Is there really a best wood for laser cutting? Yes, and let me explain why.
After spending nearly two three years working at a sawmill i got to see and test out some of the best and worst timbers to throw under my laser cutter.
My first comment to all the beginners out there, is that when it comes to laser engraving and cutting, not all wood is the same
Wood is processed in different ways and at different stages of it’s growth so determining which wood to use or even where to buy your wood,may determine how good your final product is
Store bought wood is usually rubbish
Yes I said it. Most wood I’ve purchased from hardware hasn’t been dried for long enough, which leads to warping down the track.
I’ve found these timbers have high moisture content, and when laser engraving or cutting, can affect the quality of your cut.
Recycled wood
Most people don’t tend to think of using recycled or reclaimed wood for their projects due to putter appearance or edges, but reclaimed wood is the best wood for laser cutting and amazing to work with.
If you own a thickness planer at home , you can remove all of the outer imperfections and get down to the hard dry inner workings to whip up some amazingly detailed engravings
Hardwood is better than softwood for engraves
I ended up spending a lot of time testing this, and for quality of engraves, hardwood is definitely the best wood for laser cutting & better for engraves. The downside to hardwood is that because of it’s density over softwood, it does take a lot longer to make complete cuts through the wood with a low powered laser cutter
Softwood is better for laser cutting
As the term states, it’s softwood. Think of softwood as a hot knife cutting through butter, and hardwood is like cutting through cheese. In saying this, depending on your application, it may be better off using a softer wood for laser cutting and for high volume production runs, to maximise efficiency and the overall time for completion
What I would recommend?
Products i would engrave using softwood for
- Earings
- Coasters
- Trinkets
- Jewellery
- Chess peices
- Small gifts that you are planning on selling for friends
Products I would engrave from hardwood
- Wall artworks
- Boxes
- Signs
- Plaques
- Chopping boards
Advantages & disadvantages of using softwood for laser cutting
Advantages
- Fast to engrave and cut
- Cheaper to buy
- Easier to obtain
- Easier to clean up / sand
Disadvantages
- Poorer quality cut and engrave
- Looks cheap
- Breaks easier
- Higher chance of warping over time
Advantages & disadvantages or using hardwood for laser engraving and cutting
Advantages
- Higher quality and detailed engrave
- Looks better
- Stains better
- Stronger
- More professional
Disadvantages
- More expensive
- Harder to obtain
- More wear and tear on routers and thickness machines
- Harder to cut through
- Need high powered laser to cut
Types of softwood I recommend for laser engraving
Balsa, Plywood, Cork, Douglas, Alder, Pine and Fir are some of the best wood for laser engraving. The amount of resin still contained within the wood will determine the final color output of your engraving.
Janka hardness
Use the table below to cross-reference what wood for laser cutting you intend to use. The higher Janka Hardness the harder the wood will be cut, but in saying that the higher quality at engraving
