Laser etching / engraving of wood

[Cypressstump]

Where might I find someone who could perform a small Laser etching onto a cedar board approx 2.5 ft long, 8 inches wide ?

[pineywoods]

There's a local guy who makes duck and turkey calls that are lazer engraved. He doesn't have the equipment himself, I'll touch base with him and find out who does it for him. Think he said somebody in Texarkana.

[redbeard]

Checkout www.epiloglaser.com they sell what your looking for and they will refer you to someone close to you that can do the job. One of my clients that turns bowls and vases, he makes some really nice urns and takes his work to one of those machines and they can laser engrave a photo of the loved one right on the urn. Hope they can help.

[Cypressstump]

Great ! Thanks guys, knew I'd find some help here..


While I am still drying out from Issac, I have seen several nice cedars blown down. One tree was by someones driveway, it had been delimbed by the parish workers and the trunk ( tapered 16" dia. base x 18 ft long) left intact and rootbound. I figured that one would be an easy target so I stopped to inquire.  The man turned out to be a disabled Marine Vet, and had since been in a horrbile motorcycle accident that left him blind in one eye, no use of right arm and due to brain injury, bad speech impediment. We communicated somewhat, he was happy to give the cedar trunk to me.
The tree had taken out portion of his fence and the parish had left all the limb cutting in a mess. The following day I stopped as promised and met his daugther who was at first doubtful of my intentions.
After visting a bit, I told her I was prepared to take the trunk, all the limbs,fill the root hole and was going to repair the fence. I also told her I wanted some info of Mr. Larrys' service, as I wanted to present him a gift from a piece of that cedar.

That's why the question. I want to mill the log, get a nice board, case it with lighter cedar, and have Semper Fi, the Marine emblem, his name ,unit, etc. and time of service laser etched into the board. They seemed very happy about that.

After I finished loading the stuff up, we were yakking. She said she had some more trees she wanted taken down. She pointed out two more cedars, one fine tree approx. 30" dia.
at base and straight taper and true to about 50 feet tall, the other was a very knarley cedar 40" or so at base but it branched out badly about 7 feet above ground. Also pointed out 2 of the largest pear tress that I have ever seen, both about 30" at base and straight up till about 10 feet to limb branches begain. Of course I had to accept the generous offer !

Before I left she pointed to an old,old barn in the back pasture they were going to take down. Apparently her grandfather built it out of cypress, still all intact with decent old galv. tin roof.  I did not have time to inspect the barn, but plan to in the near future ! !

I need more stops like this one.........You meet some great people that way.

[Magicman]

I am glad to see you back my friend because I knew that you took Isaac on the chin.  I have several blowdowns on the farm, but my stuff can wait.   ;D

Hopefully you can get the etching done for your Marine project.  What a wonderful gesture.   

[Cypressstump]

Thanks MM.

Yes, Isaac sat on top of us a bit too long. I had 4+ feet of water above the base rails of my mill. The mill is on a high area on top of 8 inch slab. I picked the head up and hung it out of waters reach with the forklift. The water in my area was 18 inches higher ( not to mention the local idiots in boats making large wakes during the high water) than ever before recorded. I lost quite a bit, got a lot of water damaged items, and all the time I thought I was prepared as down stairs washer,dryer,freezers,hot water heater, tool benches,equipment etc, were located over a foot higher than in 1983 record flood levels.

My forklift, second vehicle, 4 wheeler, a few motorized implements got submerged to some extent, some worse than others.

And I was one of the "prepared" lucky ones. Some folks lost all they had. The water came up so fast once the swamps filled to maximum, people went to bed one night with water just easing out from the river banks, to waken to 2.5 feet deep water the next morning. That trapped their cars in to where they could not leave at all. At the peak, water was rising 3 to 5 inches an hour. The easterly winds held the water in at a constant level for 4 days before beginning to receed. Power was out for 11 days. It's still a mess in areas.

But hey, the sun is shining once again.!

[Magicman]

Thanks, Stump, for the update.  Obviously, you have a strong chin.   

[Autocar]

I just finished a spaled hard maple full length stock and I had the fellows first name and last and then mine and it cost me ten dollars. I picked old english lettering and his name maybe 1 1/2 inch and mine about half that.

[wesdor]

If you don't get a possibility in your area, send me a PM.  I know a fellow that has the laser engraving equipment.  He lives in the Bettendorf, Iowa area so you would need to ship it.

We can make this happen.  Thanks for taking such good care of a Marine.

[Cypressstump]

Thanks for the offer wesdor. That's a good price it seems Autocar. Thanks for the info guys.

Redbeard's suggestion may pan out someone close to me as it seems that brand laser equipment is sold widespread across the USA.I have sent in a request for local machines thru that company.

Pineywoods, Texarkana is not too far away, keep me posted.

Appreciate the help fellers !
Stump

[pineywoods]

I sent you a pm. Place in West Monroe, La. Recommended by my duck/turkey call making neighbor.

[wesdor]

Looks like you have a place in West Monroe.  That is probably better.

I did talk with my friend last night and he said he would do it, no problem at all.

Just in case you need another option.

[Cypressstump]

Thanks very much guys !

I got the PM. I will call the folks tomorrow. I now have to get the cedar log milled and get this thing rolling, thank to ya'lls help.

Stump

[pineywoods]

Stump, what you are starting may just snowball on you, but that can be a good thing. I made a flag case for the family of a deceased vet neighbor. Word got around, I'm behind several requests...

[Cypressstump]

Well, as dumb luck would have it, I stumbled upon an engraving service very local to me. They were interested in the cedar enough to where I may be able to swap a couple 10" x 16"x1" pieces for the laser engraving services.

Guess I'll be touching the blade to the wood tomorrow afternoon.

I did not really notice it until last night while unloading the trailer from all the limbs and trash, but the base of the little cedar has a nice sized burl, looks like for some fashion of wound to the tree's base in the past.

[Magicman]

Burls in ERC are a suspicion for metal.

[Cypressstump]

Burls in ERC are a suspicion for metal.

I still learn something new everyday!  Stands to reason to MM, this burl looks like it's sorta layered, with the 'folds' running horizontially, I guess a pic may be on order.

[Magicman]

Being horizontal, is it about barbed wire fence height?   :-\

[Cypressstump]

No it was about bushhog high now that you mention it.... ;) It started right above the ground to about 1 foot high, on the exposed side of the tree from the fence. I saw no evidence that the fence was attached to the tree, but no telling what went on before I got the tree.

[Cypressstump]

Here's the little burl -




and cut from trunk -

[Magicman]

Since trees can't heal damage, they cover over it.  Yours looks like a damaged place that the tree covered with new growth.  Since it is bushhog height, it could very well be continuous bushhog damage over a period of years.  Your second picture shows that it may be unusual, but maybe not pretty.  Time will tell, I would saw it.

[kderby]

That burl may be one of things that are so rare no one knows what they are worth.  Thanks for the picture.  Let us know how it turns WHEN you mill it (not if). 8) 8)