Generally speaking, the best contrast can be achieved using hard and light types of wood. The wooden surface should be sealed with a wood polish or wax after engraving. It is recommended to protect the surface of the wood with an application tape if deep engraving is required.

Soft woods can be engraved more quickly than hard woods. Differences also exist in cutting.

Wood can be colored in order to increase the contrast. Black shoe polish has proven to be very effective in practice. However, it must be noted that there will be a temporary odor that disappears within a few hours.

Another possibility of protecting the surface of the wood is to rub wax into it beforehand. This layer may be applied very thickly. This layer of wax also protects the unengraved surface of the wood during coloration. The best way of removing the wax is to use alcohol.

Pay attention to quality when purchasing. Large panels should be edge glued to prevent distortion at higher humidities.

MDF panels (medium density fiberboard) may also be used as an alternative to wood and are excellent for use with lasers. Cutting primarily produces uniform cut edges due mainly to the material's structure.

The exhaust unit deserves special attention when processing wood professionally. An exhaust unit with a high volumetric flow rate should be chosen as the wood fumes contain resins and adhesives. With some types of wood, such as oak in particular, toxic fumes arise during processing that should be well filtered before being expelled into the open air. Please let Trotec advise you when choosing an exhaust system.