surface of the fibers, as they shield the bottoms of the fibers. Top fibers then break off or break down, leaving a less than desirable image.
Hey Melanie! That's exactly what I found myself. I was hoping a thin layer of clear spray finish would help protect those fibers from breaking off but it really doesn't. I'm going to give it a try with Flex Seal Spray here soon and hopefully that holds up better than regular latex paint and just the raw rug. Cheers!
@@hagpound Hey there! I have not yet! I have a can of Flex Seal and a blank rug just hanging around in my shop waiting for me to get to it but some bigger shop projects have taken priority recently. I'll try to get to it soon! 😊
Any concern that the back of the mat is PVC? These coco fiber mats can vary in density over the face of the mat, and it's not unreasonable to think some laser energy might penetrate through to the PVC backing creating some chlorine gas. Well vented it's not really an immediate health concern, but it's horribly corrosive to the laser. As a one off project it's probably fine, but how to you factor in the accelerated destruction of the machine over running something like this as a product? And that's to say nothing of the fire risk if the mat catches fire...
That's a great question, and great observation! For what it's worth, my rug was 3/4 to 1 inch thick, and I was etching on it with the rug 1/8 of an inch out of focus. So any laser light able to hit it through the looser density areas of the rug would be at least 7/8 to 1-1/8 inch out of focus, which would be pretty diminished in terms of power hitting it. I also didn't see any areas of the back of my rug that seemed warped or deformed, which I think would be expected if it was getting hit with any significant amount of laser energy. Fire is always a risk with laser cutting/etching, so agree on that - especially since the fibers of the rug would make excellent kindling if you were trying to start a fire. Anyone with a laser should have a fire extinguisher in close reach of their machine in case the worst happens. I have a CO2 fire extinguisher so my machine isn't covered in foam if I need to put out a fire. Thanks for the comment/discussion! :)
Hey Andrew! It's possible, but I don't have any experience with smaller diode lasers. If they handle fabric okay, then most likely, but you'll want to be very careful about it catching fire since from what I know diode lasers go a bit smaller and don't usually have air assist, right? Good luck!
Hey Kate! Good! Still probably too early to call though because it hasn't been on the job full time since I made it - I have a few store-bought seasonal doormats that I swap in for various holidays so, for instance, the Halloween doormat I have was on duty all of September and October. I'll be sure to post an update once I think it's had enough exposure to justify calling it a success or not! :)
Hey Bryn! Sorry for the late reply here - it's been awhile since I've done one, but it'll depend on the complexity / size of your desisgn. Anywhere from 5-20 minutes is in the ballpark. Hope that helps! 😊
*Update:* The direct-to-rug version did not stand up well to regular usage and faded far quicker than I'd hoped. I have a plan to do a follow-up video with another technique I've seen recommended so subscribe if you want to see that update video when it goes live.
how long did it last before you noticed fading
What's the new technique if i may ask?
I am a direct-to-rug approach believer.
Like mother, like son, no doubt. :)
Oh my goodness!!! You are the best!!!! Thank you💙
Aww, glad you liked the video! Thanks!
Thanks Ron
You're very welcome, Ron! 😂
I’ve seen this method done before but was painted with Flex Seal (the as seen on tv spray)
Hey Steve! Someone else mentioned Flex Seal spray awhile back and I totally want to revisit the rugs again and try that method next! Thanks for the reminder! 😊
Great video now I just need to learn how to focus and defocus, since I just use Auto Focus. I’m new to the Laser Family 🙂
Welcome to the laser family, Candace! Defocusing is super easy! You just raise or lower the bed (z-depth) by 1/8" or more. Good luck! :)
Great job!
Thank you! :)
Did you wet the rug prior to engraving?
Great video i like how the direct from laser came out, maybe you could try some kind of dye to change the color of the mat then laser it for a different effect
Ah, yes dying the rug would be interesting! Great idea! Might have to try that if I ever want to dabble down that road!
❤❤❤
instead of blue painters tape might try shelf lining, it might adhere to the mat better to prevent the shadow effect.
Not a bad idea! As long as the shelf liner doesn't have vinyl or PVC which is a chlorinated plastic so not laser safe, that could work too! :)
Hey mate. Love the video. Was wondering, a year later, how are the mats going? Which has held better and lasted the longest?
Hey Jordan! I’m actually due for another follow up because the direct to mat lasered version did not hold up well at all unfortunately. 😕 I’ve got another idea that I want to try that I’ve seen a few other people mention. Stay tuned for that in a few months!
