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Thread: finishing Baltic Birch Plywood prior to engraving

  1. #1
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    finishing Baltic Birch Plywood prior to engraving

    I have to make about 200 Christmas ornaments using 1/8" BB. Last year, I didn't use any finish and had to sand off the smoke. This year, I would like to apply something first.

    I'm going for a natural finish.

    Shellac? Maybe two coats. This would be easiest.

    I'm a fan of Vermont Natural Coatings PolyWhey varnish.

    I also have some oil based varnish but it is a bit amber. It's the stuff they used on my oak floors.

  2. #2
    Quote Originally Posted by Roger Feeley View Post
    I have to make about 200 Christmas ornaments using 1/8" BB. Last year, I didn't use any finish and had to sand off the smoke. This year, I would like to apply something first.

    I'm going for a natural finish.

    Shellac? Maybe two coats. This would be easiest.

    I'm a fan of Vermont Natural Coatings PolyWhey varnish.

    I also have some oil based varnish but it is a bit amber. It's the stuff they used on my oak floors.
    You could mask with transfer tape, once peeled it leaves a nice clean surface.

  3. #3
    You can use spray lacquer.
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  4. #4
    Spray the wood with pledge before you cut...give it a shot.
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    The tape is tempting but once I engrave there will bee a lot of little pieces to remove. How hard is removal? I don’t want to spend hours with an X-acto knife.

    pledge, really? I never would have thought of that.

  6. #6
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    So my list for testing is
    shellac
    transfer tape
    spray lacquer
    pledge
    my beloved water borne varnish

  7. #7
    Quote Originally Posted by Roger Feeley View Post
    The tape is tempting but once I engrave there will bee a lot of little pieces to remove. How hard is removal? I don’t want to spend hours with an X-acto knife.

    pledge, really? I never would have thought of that.

    Not hard at all, water inhibits the adhesive so a couple sprays from a water spray bottle to lightly dampen and some towel/sponge swipes and it'll come right off. It's the easiest and cleanest option IMO. (I've never had issues)

  8. #8
    Spray is the perfect solution as written earlier for this problem

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Nick Cicala View Post
    Not hard at all, water inhibits the adhesive so a couple sprays from a water spray bottle to lightly dampen and some towel/sponge swipes and it'll come right off. It's the easiest and cleanest option IMO. (I've never had issues)
    I just looked on amazon and found a lot of vinyl. Do you have a preferred brand?

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    don't use ANYTHING vinyl as in true polyvinylCHLORIDE. Chlorine gas will be released when lasering and will RUST your machine and harm your lungs.
    Get a PAPER transfer tape
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  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by John Lifer View Post
    don't use ANYTHING vinyl as in true polyvinylCHLORIDE. Chlorine gas will be released when lasering and will RUST your machine and harm your lungs.
    Get a PAPER transfer tape
    John, I don't want to use anything plastic because removal would be difficult. My understanding from this thread is that if I use paper, I can simply spray it with a bit of water and the water will break the adhesive and I can wash the transfer paper off easily and quickly.

    Finding the right stuff is complicated a bit by the description. In looking at threads on the Cricut forum, some folks post that the 'vinyl' in the description is not about whats in the transfer paper but what it's there to transfer.

    I interpret "Vinyl Transfer Paper" as transfer paper made of vinyl
    The Cricut forums interpret is paper made to transfer vinyl

    But... I also see "Clear Vinyl Transfer Paper" which suggests a plastic component in the transfer paper.

    That's why I asked for guidance to find a paper that is truly paper.

  12. #12
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    Roger,

    Don't use ant vinyl or clear transfer tape.
    Use paper transfer tape. These are designed to transfer vinyl cut lettering and graphics onto other substrates.

    Check out "US cutters" website for application tapes for better understanding.
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  13. #13
    Here's my favorite:
    tt.jpg

    TransferRite model 582U, it's a medium tack, and a little water loosens the adhesive almost immediately. The website is in the pic, and Amazon sells it-
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  14. #14
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    Thanks Kevin,
    ordered.

  15. #15
    JDS carries it as well as sign supply shops.
    Mike Null

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    Woodworking shop CLTT and Laser Sublimation
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