New product for woodturners who also lase

[Ed Davidson]

I'm always on the lookout for new materials to embellish and fancy-up my turnings. This newest discovery (actually several thousand variations) is a laminated material with loads of possibilities, from a North Carolina manufacturer called Smokey Hill Designs. Recently received an order for nine different laminated sheets, and I'm really excited with the results so far. Some of their faux gemstone and holiday designs are out of this world. Haven't been this excited about a new product for woodturning in years. Below are some quick examples of lased & cut cabochon/chips, I'm using to embellish yo-yos:

 

[Sam Fleisher]

So it allows your laser to cut the design to different depths so different colors are exposed or is the design already in there and you cut it out?

 

[Ed Davidson]

So it allows your laser to cut the design to different depths so different colors are exposed or is the design already in there and you cut it out?

There are hundreds of designs to choose from. Some are detailed designs unto themselves, like the stars & stripes on my maple yo-yo. Other designs are more subtle and appropriate to lase artwork onto...like the orange yo-yo/Celtic cross, and turquoise stone examples shown in the OP. The plastic veneer that makes up the top layer is paper thin, and the main "core" 2nd layer is your choice, from 1/16" to 1/4" thick in dozens of different materials, like MDF, plywood or different colors of opaque or transparent acrylic sheet.

 

[Bernie Hrytzak]

I'm always on the lookout for new materials to embellish and fancy-up my turnings. This newest discovery (actually several thousand variations) is a laminated material with loads of possibilities, from a North Carolina manufacturer called Smokey Hill Designs. Recently received an order for nine different laminated sheets, and I'm really excited with the results so far. Some of their faux gemstone and holiday designs are out of this world. Haven't been this excited about a new product for woodturning in years. Below are some quick examples of lased & cut cabochon/chips, I'm using to embellish yo-yos:

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Ed, these are awesome, I'll have to try some of these for box inserts. What do you overcoat your finished designs with?

 

[Gregg Zank]

Ed, Thanks so much this looks like the best path to go down should one want to get started on combining laser art with woodturning / woodworking art

 

[Ed Davidson]

Ed, these are awesome, I'll have to try some of these for box inserts. What do you overcoat your finished designs with?

Thanks....the lamination work from the factory seems to be very strong and sturdy. I've tried rubbing the lased top layer vigorously, and everything stays in place. So no sealing or topcoat is really necessary. But, if you want a shiny glass-like surface over the engraving, I'd recommend using clear epoxy resin...like is shown in this photo. BTW, if you use this process to mount the insert, the walls of the counterbore act as a mold for the epoxy resin to set up in...pretty cool!

 

[Richard Coers]

I watched a lot of their videos. One caution is some of their products can not be cut with a diode laser. So pay attention when ordering, they make it very clear what is diode compatible.