Buying a laser engraver for your woodworking project can be overwhelming. This is especially true when there are so many machines to choose from.
First, there are different types of laser engravers, each of which will produce different results. More worryingly, not all of them are suitable for carving wood. So you may end up with the wrong machine.
Can a laser engraver engrave wood?
Yes, a laser engraver can engrave wood and do it easily. Of all the available options like Chisel, Dremel and Cricut Maker, laser engravers arguably produce the best results faster.
But in the end, the results will depend on the laser engraver and the type of wood you use. There are three main types of laser engravers to choose from.
CO2 lasers, also known as gas lasers, use carbon dioxide gas to generate a laser beam. When an electric current is passed through the gas, it emits a laser light with a wavelength of 10,000 nanometers.
This wavelength is most suitable for treating non-metallic surfaces such as leather and wood, as well as plastics.
Fiber lasers are the most powerful lasers, producing a wavelength of 1064 nanometers. These machines have the smallest focal point and can be 100 times more intense than CO2 lasers.
While fiber laser machines are popular, they are not the best for wood carving. They are designed for engraving objects with harder surfaces such as metal.
As the name suggests, UV lasers emit UV light from 10 nanometers to 400 nanometers. The wavelengths are much shorter and don't generate as much heat. Therefore, processing with UV laser is also called cold working.
These lasers are just as good at engraving materials like wood as CO2 lasers and are best for marking and even micro-marking.
So if you were to ask, "What laser can engrave wood?" the answer is all lasers, but a CO2 laser engraver is the best choice.
In addition to the above, another type of laser engraving machine is also gaining popularity. That's a diode laser. These are smaller in size and cheaper. Therefore, many laser engravers designed for home use are using diode lasers.
Atomstack a5 pro
The next factor to consider is the type of wood. While you can laser engrave on almost any wood species, the results will vary. To choose the best wood block for your project, check the following:
Streaks - Streaks are dark stains on wooden surfaces with varying mineral content. While stripes look good on wood, they are not suitable for carving. Therefore, you need to choose the wood with the fewest streaks.
Resin/Sap Content - Ideally, the wood should have a high resin or sap content. Logs with higher resin content will produce deeper burns, while logs with lower resin content will produce shallower cuts.
Tint - Logs should be lighter in tint as they will produce darker burn marks. It's much more difficult to etch designs on dark wood and get similar results.
Some wood species that meet these criteria are alder, cherry, basswood, hard maple, and balsa. I always enjoy carving other people out of these logs.
Atomstack S20 Pro
This powerful yet affordable machine meets all the requirements of a reliable wood laser engraver. It has sufficient optical power, large working area, ultra-fine focal length, and easy operation.