| Species | Force: pounds-force (newtons) | |
| African Mahogany | 830 lbf (3,700 N) | 830 |
| African Padauk | 1,725 lbf (7,670 N) | 1725 |
| African Pearwood, Moabi | 3,680 lbf (16,400 N) | 3680 |
| Afzelia, Doussie, Australian Wormy Chestnut | 1,810 lbf (8,100 N) | 1810 |
| Alder (Red) | 590 lbf (2,600 N) | 590 |
| Amendoim | 1,912 lbf (8,500 N) | 1912 |
| American Beech | 1,300 lbf (5,800 N) | 1300 |
| Ash (White) | 1,320 lbf (5,900 N) | 1320 |
| Australian Buloke[2] | 5,060 lbf (22,500 N) | 5060 |
| Australian Cypress | 1,375 lbf (6,120 N) | 1375 |
| Balsa[10] | 70 lbf (310 N) | 70 |
| Bangkirai | 1,798 lbf (8,000 N) | 1798 |
| Basswood | 410 lbf (1,800 N) | 410 |
| Black Cherry, Imbuia | 950 lbf (4,200 N) | 950 |
| Black Locust | 1,700 lbf (7,600 N) | 1700 |
| Black Walnut, North American Walnut | 1,010 lbf (4,500 N) | 1010 |
| Blackwood | 1,720 lbf (7,700 N) | 1720 |
| Bloodwood | 2,900 lbf (13,000 N) | 2900 |
| Boire | 940 lbf (4,200 N) | 940 |
| Bolivian Cherry | 3,650 lbf (16,200 N) | 3650 |
| Boreal | 1,023 lbf (4,550 N) | 1023 |
| Box Elder | 720 lbf (3,200 N) | 720 |
| Boxwood | 2,840 lbf (12,600 N) | 2840 |
| Brazilian Cherry, Jatoba | 2,350 lbf (10,500 N) | 2350 |
| Brazilian Ebony | 3,692 lbf (16,420 N) | 3692 |
| Brazilian Eucalyptus, Rose Gum | 1,125 lbf (5,000 N) | 1125 |
| Brazilian Koa | 2,160 lbf (9,600 N) | 2160 |
| Brazilian Olivewood | 3,700 lbf (16,000 N) | 3700 |
| Brushbox | 2,135 lbf (9,500 N) | 2135 |
| Bubinga | 1,980 lbf (8,800 N) | 1980 |
| Cameron | 1,940 lbf (8,600 N) | 1940 |
| Carapa guianensis, Brazilian Mesquite | 1,220 lbf (5,400 N) | 1220 |
| Carbonized Bamboo (represents one species) | 1,180 lbf (5,200 N) | 1180 |
| Caribbean Heart Pine | 1,280 lbf (5,700 N) | 1280 |
| Caribbean Walnut | 1,390 lbf (6,200 N) | 1390 |
| Castello | 1,810 lbf (8,100 N) | 1810 |
| Cherry | 995 lbf (4,430 N) | 995 |
| Chestnut | 540 lbf (2,400 N) | 540 |
| Cocobolo | 2,960 lbf (13,200 N) | 2960 |
| Cuipo[10] | 75 lbf (330 N) | 75 |
| Cumaru, Brazilian Teak | 3,540 lbf (15,700 N) | 3540 |
| Curupixa | 1,490 lbf (6,600 N) | 1490 |
| Douglas Fir | 660 lbf (2,900 N) | 660 |
| Eastern Red Cedar | 900 lbf (4,000 N) | 900 |
| Eastern White Pine | 380 lbf (1,700 N) | 380 |
| Ebony | 3,220 lbf (14,300 N) | 3220 |
| English Oak[6] | 1,120 lbf (5,000 N) | 1120 |
| Golden Teak | 2,330 lbf (10,400 N) | 2330 |
| Goncalo Alves, Tigerwood | 1,850 lbf (8,200 N) | 1850 |
| Grey Ironbark | 3,664 lbf (16,300 N) | 3664 |
| Guatambú, Kyrandy, Balfourodendron riedelianum | 2,240 lbf (10,000 N) | 2240 |
| Hard maple, Sugar Maple | 1,450 lbf (6,400 N) | 1450 |
| Heart pine | 1,225 lbf (5,450 N) | 1225 |
| Hemlock | 500 lbf (2,200 N) | 500 |
| Hickory, Pecan, Satinwood | 1,820 lbf (8,100 N) | 1820 |
| Highland Beech | 1,686 lbf (7,500 N) | 1686 |
| Ipê, Brazilian Walnut, Lapacho | 3,684 lbf (16,390 N) | 3684 |
| Ironwood | 3,260 lbf (14,500 N) | 3260 |
| Jarrah | 1,910 lbf (8,500 N) | 1910 |
| Karri | 2,030 lbf (9,000 N) | 2030 |
| Kempas | 1,710 lbf (7,600 N) | 1710 |
| Kentucky coffeetree | 1,390 lbf (6,200 N) | 1390 |
| Lacewood, Leopardwood | 840 lbf (3,700 N) | 840 |
| Lapacho | 3,640 lbf (16,200 N) | 3640 |
| Larch | 1,200 lbf (5,300 N) | 1200 |
