Engraving on metal compound $20 for one year

[Sergio Arze]

As an avid cermarker, I've had some challenges getting this to work. The first, the plaster of paris tried to act...well....like plaster of paris It started to set after the 1:1 mix. Not one to be daunted, I put a drop of dish soap and some denatured alcohol in the mix and stirred on and off over the evening. It clumped very quickly when I tried to paint it on. It might take more power than cermark, my standard setting on the one piece I got so-so application on held at about 50%. It is, however, a very well bonded 50% So far, getting it suspended in a solution of the right mix to airbrush hasn't worked out, it seems to settle much faster than cermark and blocks up the tube and brush. I'm thinking more dish soap. Any chance there's some advanced application notes?

Hello and thank you for your comment, You could replace the Chrome polish with alcohol and you can even over reduce the formula with alcohol to be able to spray it, after all the real magic is in the Plaster of Paris. Make sure to wait till the formula completely dries before you engrave.

We don't like to spray due to the fact that spray guns and airbrushes make lots of overspray which is not so good for your lungs if you don't have the right equipment and also they are very hard to clean(time consuming). Good luck and let us know your findings.

Best regards
Surge

[Eric Allen]

[QUOTE=Sergio Arze;1275720]Hello and thank you for your comment, You could replace the Chrome polish with alcohol and you can even over reduce the formula with alcohol to be able to spray it, after all the real magic is in the Plaster of Paris. Make sure to wait till the formula completely dries before you engrave.

We don't like to spray due to the fact that spray guns and airbrushes make lots of overspray which is not so good for your lungs if you don't have the right equipment and also they are very hard to clean(time consuming). Good luck and let us know your findings.

Best regards
Surge


Thanks much, I wondered if the chrome polish was chemically necessary I really appreciate you sharing the process in any case, I had been wondering if there might be an alternative, especially for other colors than black. Recon I'll be playing chemist this weekend

[Frank Corker]

So it's plaster of paris and alcohol? Wow.

[Sergio Arze]

Great Sergio, thank you for sharing this ! I'll definitely try it on ceramics.

do you have recommendations for the settings ?

Thanks again, Andrea

well it really depends I use 80% power and anywhere from 5% to 15% speed depending on the metal.
Best regards

[Martin Boekers]

Sergio,

I imagine you have experimented a bit with this, so to save us a bit more time have you tried mixing pigments to get a color such as these;

http://www.directcolors.com/concrete...FRPxDAoddTCrog

It appears in your photo that the engraving shows up as "frosted", does this change in density and color with the increase in power or speed of the laser, or does it reach a "maximum" effect?

Have you tried a photo yet?

Thanks for your willingness to share your discovery!
If you search through past posts you'll discover this
is a process many have tried to find that can provide the quality and consistantcy that we want.


Marty

[Sergio Arze]

Sergio,

I imagine you have experimented a bit with this, so to save us a bit more time have you tried mixing pigments to get a color such as these;

http://www.directcolors.com/concrete...FRPxDAoddTCrog

It appears in your photo that the engraving shows up as "frosted", does this change in density and color with the increase in power or speed of the laser, or does it reach a "maximum" effect?

Have you tried a photo yet?

Thanks for your willingness to share your discovery!
If you search through past posts you'll discover this
is a process many have tried to find that can provide the quality and consistantcy that we want.


Marty

We are here to help!!

sorry but I have not tried the pigmented cement so I can not comment on that. you may download the color separation chart (removed link) at the bottom of the page. this will allow you o engrave at different speeds to give you different results.

you can do photos

Best regards.

[Eric Allen]

Well, it appears that omitting the Chrome polish and using denatured alcohol works pretty well for spraying. After lasering it won't stick to nickel plating like cermark, but it did do an excellent job on a piece of aluminum. I tried the power changes for color, no change on a test grid modified for my power levels, it always looks kind of white/grey. Still, nifty so far If you're experimenting with spraying, don't use dish soap. It settles the mixture at an almost visible rate and makes it gooey enough to plug a spray gun and tubes, even a small drop.

[Sergio Arze]

Well, it appears that omitting the Chrome polish and using denatured alcohol works pretty well for spraying. After lasering it won't stick to nickel plating like cermark, but it did do an excellent job on a piece of aluminum. I tried the power changes for color, no change on a test grid modified for my power levels, it always looks kind of white/grey. Still, nifty so far If you're experimenting with spraying, don't use dish soap. It settles the mixture at an almost visible rate and makes it gooey enough to plug a spray gun and tubes, even a small drop.

I received an email from a cnc user, he said that he is getting good results spraying the formula reduced by weight ratio of 1:1 one part Plaster of Paris and one part rubbing alcohol. Application is by air gun nozzle: 1.3 HVLP ,pressure: 15psi, fan size: medium, spraying distance 8". Drying time he said is anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes and formula can be reused again by adding more alcohol.

Also I have been working on a new product but I still need to do some more testing, I will let you guys know what it is soon enough.

Best regards to all
Sergio Arze

[Mike Null]

Sergio

I sent a pm requesting that you not include links to your site in your posts. Please comply.

[Sergio Arze]

Sergio

I sent a pm requesting that you not include links to your site in your posts. Please comply.

Sure that is not a problem.

Best regards
Sergio Arze

[Sergio Arze]

sorry guys I was asked to remove all links

so I'm uploading the Metal engrave Power speed color separation Chart. hope this helps.

Format .cdr coreldraw X3

[Scott Shepherd]

sorry guys I was asked to remove all links

Sergio, there shouldn't be any as it's against the terms of service to post links to your own commercial website. I think many people on this post appreciate your help and support on what you're doing with metal marking, but there are many other people on this forum that sell lasers, equipment, and materials and they are not allowed to post their sites either. It's considered free advertising and it's not allowed. You should talk to Keith Outten, the owner of the forum and see about paid advertising if you wish to display links to your site.

I'm not a moderator, and not affiliated with Sawmill Creek in any way, but I'm sure someone can help you if you have any questions.

[Sergio Arze]

Sergio, there shouldn't be any as it's against the terms of service to post links to your own commercial website. I think many people on this post appreciate your help and support on what you're doing with metal marking, but there are many other people on this forum that sell lasers, equipment, and materials and they are not allowed to post their sites either. It's considered free advertising and it's not allowed. You should talk to Keith Outten, the owner of the forum and see about paid advertising if you wish to display links to your site.

I'm not a moderator, and not affiliated with Sawmill Creek in any way, but I'm sure someone can help you if you have any questions.

Thanks Scott. I will edit my last post. Now back to engraving on Metal compound

[Bill Cunningham]

Hmmm I wonder if pre-mix Drywall compound as a thin paste or spray would work?
I'd love to play with this, but I never have enough time during business hours.. Non business hours are too absorbed by non business stuff

[Lee DeRaud]

...it's against the terms of service to post links to your own commercial website.

Or links of any kind in the signature, if I'm not mistaken.