Lowest contrast wood with laser

[Dave Jones]

I've mostly been working with Alder because it gives a strong contrast when engraved. But now I have a project where I want as little contrast as possible. I want to engrave fairly deeply but without the engraved part looking really dark.

Anybody experiment with a number of types of wood and come across one that removes the wood when engraved but doesn't blacken it when going fairly deep?

[Joe Pelonio]

I've found that 1/4" solid oak doesn't darken much, I think it was called red oak that I got at the Blue Borg 8"x24". Did a bunch of stuff on it and used honey oak stain on everything after and it's all the same color, background and engraved areas alike.

[Shaddy Dedmore]

I've found Maple to give less contrast than alder, but I don't know if that's the best one for it. Use low res, low power, and multiple passes maybe.

Shaddy

[Mike Mackenzie]

I would try clear Pine.

[Dave Jones]

Thanks guys, I'll give them a shot.

[Mike Null]

You're probably finished with your project but I just did an ash baseball bat and was extremely disappointed in the contrast. I had to resort to a color fill to achieve contrast yet the engraving was about 3/64" deep.

[Dave Jones]

Yup, that project is over. I used red oak.

But I am continuing to experiment and need to know these kinds of things for future projects, so I'll get some ash and see what it's like.

Thanks.