@@FarbulousCreations Thank you for repsonding! and for the feedback. I have a Diode laser 20W and just started doing a mat tonight and went about it with a template done on cardboard and using flex seal spray. But did trial doing it straight onto the mat and it looked great but i feared it would not last and proves a 20W diode laser works! I did like your approach of the tape, what tape did you use for that? Might try that next, otherwise would love to hear your other approach as i need to do another mat for christmas (so need to do it soon) so if you release the video soon, I would love to see what you did.
I tried lasering a mat last year. Looked good for a while, but I too, found out it didn't hold up over time. I think one of the problems is that the laser really only gets the surface of the fibers, as they shield the bottoms of the fibers. Top fibers then break off or break down, leaving a less than desirable image.
Hey Melanie! That's exactly what I found myself. I was hoping a thin layer of clear spray finish would help protect those fibers from breaking off but it really doesn't. I'm going to give it a try with Flex Seal Spray here soon and hopefully that holds up better than regular latex paint and just the raw rug. Cheers!
@@FarbulousCreations did you try the flex seal clear spray? curious the results.
@@hagpound Hey there! I have not yet! I have a can of Flex Seal and a blank rug just hanging around in my shop waiting for me to get to it but some bigger shop projects have taken priority recently. I'll try to get to it soon! 😊
Any concern that the back of the mat is PVC? These coco fiber mats can vary in density over the face of the mat, and it's not unreasonable to think some laser energy might penetrate through to the PVC backing creating some chlorine gas. Well vented it's not really an immediate health concern, but it's horribly corrosive to the laser. As a one off project it's probably fine, but how to you factor in the accelerated destruction of the machine over running something like this as a product? And that's to say nothing of the fire risk if the mat catches fire...
That's a great question, and great observation! For what it's worth, my rug was 3/4 to 1 inch thick, and I was etching on it with the rug 1/8 of an inch out of focus. So any laser light able to hit it through the looser density areas of the rug would be at least 7/8 to 1-1/8 inch out of focus, which would be pretty diminished in terms of power hitting it.
I also didn't see any areas of the back of my rug that seemed warped or deformed, which I think would be expected if it was getting hit with any significant amount of laser energy.
Fire is always a risk with laser cutting/etching, so agree on that - especially since the fibers of the rug would make excellent kindling if you were trying to start a fire. Anyone with a laser should have a fire extinguisher in close reach of their machine in case the worst happens. I have a CO2 fire extinguisher so my machine isn't covered in foam if I need to put out a fire.
Thanks for the comment/discussion! :)
Looks great . thanks for the info . May i ask what settings you used .Seed and power ? in focus or out of focus
Hey Sam! I believe I did 500mm/s and 10% power, 1/8th of an inch out of focus. Hope that helps!! Have fun!
I use Rustoleun Leak seal. It’s far more flexible than the paint
I’ll have to give that a try at some point too! Thanks for the tip!
Great video! Do you think this technique would work with a diode laser?
Hey Andrew! It's possible, but I don't have any experience with smaller diode lasers. If they handle fabric okay, then most likely, but you'll want to be very careful about it catching fire since from what I know diode lasers go a bit smaller and don't usually have air assist, right? Good luck!
How is it holding up?
Hey Kate! Good! Still probably too early to call though because it hasn't been on the job full time since I made it - I have a few store-bought seasonal doormats that I swap in for various holidays so, for instance, the Halloween doormat I have was on duty all of September and October. I'll be sure to post an update once I think it's had enough exposure to justify calling it a success or not! :)
Thanks for that video! How long did it take the laser to etch it in total?
Hey Bryn! Sorry for the late reply here - it's been awhile since I've done one, but it'll depend on the complexity / size of your desisgn. Anywhere from 5-20 minutes is in the ballpark. Hope that helps! 😊
Why wouldn’t you use black flex seal? Won’t come off or fade
Flex Seal never occurred to me, but now I kind of want to try that too! Great idea!
thats cool, how much the carpet
Thank you! The rugs are anywhere from $8-12 at places like IKEA or Home Depot! Hope that helps!
День добрый подскажите что за материал коврика?
Здравствуйте, ковер сделан из кокосовой койры, типа волокна, сделанного из кокосовой шелухи.
Farbulious lol
Haha, yup! 😅 Bad pun of my last name.