Using my NEJE Master 2 (20W) machine to laser engrave an unfinished wood tray.
I engraved a simple image of a spider web, spider, and phrase "Happy Halloween" on a small unfinished wood tray. I used my NEJE Master 2 (20W) blue diode laser engraver and watercolor paint to create a faux stain finish.
In case it's helpful, below are the topics covered in this post:
Prepping
I bought my small unfinished wood tray from my local Dollar Tree. In fact, I bought several for $1.25 USD each, but I only used one for this laser engraved project.
I measured the inner 'floor' of the wood tray to determine what size my digital design should be. I created a simple mashup using a corner cobweb clipart from Wikimedia Commons, a spider silhouette clipart from Free SVG, and a "Who asks Satan" horror font from DaFont.com. I saved my digital design as a PNG file.
Before I started the NEJE app for the laser engraving, I placed painters' tape onto the inner 'floor' of the wood tray I wanted to engrave. Doing so prevents unwanted scorching on the wood's surface. I used a scraper to burnish the tape and smooth out wrinkles.
Engraving
The laser module hit the handles of the wood tray while I checked the positioning. I elevated my machine using a scrap piece of thick lumber and tiles.
I made sure the machine was level and stable. It is possible for the machine to shake out of place if it is an uneven surface.
I wore my goggles to adjust and narrow the focus of the laser light. The smaller the light appears, the more accurate the engraving would be.
My laser engraving machine is in my garage. I opened the garage door for ventilation. Engraving projects emits an odor. The pungent smell of burning wood quickly filled the space even with the garage door opened. I made sure to wear a mask to keep myself from developing a migraine.
I used the following settings in the NEJE app:
Laser brightness: 40%
Sensitivity of tilt detection: medium
Motor speed: medium
Laser power: 70%
Burn time: 30mS
Total passes: 1X
The engraving took over two hours to complete from start to finish.
It is important to monitor an engraving. A malfunction, reflection, or insect could spark a fire. The machine attracts bugs because of the heat generated by the laser. Unfortunately, some bugs get a little too close.
Instead of hanging out in my garage, I used an action camera and phone to monitor the engraving indoors. This allowed me to work on something else with the phone streaming the camera's footage by my side.
Weeding, Sanding, and Burning
Weeding the smaller pieces of tape was time consuming, but not difficult to do. Fortunately, using the flat side of the tip made weeding the smaller tape pieces faster.
I sanded the edges and sides with a 220-grit sandpaper. I normally sand wood pieces during the prepping step, but I did not realize there were tiny splinters I initially overlooked.
It took me no longer than five minutes to weed everything off the wood plaque.
I decided to use my burning iron to add a few small details to the design. Check-out my First Time Trying Pyrography to read about my novice experience with using the tool.
Faux Staining and Clear Coat
I wanted a stain finish but did not have a light enough stain. Instead of going out to buy a new can, I attempted to create a faux stain finish with watercolor paint.
I did a test on the bottom of the wood tray to see if this was a technique that I wanted to try for the first time. When it looked good after a few hours, I went ahead and brushed on watered down burnt sienna watercolor paint to the rest of the wood tray.
The next day, I sprayed a coat of a matte finish acrylic sealer over the wood tray for smooth protection. I worried using a brush on solution would lift some of the color or result in unwanted brushstrokes and streaks.
My Thoughts
I love the finished laser engraved and faux stained wood tray! What started off as a simple project idea turned out to be something I am proud to have and use. I will not be gifting or donating this wood tray.
I will use this wood tray to store candy, miniature polymer clay pumpkins, and/or fake insects during the Halloween season. However, I think this would also look good as a standalone home decor item.
I wished I had wood stain but was pleasantly surprised with how well the faux stain looked after it dried. Watercolor paint worked well with this wood tray. It soaked into the wood and dried quickly. I will use this technique again until I buy proper wood stain.
What's Next?
I am working on a few more creative Halloween-themed projects. Check back another day to see what I have to share with you next!
Would you have stained or painted the engraved image? Comment below to share what you would have done differently.
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Thanks, and have a great day!
Simply Jelly Jam