BLOGS

A practical guide to laser-cutting wood, covering diode vs. CO2 vs. fiber lasers, power requirements by material thickness, essential features like air assist and ventilation, the best and worst wood types to cut, and a breakdown of recommended machines including the OMTech Polar Lite 55W and Pronto 35 60W.

Australia’s unique wildlife, landscapes, culture, and native timbers provide endless inspiration for profitable wood engraving projects. This guide explores 40+ laser engraving ideas you can create and sell, from personalized cutting boards and Australian-themed keepsakes to wedding products, home décor, office accessories, and handcrafted gifts. Learn which designs have strong market appeal, what Australian woods work best for engraving, and how to create products that stand out at craft markets, online stores, and local businesses.

This guide covers three techniques for darkening laser engraving on dark wood — baking soda/borax pre-treatment, the defocusing "line-after-fill" technique, and post-processing tricks like stain or spray paint — along with detailed baseline settings, Material Test instructions, and air assist tips for the OMTech 60W Pronto and 55W Polar Lite laser engravers.

Discover how to make a professional-looking wooden chessboard with a CO₂ laser engraver. This step-by-step guide covers choosing the right wood, designing an accurate 8×8 grid, selecting the best engraving method, recommended CO₂ laser settings, material preparation, finishing techniques, and practical tips to help you create a durable, beautiful chessboard for personal use or sale.

Learn the best wood for plaque engraving, how to prepare wooden plaques, top laser engravers, and profitable custom plaque business ideas. Explore wooden plaque engraving tips, best woods, masking methods, laser machine choices, and how to build a successful engraving business.

When working on an important wood crafting project, you must use the best wood laser engraving equipment possible. Learn more about selecting the best wood engraving machine.

If you’re about to start a wood laser engraving project, read to learn which factors will affect your decision to stain the wood before or after laser engraving.