Laser Settings for Hardwood & Solid Wood
Can you laser engrave hardwood like oak, walnut and beech?
Yes — hardwoods engrave beautifully and are the standard for premium products like chopping boards and plaques. Denser species need more energy than plywood; pale, fine-grained woods (maple, basswood) give the best photo results.
DIODE450 nm settings
| Variant | Operation | Speed | Power | Passes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood (oak, walnut) | Engrave | 2,000–4,000 mm/min | 60–80% | 1 | 10 W |
| Wood — photo | Photo engrave | 4,000–8,000 mm/min | 40–60% | 1 | 10 W |
✓ EngraveDense wood needs more energy. Test the underside first.
✓ Photo engraveJarvis/Stucki dither, 0.08 mm interval. Diode gives the darkest blacks of any laser on wood.
CO210.6 µm settings
| Variant | Operation | Speed | Power | Passes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wood | Engrave | 300–500 mm/s | 15–25% | 1 | 60 W |
✓ EngraveInterval 0.08–0.1 mm. CO2 browns rather than blacks on photo work.
PrepPreparation & technique
Bare or oiled wood only — never engrave a varnished or painted face without knowing the finish. Test on the underside first; every board and species behaves differently.
⚠ SafetyThe wood is fine; unknown coatings are the hazard. Sand shiny boards back to bare timber or choose another board.
LearnMatching tutorials
All values are starting points at the stated reference wattage. Run a test grid on your own machine and material batch first.