The Christmas Story Ornament Set

[kmmcrafts]

Okay first off yes these was done on the laser. I posted here because aside from the text around the ornament being engraved these could easily be done with a scroll saw. The designer is on Etsy shop name “ Homestyle Customs “ and they have a lot of pattern files that easily could translate to scrolled work. When you download the designs they come in a few different formats one of which is PDF for easily made to print and cut on a scroll saw. 

With the laser the box joints are precise enough that the box needs no glue, just snaps together. 
 

I used a different than normal plywood so the fist few I made the laser was too much power and it cut through too deep on the engraved text and some of the top laminate came off on the a’s, b’s r’s etc so near the end of the batch I finally figured out the power level to work best. Lol  I cut them from Maple and the backers from walnut. 
 

Oh I should mention that the patterns come with the ring of icons around the outer edge of the ornaments or without them. I have the icons shown here but without the icons the center portion is much larger and probably a much easier way to do on a scroll saw. I’m going to make the ones without next. Almost think without the icons might look better without all the small icons taking away from the center of the main image. 
 

 

[Sycamore67]

Could you remind me what Laser and software you are using ??

[OCtoolguy]

Very nice Kevin.

[kmmcrafts]

I'm using K-40 Whisperer, but the files made from most of the design files on etsy are making them geared towards lightburn or whatever glowforge uses.. I have to edit every single design to work with my software.. real simple though as I only need to change the colors for cut or engrave lines.. I believe in lightburn you can select what colors you want to do what within the software.. K-40 Whisperer has specific colors for cutting or engraving and I cannot change it within the software thus making me change the colors of the drawing for my software.. hope that makes sense to you.. I really need to get a motherboard for my laser so it can run lightburn, that'd make things a lot less complicated. There is a lot more you can do within lightburn and is the better software out there for lasers so if you're using it or trying to learn to use it.. you're better off, I know there is a lot of learning with it but once you have it figured out it's much easier in the end.. K-40 Whisperer is a very basic real simple to use but in that it's also very limited.. that's why it's so simple to use, LOL.. 

I have two K-40 lasers now as I found a great buy on a back-up machine.. I'm thinking about getting the motherboard to be able to convert it to lightburn.. then get it all set up so I can then do the same on the laser I'm currently using. Ideally I want to go to a bigger platform.. the one I'm using now only has a workable area of about 8 - 12 inch so projects are limited to small items.. Ideally I'd like to get a 16 x 24 or so.. I'd like to be able to do photo engravings then cut into a jigsaw puzzle.. I think they would be a pretty big hit.. having a wood burned image jigsaw puzzle makes the puzzles that much harder to do.. 

I should also note since you just recently started playing around with lasers.. I posed in the "laser group section" here in the scrollsaw village site about my findings of different grades of plywood and how they affect the efficiency of the laser.. basically it's saying that the BBply that we use for scroll sawing takes a lot more laser power to engrave and cut than other types of plywood.. Just the same as scroll sawing it.. BBply is harder to cut than some of the MDF core plys.. IF you're engraving and cutting a lot of BBply it's wearing out your laser faster as the more power or more passes you have to make the more you running the machine..   

Edited October 13, 2023 by kmmcrafts

[Scrappile]

Kevin that is beautiful!  I wish there was a scrollsaw version of it but I really don't see how and keep them of the size they should be...But a wonderful job..  Would not be the same without the text.  Darn.  This belongs in bragging rights.  It takes talent to do this even on a lazer.

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

I thought there was some kind of paper that you can put on them that will avoid those brown marks from burning. That was how I explained many times at shows to people when they accused me of using a laser on my work. look for the brown burn marks and the inside of the cuts. Hope  you have many sales on them. 

[kmmcrafts]

40 minutes ago, JTTHECLOCKMAN said:

I thought there was some kind of paper that you can put on them that will avoid those brown marks from burning. That was how I explained many times at shows to people when they accused me of using a laser on my work. look for the brown burn marks and the inside of the cuts. Hope  you have many sales on them. 

You can just put painters tape on them and most of the stained area is eliminated.. other than the edges where the cuts are. For the most part I don't use tape and just use 400grit paper on my R/O sander and sand it off.. as it's a lot of work to pick that tape back off.. can't soak it with mineral spirits because that washes out the dark engrave part too.. so you're stuck picking it off. The box I never even sanded as it was my first time making something like that and like a dummy I put it together fresh off the laser.. it's such a tight fit I didn't think I could get it back apart without destroying it so I just left it as it was.. This set is going to be a gift to a family member since they spoke up saying they'd take it like it is with the bad burnt up lettering on some of the ornaments. 

Only time I do use that tape is if I'm working with white laminated MDF board from Lowes.. that stuff cuts very nicely on the laser.. and it's a lot cheaper too. Not sure if I'll put any up for sale, I mainly just planned to make as some gifts for family and a few friends.. If I get a couple extra sets maybe I'll put a couple on to see how they do. Thanks anyway though.

