Laser Engraving Wood Hacks: Which One Wins?

Let's test these unbelievable wood engraving hacks! Borax vs Baking Soda! Which on will win?

Join this channel to get access to perks:

3D PRINTERS, TOOLS & MATERIALS (affiliate)

Want more Edge of Tech videos? We go live every Monday Night on Hotmakes!

SOCIAL/SUPPORT LINKS
📣 Twitter: @theedgeofteck

🎥 FILMING GEAR (affiliate)

Music by Wicked Realm
Album - No More Fairy Tales
Song - Feed

Disclaimer: Some of these links go to one of my websites and some are affiliate links where I'll earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

[MileyonDisney]

20 Mule Tean Borax used to be the sponsor for a TV show called "Death Valley Days", which was at one time hosted by Ronald Reagan. Can you tell I'm old?

[musicdad]

According to the US CDC website -
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and the EPA have not classified boron as to its human carcinogenicity.

One animal study found no evidence of cancer after lifetime exposure to boric acid in food. No human studies are available.

[ethansdadd]

Thanks, for letting us know that the Borax solution is a carcinogen. I didn't know. I've used it before, and I liked it at first, but then realized that it also seems to prevent the laser from burning the wood. It's basically just black ash sitting on top of the wood, which is easily brushed off, at least with a diode laser. You definitely need to coat it to seal it in. I found that if I just burn slower, I can get darker, and I'm really learning to love the natural look.

[ThisLifeWeLive]

Curious about your warnings about Borax, it's actually a type of Boron, which is a trace mineral most people are lacking in their diets, and Borax itself has been shown to drastically reduce arthritis in horses when mixed in water and fed in small amounts each day. But carry on, lol ;) Love the Borax results on the wood too!

[nickynorton]

Thanks Jim
My experiences with accelerants especially BORAX is that it gives you a lot of black soot ....that is very messy
So What I do is mix some of the solution in White Latex primer untill it has consistency of Milk
I then apply and rub into wood with just an old rag ..(Like staining wood)
Wipe off excess ...use hairdryer to Dry
Amazing results with no soot to deal with

[jeffcross]

Love the borax! Would love to see more laser videos. Thanks! 🙏

[dicy]

Which laser are you using 5, 10, 20 watt? Or does it not matter? I’m pretty new.

[alpha_pixel_]

Incresing dpi, slowing down, helps to make engraving darker naturally

[kevinjones]

I definitely like the effects that Borax has on engraving wood. It seems to make the engraving "pop" more!
Thanks for another intuitive video Jim! You da man! 😂😅
Do you have info to support the Borax being a carcinogen? I've never heard this before.

[fums]

What is the reactive ingredient in borax which gives such a dark engrave like titanium dioxide does on tiles

[woodwaker]

I like the boraxe the best, maybe try cellular oil.

[TheLukemcdaniel]

What about sodium carbonate vs the sodium bi-carbonate?

[robertbutler]

Do you have a video on making a file? Boy do you have a lot of 3D videos.
You might think about categorizing them. I spent 20min going thur your videos looking for the one on fire switch. 😂🤣😎👍

[leeslegacywoodworking]

Happy Father’s Day to you, good sir,

[rgcrowman]

CAN YOU DO THAT SAME TEST WITH A FIBER LASER ON WOOD ?

[medic]

Thanks for this video! How would I “seal” in the Borax to make it food safe?

[AndrewAHayes]

Yet another product that is not available in the UK! LOL, oh well maybe the active ingredient can be weaselled out, talking of weasels, whats the difference between a weasel and a stoat?
Well, a weasel is weaselly recognised wheras a stoat is stoatally different!

[CoastalBachelor]

They leave a film of ash that has to be washed off. Just turn up the power.

[johnmood]

It's pronounced "boreaxe" not "boreoxe", notice, it's spelled borax!

[BlueGeckoLaser]

Learn to use your laser and you won't need any gimmicks. Wipe your finger over it after you're done, is it permanent? That's not engraving, that's soot.