engraving tiles

[walter hofmann]

Hi all
here are to mine and probably to ur surprise too
I tested other regular painters masking tape and the result was absolutly the sam like you can see on the picture and I also use this kind of art masking fluid what is a rubber solution bought at wallmart. the tapes are from Homedepot or very where else.
it means it is the kind of rubber cement what gets fused with the tile glazing and creates the coloring.
without tape or masking fluid it comes out like dee sayd just pretty much whit - grey.tapetest1scan0002.jpgtapetest2scan0002.jpgtapetest3scan0001.jpgtapetest4scan0001.jpggreetings
walt

[Chuck Stone]

I must be missing something. I use R-Tape, but have used many many others. I have
never found anything that fused with the glaze.
Now I have to go out and buy more tile to play with..

EDIT

You're using a rubber cement WITH the tape? Does it give you that color
without the rubber cement?

[George Brown]

I'm a little confused about that too. I thought Walter tried both, tape and rubber cement, but not together.

[Mike Null]

What is the result with no tape?

[paul mott]

I have just tried it here and the results are good with this standard glazed wall tile.
Not yet certain about the durability but this has been through the dishwasher once without any signs of degradation.
It has now been put back into the dishwasher, awaiting the next load etc, and if it survives say 10 cycles then I think it is pretty durable.

Thank you for the information Walter - another interesting discovery.


DSC01407a.jpg

[john banks]

What UK available tape did you use Paul?

[paul mott]

Hi John,

I used paper transfer tape (of the type used for placing vinyl signs).

[Dean Fowell]

Nice job I grab the Black Granite Tiles from Home Depot and did a nice one of my Family I will have to try some other stuff I have not been using my Laser as much the last 6 months now getting back in the swing of it

[walter hofmann]

hey guys
please dont mixe up everything's. I use ether tape or rubber cement actully is a masking fluid where the main is rubber.
by the way
i had the same results with tape on regular low and high glaze tiles.
greetings
walt

[walter hofmann]

hi mike
without the tape it laser something like light whitsh-grey
greetings
waltfl

[walter hofmann]

Hi mike
I did not read your question earlier, sorry
If I engrave without tape it comes out just greyish but it takes much more power if you wana colorfill them afterwards.
greetings
waltfl

[Steven Cox]

Congratulations Walt, fantastic discovery!.
The implications and applications of this technique could be enormous. Has anybody exposed the engraved tiles to extreme UV light to see if it fades or degrades over time? If it doesn't then outdoor applications opens many markets.

Regards Steve.

[paul mott]

It appears that any material which produces carbon soot when burned / vaporized will work (with those producing the maximum amount of soot being the best).

A large percentage of this soot combines with, or becomes trapped within, the tile surface glaze and although some will wipe off when complete for the most part it will be permanently embedded into the glaze.

Just a thought but has anyone tested ‘Painters Tape’ for PVC content ??

Paul.

[walter hofmann]

Hi all
a little update.
I try a few other tiles and the result is that only real glazed tiles work . the tiles what are like flat whare you can not see or feel the glaze does not work at all.
I thought I let you know that you dont have the same hassle.
greetings
waltfl

[Khalid Nazim]

Hi Dean, what was the color of engraving that you got on Black Granite HD tiles using the tape?

Regards
KN