Laser cutting HDF or plywood

[Helen Roche]

I'm aiming to make some small display shelves (for jewellery) but I haven't yet done any laser cutting of plywood. 
Am I advised to get laser-specific birch plywood? Or will hardwood plywood - or even HDF - from B&Q suffice? I'm going to paint the end result, so the finish of the material itself doesn't need to be swanky, and scorch marks don't matter.

[Steve Rodway]

The birch or poplar plywood from Kitronic produces the best and quickest
results.

B&Q plywood works fine most of the time but sometimes it contains voids
and glue inclusions so you'll sometimes get a part that fails and have
to make another. It'll be cheaper, but take longer.

Steve

> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "rLab / Reading's Hackspace" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send
> an email to reading-hacksp...@googlegroups.com
> <mailto:reading-hacksp...@googlegroups.com>.
> To view this discussion on the web, visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/reading-hackspace/581c456d-b412-4a8c-abb3-f9c594fbdeb0n%40googlegroups.com
> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/reading-hackspace/581c456d-b412-4a8c-abb3-f9c594fbdeb0n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>.

[Helen Roche]

Thanks Steve. How about HDF, i.e., this stuff: https://www.diy.com/departments/cut-hardboard-brown-softwood-hard-board-board-l-1-83m-w-0-61m-t-3mm/1696237_BQ.prd
I already have loads of that, which is a major advantage :D

[Steve Rodway]

Probably won't give the neatest of edges, ply works better, but it's
likely to work so long as you're willing to do some sanding to get the
charred edges off

Steve

> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/reading-hackspace/581c456d-b412-4a8c-abb3-f9c594fbdeb0n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer
> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/reading-hackspace/581c456d-b412-4a8c-abb3-f9c594fbdeb0n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>>.

>
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "rLab / Reading's Hackspace" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send
> an email to reading-hacksp...@googlegroups.com
> <mailto:reading-hacksp...@googlegroups.com>.
> To view this discussion on the web, visit

> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/reading-hackspace/de7a8089-a9de-43ea-9e50-fa8e8dd6def2n%40googlegroups.com
> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/reading-hackspace/de7a8089-a9de-43ea-9e50-fa8e8dd6def2n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>.

[Helen Roche]

I guess I can try it and see :)