[Sycamore67]

Kevin, Thanks for the information. My Ortur LM3 is a 10  watt laser but should be able to cut ornaments.  I hope to have it running very soon.

Yes, I have found that BB is more difficult to cut.   I bought some bass wood sheets on Amazon and much easier to cut.

[kmmcrafts]

15 minutes ago, Sycamore67 said:

Kevin, Thanks for the information. My Ortur LM3 is a 10  watt laser but should be able to cut ornaments.  I hope to have it running very soon.

Yes, I have found that BB is more difficult to cut.   I bought some bass wood sheets on Amazon and much easier to cut.

I used the Maple and Walnut 5/32 project panels by Columbia Forest products from Home Depot. The Basswood sheets is a good choice, never thought of that before. 

[daveww1]

very nice work

[Scrappile]

I would think Basswood would burn more. It is such soft wood.  But I don't have a laser don't understand any thing about them. Maybe the harder to cut the more it burns.

Edited October 14, 2023 by Scrappile

[rjweb]

Kevin, very nice, I haven't jumped into the laser pool yet, some day I hope is my plan, RJ

[OCtoolguy]

I wish my wife would let me run mine in the house. Sad!

[Sycamore67]

Right now, I am finishing up an enclosure for my laser.  They do make some smoke.  I will be using an inline duct fan to exhaust outside.

[kmmcrafts]

5 hours ago, OCtoolguy said:

I wish my wife would let me run mine in the house. Sad!

Ray this is a newer version of what I have.. you could run it in the house so long as you're somewhat close to a window or even a dryer vent that you could plug the exhaust tube up to.. Many times this company will have these refurb models cheaper than this one is.. I got mine at the beginning of the trend of lasers and the popularity for these K-40's for the sweet price of about $300 that i gave for mine they are a very powerful and a decent starter machine especially for someone that like's to tinker.. and learn.. https://omtechlaser.com/collections/pre-owned-machines/products/40w-co2-laser-engraver-cutter-us5-032r-us

Or like Larry said he's doing.. build an enclosure.

[OCtoolguy]

49 minutes ago, kmmcrafts said:

Ray this is a newer version of what I have.. you could run it in the house so long as you're somewhat close to a window or even a dryer vent that you could plug the exhaust tube up to.. Many times this company will have these refurb models cheaper than this one is.. I got mine at the beginning of the trend of lasers and the popularity for these K-40's for the sweet price of about $300 that i gave for mine they are a very powerful and a decent starter machine especially for someone that like's to tinker.. and learn.. https://omtechlaser.com/collections/pre-owned-machines/products/40w-co2-laser-engraver-cutter-us5-032r-us

Or like Larry said he's doing.. build an enclosure.

Yeah, I'm going to build an enclosure but just haven't got anyplace for it yet. Working on enclosing my driveway.

 

[old sarge]

I am truly impressed.  Thanks for sharing.  

[Scrappile]

@kmmcrafts. One more question, I emailed the seller to verify the PDF version.. He sent me this example:  which is good but it does not show the background pattern.. Is that included for each ornament?  So there are two patterns for each ornament?  Just wanting to make sure, most I will have paid for a pattern(s).  I got stung once before ordering patterns for lasers and the pdf pattern made no sense.  I would really like to have these.  If I have to worry the cost of the ornament patterns you surely know I cannot afford to buy a laser... Know I can't scroll the outer text been thinkind of decal for that.  It has worked for me in the past.

Edited October 17, 2023 by Scrappile

[kmmcrafts]

2 hours ago, Scrappile said:

@kmmcrafts. One more question, I emailed the seller to verify the PDF version.. He sent me this example:  which is good but it does not show the background pattern.. Is that included for each ornament?  So there are two patterns for each ornament?  Just wanting to make sure, most I will have paid for a pattern(s).  I got stung once before ordering patterns for lasers and the pdf pattern made no sense.  I would really like to have these.  If I have to worry the cost of the ornament patterns you surely know I cannot afford to buy a laser... Know I can't scroll the outer text been thinkind of decal for that.  It has worked for me in the past.

 

Yeah there is a different backer for each ornament..  The one you show is one with the banner across to be able to engrave a name, also the version that doesn't have the icon which would be easier with the scroll saw. I don't know how many different versions this set comes with. Well there are a total of 8 in the set but of the 8 there is the ones with the icons around the outer edge and also with a spot for a name and then the set without the icons with and without the spot for names.. basically there 4 different designs of the set of 8.. plus the backers.. Then you get two larger box designs like I made, but instead of angels like mine shows there are crosses.. then the same with a smaller box which I haven't looked at yet.. I think the smaller one if for individual ornaments. 

When you purchase from this seller you get a ton of variations or at least everything I've gotten from him has had several different options in every set I've bought.