Engraved Plywood Coasters
The classic first “real” project — cheap, quick, giftable, and it teaches the single most important workflow rule in laser work: engrave first, cut second.
KitWhat you'll need
- 3–4 mm Baltic birch plywood (laser-grade if possible)
- Masking or transfer tape
- Fine sandpaper (240 grit)
- A simple design: initials, a mandala, a favourite quote
SettingsStarting points
| Machine | Operation | Speed | Power | Passes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 W diode | Engrave | 3,000–6,000 mm/min | 40–60% | 1 |
| 10 W diode | Cut circle | 250 mm/min | 100% | 2–3 |
| 60 W CO2 | Engrave | 300–400 mm/s | 15–20% | 1 |
| 60 W CO2 | Cut circle | 15–20 mm/s | 65–75% | 1 |
StepsHow to do it
- Design the coaster. A 90–100 mm circle with your artwork inside, detail at least 3 mm from the edge.
- Mask the face. Slightly overlapping strips of masking tape prevent the brown burn halo.
- Focus and frame. Focus on the material surface, then frame the job to check position.
- Engrave first, cut second. Run the engrave layer, then the cut layer — never the other way round.
- Watch the cut. Air assist on. Stay with the machine — cuts are where flare-ups happen.
- Finish. Peel the masking, sand the back lightly, and optionally wipe with food-safe mineral oil or clear matt spray.
MistakesWhat everyone gets wrong
- Cutting before engraving — the classic beginner error.
- Skipping the masking, then sanding smoke stains for longer than the job took.
- Using construction ply full of voids — the cut fails at every glue pocket.
⚠ SafetyPlywood smoke is heavy in particulates and the glue adds formaldehyde — good extraction, and never leave a cutting job unattended.
⤴ Level up
Cork-backed coasters (glue 1 mm cork to the back), engraved box sets, or map coasters of a customer's home town.