| Larch | 590 lbf (2,600 N) | 590 |
| Lignum vitae, Guayacan, Pockenholz | 4,500 lbf (20,000 N) | 4500 |
| Live Oak | 2,680 lbf (11,900 N) | 2680 |
| Mahogany, Honduran Mahogany | 800 lbf (3,600 N) | 800 |
| Makore | 1,100 lbf (4,900 N) | 1100 |
| Massaranduba, Brazilian Redwood, Paraju | 3,190 lbf (14,200 N) | 3190 |
| Merbau | 1,925 lbf (8,560 N) | 1925 |
| Merbau | 1,712 lbf (7,620 N) | 1712 |
| Mesquite | 2,345 lbf (10,430 N) | 2345 |
| Movingui | 1,230 lbf (5,500 N) | 1230 |
| Natural Bamboo (represents one species) | 1,380 lbf (6,100 N) | 1380 |
| Osage Orange[5] | 2,040 lbf (9,100 N) | 2040 |
| Paper Birch | 910 lbf (4,000 N) | 910 |
| Parana | 780 lbf (3,500 N) | 780 |
| Peroba | 1,557 lbf (6,930 N) | 1557 |
| Peruvian Walnut | 1,080 lbf (4,800 N) | 1080 |
| Piptadenia Macrocarpa, Curupay, Angico Preto, Brazilian Tiger Mahogany | 3,840 lbf (17,100 N) | 3840 |
| Pradoo | 2,170 lbf (9,700 N) | 2170 |
| Purpleheart | 1,860 lbf (8,300 N) | 1860 |
| Radiata Pine[8] | 710 lbf (3,200 N) | 710 |
| Red Mahogany, Turpentine | 2,697 lbf (12,000 N) | 2697 |
| Red Maple[7] | 950 lbf (4,200 N) | 950 |
| Red Mulberry | 1,680 lbf (7,500 N) | 1680 |
| Red Oak (Northern) | 1,290 lbf (5,700 N) | 1290 |
| Ribbon Gum | 1,349 lbf (6,000 N) | 1349 |
| Rosewood | 1,780 lbf (7,900 N) | 1780 |
| Santos Mahogany, Bocote, Cabreuva, Honduran Rosewood | 2,200 lbf (9,800 N) | 2200 |
| Sapele, Sapelli, Kupa’y | 1,510 lbf (6,700 N) | 1510 |
| Schinopsis balansae, Quebracho Colorado, Red Quebracho[4] | 4,570 lbf (20,300 N) | 4570 |
| Schinopsis brasiliensis, Quebracho, Barauna, Chamacoco[3] | 4,800 lbf (21,000 N) | 4800 |
| Shedua | 710 lbf (3,200 N) | 710 |
| Siberian Larch | 1,100 lbf (4,900 N) | 1100 |
| Silver Maple[9] | 700 lbf (3,100 N) | 700 |
| Snakewood, Letterhout, Piratinera Guinensis | 3,800 lbf (17,000 N) | 3800 |
| Softest wood ever measured: a single, unusual sample of Balsa[10] | 22 lbf (98 N) | 22 |
| Southern Chestnut | 2,670 lbf (11,900 N) | 2670 |
| Southern Yellow Pine (Loblolly and Shortleaf) | 690 lbf (3,100 N) | 690 |
| Southern Yellow Pine (Longleaf) | 870 lbf (3,900 N) | 870 |
| Spotted Gum | 2,473 lbf (11,000 N) | 2473 |
| Strand Woven Bamboo | 3,000 lbf (13,000 N) | 3000 |
| Sucupira, Brazilian Chestnut, Tiete Chestnut | 3,417 lbf (15,200 N) | 3417 |
| Sweet Birch | 1,470 lbf (6,500 N) | 1470 |
| Sycamore | 770 lbf (3,400 N) | 770 |
| Sydney Blue Gum | 2,023 lbf (9,000 N) | 2023 |
| Tallowwood | 1,933 lbf (8,600 N) | 1933 |
| Tasmanian oak | 1,350 lbf (6,000 N) | 1350 |
| Teak | 1,155 lbf (5,140 N) | 1155 |
| True Pine, Timborana | 1,570 lbf (7,000 N) | 1570 |
| Tualang | 1,624 lbf (7,220 N) | 1624 |
| Wenge, Red Pine, Hornbeam | 1,630 lbf (7,300 N) | 1630 |
| Western Juniper | 626 lbf (2,780 N) | 626 |
| Western White Pine | 420 lbf (1,900 N) | 420 |
| White Oak | 1,360 lbf (6,000 N) | 1360 |
| Yellow Birch, Iroko | 1,260 lbf (5,600 N) | 1260 |
| Yellow Poplar, Poplar | 540 lbf (2,400 N) | 540 |
| Yvyraro | 3,040 lbf (13,500 N) | 3040 |
| Zebrawood | 1,575 lbf (7,010 N) | 1575 |
This should get you started on choosing a wood for laser cutting. If you have any further questions about selecting the right wood for laser engraving and cutting, drop a comment down below
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