I've been using this hack for a few years and I find it works well with dollar store dish soap without letting it dry. I use both Epilog 40W and Trotec 80W CO2 lasers. In my experience, applying the soap and rinsing afterward is faster and much less hassle than weeding the masking paper. I also find that commercial available acrylic polish will remove the "fogging" as well and will also remove any other small scratches on the acrylic.
Hi Steve!! Thanks you so much for watching my video and thanks for your comment, I really appreciate it! I totally agree with everything you said. This hack came in handy when i had to engrave 60 acrylic pieces for LED light bases! It made it so easy!! Hope you have a great day! Rico
Great tip. Funny thing I haven't seen any Laser related recommendations from UA-cam in a year but I downloaded K40 Whisperer this morning on a different computer and this showed up.
@@electronron1 hey electronron! Thank you so much for watching my video and I’m so glad that this showed up as a recommendation! I always appreciate when people watch my stuff! I hope you have a great day. Rico.
Hi AdammJarvis! Thanks for watching my video and thanks for the comment! I've had my classic Mira 7 for about 8 months, and I'm having fun with it and constantly learning! Congrats on getting a Redline, I'm jealouse! lol I hope you have a great day and I hope you Laser up something amazing! Have a wonderful day! Rico
Not enough info combined with too many variables don’t you think? What laser do you have? What acrylic do you use? Don’t you think Dawn is a great suggestion for those without masking, a shit batch of acrylic and/or picking tools?! #preach
The laser vaporizes the acrylic, assuming this is cell cast acrylic. It's the vaporized acrylic being blown around you are seeing. If you were to do the same test with almost no air assist the amount of acrylic on the surface would be reduced, but the engravings would not look as white with contrast because it is the air assist that is rapidly cooling the vaporized acrylic and gives it the white color. Dawn is the only type of soap you can use because other soaps have perfumes in them that are flammable.
@@ibreakstuff815 hey Brake stuff! Thanks for watching the video! And thank you so much for your feedback on the topic. I’ve also heard that soap has fire retardant properties/heat.That’s why it is used by fire fighters use it to fight fires! Hope you have a great day!
Hi Johatton3454, Thanks for watching my video. I used to engrave using the masking on the acrylic, until i learned this soap hack. I find that using this soap technique ELIMINATES having to pull off or weed off the masking, especially with engravings that have tiny intricate designs, which can sometimes take forever! It was a game changer for me. There is no right or wrong way to do it...just do what ever you feel is best for you! I hope you have a great day! Rico
OK so let's call it weeding, it is still faster and less of a pain in the butt to use tape and a plastic razor rather than applying soap, waiting for it to dry, engraving, washing and drying again. Easier and faster and lets not forget cheaper especially if you are doing anything beyond a 1 off hobby project. Even if it is a a hobby project the faster and easier is still better.
Power setting needs to be lower, or the speed setting needs to be higher, which would give you the same results. Also, soap 'detergent' can release toxic fumes from the chemicals used in the products.
Thank you for the video it was very informative. If I could make one suggestion for future videos and lower the volume of the background music. Again awesome information.
@@TheDHarris5 thanks for watching DHarris5! Thx for the comments.. much appreciated! I will be more aware of music levels next video! Hope you have a great day! Rico
That’s a bandaid solution and is terrible advice. The real problem is the air assist is too high for acrylic and you are possibly using the wrong nozzle.
@@MrBrettStar For laser owners that are cutting out 50 to 100 small acrylic laser engraving with small details in one laser run… this is NOT a Bandaid solution, this is LIFE SAVING surgery! This laser is a production type machine that is built and designed to cut out many parts at one time! The time savings is PRICELESS! There are many way to do the same thing. There is no right or wrong answer.. just Do what-ever process works for you. Have a great day! Merry Christmas!
@ haha, your example is the reason why you wouldn’t want a bandaid solution, imagine applying dish soap to 50-100 pieces instead of just fixing the actual cause.
Talk about a vague comment … you left out a bunch of variables. In any case, one dawn video can’t solve issues and variables on everybody’s laser or shit acrylic purchase. This dawn solution could get the majority of folks out of a jam. Pun intended. #WheresYourVideo?
I've been using this hack for a few years and I find it works well with dollar store dish soap without letting it dry. I use both Epilog 40W and Trotec 80W CO2 lasers. In my experience, applying the soap and rinsing afterward is faster and much less hassle than weeding the masking paper. I also find that commercial available acrylic polish will remove the "fogging" as well and will also remove any other small scratches on the acrylic.
Hi Steve!! Thanks you so much for watching my video and thanks for your comment, I really appreciate it! I totally agree with everything you said. This hack came in handy when i had to engrave 60 acrylic pieces for LED light bases! It made it so easy!! Hope you have a great day!
Rico
That's crazy!!! Nice job!
@@jimhinkle7245 thanks Jim!! I appreciate you watching my video!
Hope u have a great day! Happy new year!!!
Rico
@ricohernandez2394 happy new year too you as well, my friend!
Great tip. Funny thing I haven't seen any Laser related recommendations from UA-cam in a year but I downloaded K40 Whisperer this morning on a different computer and this showed up.
