There was a lot of interest in this part so I’m adding another blog entry.
In the past I’ve used guitar string: burns nicely but abrades the line so it isn’t very dark; bailing wire: gets too hot and scorches the wood around the line and leaves a heavy carbon deposit that can flake off; and even copper wire: conducts heat so efficiently that it doesn’t work.
Then awhile back Captain Eddie mentioned burning lines with plastic laminate (Formica). So I stopped by the local Borg (Lowes/Home Depot) where they have walls of free, small, plastic laminate samples and picked out the ugliest, brightest color sample (so I won’t lose it). I start the line with a either a skew or diamond shaped carbide tool, cut a few millimeters deep, then hold the edge of the Formica against the cut line at around 2000 rpm. It heats up quick and burns a nice clean, black, line. Give it a try, works great.
The samples can be found in the countertop/cabinet section and look like these:
Here is a close up of the nice dark lines using this method:
-- Rick M, http://thewoodknack.blogspot.com/
7 comments so far
CFrye
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11223 posts in 2901 days
#1 posted 03-14-2014 10:11 AM
Another tool/trick in the arsenal! Thanks Rick!
-- God bless, Candy
doubleDD
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#2 posted 03-14-2014 01:00 PM
I have always used the traditional wire method or a piece of hardwood to whatever thickness I needed to burn lines. Since I happen to have 3 samples from the new counter tops we picked out, they will be added to my lathe accessories for further use. I’ll give them a try. Thanks Rick.
-- Dave, Downers Grove, Il. -------- When you run out of ideas, start building your dreams.
Don Broussard
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#3 posted 03-14-2014 06:51 PM
Thanks Rick. +1 to another trick to use.
-- People say I hammer like lightning. It's not that I'm fast -- it's that I never hit the same place twice!
Roger
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#4 posted 03-15-2014 12:59 AM
Hey Rick. Thnx for the tip. Those burns did come out very nice. I’ve always used different sizes of wire. I’ll definitely be picking up a few of these next bigbox store I’m in.
-- Roger from KY. Work/Play/Travel Safe. Keep your dust collector fed. [email protected]
Tim Dahn
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1626 posts in 4626 days
#5 posted 03-25-2014 09:12 PM
Thanks, great tip!
-- Good judgement comes from experience and experience comes from poor judgement.
DustyCellist
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#6 posted 05-01-2014 06:10 AM
Looks great, I’ll be sure to grab some next time I’m there!
GR8HUNTER
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8358 posts in 1774 days
#7 posted 07-19-2018 03:01 PM
WOW great tip on Formica Rick ….. I’m also thinking of epoxy mixing board :<))
-- Tony---- Reinholds,Pa.------ REMEMBER TO ALWAYS HAVE FUN :<))
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