laser etching tin boxes?

[Nadia Zois]

is it safe to laser etch little tin boxes? like the ones mint's come in. i got some at a craft store and thought they would be cool to try engraving.

firstly they did not come out too well. they just slightly etched it. it didn't cut through at all.

what am i doing wrong?

this is the first thing i have really tried to engrave.

and i was curious if there were dangers in etching them? i am a n00b so i do not know what cannot be etched [well besides the PVC thing]

[Zachery Thomas]

I have engraved several painted tin boxes without issues, 10W @ 12cm/s.

The paint was so thin there were no significant fumes, but I am sure it varies.

[James Stokes]

If it is just bare tin you will have to use cermark or something like that.