@@electronron1 hey electronron! Thank you so much for watching my video and I’m so glad that this showed up as a recommendation! I always appreciate when people watch my stuff! I hope you have a great day. Rico.
Not bad. Looks great! And win for a Mira 7! I've had mine for a year now. 2025 will bring me a redline to add to the fleet
Hi AdammJarvis! Thanks for watching my video and thanks for the comment! I've had my classic Mira 7 for about 8 months, and I'm having fun with it and constantly learning! Congrats on getting a Redline, I'm jealouse! lol
I hope you have a great day and I hope you Laser up something amazing!
Have a wonderful day!
Rico
I've never had any issues with engraving without using Dawn. I have the white powder from the engraving but when I wipe it off, it's really clean.
Not enough info combined with too many variables don’t you think? What laser do you have? What acrylic do you use? Don’t you think Dawn is a great suggestion for those without masking, a shit batch of acrylic and/or picking tools?! #preach
That’s because you probably have the air assist set correctly unlike this noob.
The laser vaporizes the acrylic, assuming this is cell cast acrylic. It's the vaporized acrylic being blown around you are seeing. If you were to do the same test with almost no air assist the amount of acrylic on the surface would be reduced, but the engravings would not look as white with contrast because it is the air assist that is rapidly cooling the vaporized acrylic and gives it the white color. Dawn is the only type of soap you can use because other soaps have perfumes in them that are flammable.
@@ibreakstuff815 hey Brake stuff! Thanks for watching the video! And thank you so much for your feedback on the topic. I’ve also heard that soap has fire retardant properties/heat.That’s why it is used by fire fighters use it to fight fires! Hope you have a great day!
Looking forward to your video! 🎥🎬
I engrave w the masking on. Saves lots of time and no hazing
Me too. Turning air assist off helps also if the job requires only engraving.
Hi Johatton3454,
Thanks for watching my video. I used to engrave using the masking on the acrylic, until i learned this soap hack. I find that using this soap technique ELIMINATES having to pull off or weed off the masking, especially with engravings that have tiny intricate designs, which can sometimes take forever!
It was a game changer for me.
There is no right or wrong way to do it...just do what ever you feel is best for you!
I hope you have a great day!
Rico
@@ricohernandez2394 Engrave through the masking and then use a plastic razor blade to remove all of the masking. No weeding necessary.
@@bobr1375 using a razor to remove masking is weeding.
OK so let's call it weeding, it is still faster and less of a pain in the butt to use tape and a plastic razor rather than applying soap, waiting for it to dry, engraving, washing and drying again. Easier and faster and lets not forget cheaper especially if you are doing anything beyond a 1 off hobby project. Even if it is a a hobby project the faster and easier is still better.
Such an informative video!
@@AeonLaserUSA Thank you!
Power setting needs to be lower, or the speed setting needs to be higher, which would give you the same results. Also, soap 'detergent' can release toxic fumes from the chemicals used in the products.
so what is the power at 30% ?
Thank you for the video it was very informative. If I could make one suggestion for future videos and lower the volume of the background music. Again awesome information.
@@TheDHarris5 thanks for watching DHarris5! Thx for the comments.. much appreciated! I will be more aware of music levels next video! Hope you have a great day!
Rico
I thought the music was wonderful. Don’t stunt your creativity by reading the comments from people who don’t film videos or have channels?! Cheers.
Never knew this one
@@1738Crafting thanks for watching! Appreciate you! Hope you have a great day!
Rico
Dont use air assist with Acrylic
Laser through the paper covering. Air assist is not right or just turn it off. Laser power too high. Too many variables and unanswered questions.
Maybe just leave it masked.
*Interesting video. Stop the ANNOYING music!*
Da FUQ you being annoying then?! It’s the holidays homie lighten UP. GET OFF SOCIAL #duh #🎅🏻⛄️🎄🦌⛪️❄️🥶🔥
BATTER UP #⚾️🧢🏟️
That’s a bandaid solution and is terrible advice. The real problem is the air assist is too high for acrylic and you are possibly using the wrong nozzle.
@@MrBrettStar For laser owners that are cutting out 50 to 100 small acrylic laser engraving with small details in one laser run…
this is NOT a Bandaid solution, this is LIFE SAVING surgery!
This laser is a production type machine that is built and designed to cut out many parts at one time! The time savings is PRICELESS!
There are many way to do the same thing. There is no right or wrong answer.. just Do what-ever process works for you.
Have a great day! Merry Christmas!
@ haha, your example is the reason why you wouldn’t want a bandaid solution, imagine applying dish soap to 50-100 pieces instead of just fixing the actual cause.
@ respectfully, you would only apply the dish soap to one large sheet of acrylic. A one time application. Pretty simple.
@ do what you want, keep hacking away for all I care 🤷♂️
Talk about a vague comment … you left out a bunch of variables. In any case, one dawn video can’t solve issues and variables on everybody’s laser or shit acrylic purchase. This dawn solution could get the majority of folks out of a jam. Pun intended. #WheresYourVideo?