Laser Engraving TW faceplates-A Photo Guide!

[Fredaxis]

Just to show how a nice faceplate can finish a cabinet.

Korina in her wedding dress:

[img726]http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x35/ ... inacab.jpg[/img]


I still have to go through my wedding night before showing you some porns

[Structo]

Wow!
What a beautiful cab!
Love the contrasting colors and grain.
Great Job!

BTW, that's my favorite face plate design so far!

[Fredaxis]

Thanks Structo,
It looks very good with my Liverpool plate as well, but I am making the Express right now.
Eric does a wonderful work with his plate laser etching.

Now I need a nice lumber of flamed Redwood for my Liverpool cab, any good adress guys???

[weld]

Fantastic pics !!

all pics....

good work

[drhulsey]

... Korina in her wedding dress...

What an EYE-POPPING cab
And yes, Eric's faceplate looks beautiful on there
Tell us about the wood.

[Fredaxis]

Thanks Tim,

Woods are Flame Maple and Black Limba, also known as Ofram or Korina in the guitar world. Gibson used the White Limba for the Flying, Explorer....
It comes from the same tree, just at different places.
Black Limba is a much favored wood in boutique lutherie today.

As for a finish, I did it very simply, a mix of linseed oil and tupertine, then beewax.
That's the linseed oil that gives the maple that nice honey colour.

And really, Eric's plate adds the pro touch !

[drhulsey]

... Woods are Flame Maple and Black Limba...

A very nice combination with the flame maple banding on the black limba.
Very artistic
This amp will make people stop and stare

[Lonely Raven]

Another update.

This one looks simple, but was actually quite challenging. First off, the owner of this faceplate is in Japan, and doesn't speak a bit of English. Nor do I speak any Japanese for that matter (besides what I learned in that Styx song ). So Suzuki contacted me through E-mail using a software translator program to ask if I understood him, and if so, would I work with him on a faceplate and ship to Japan.

Being that I enjoy trying something new (and I'm a glutton for punishment), I said I'd do my best and asked a few design questions in the simplest words and phrases I could so his translation software would have a good chance of relaying what I was trying to say.

After a few E-mails back and forth the second challenge of this seemingly simple faceplate came up. Suzuki wanted me to take a design from a photo of a piece of jewelry! That's way, way beyond my skill level as I've mentioned here...I simply tweak the artwork provided by customers. So to resolve this, I "hired" (more like conscripted) my fiancé who just graduated form DePaul with a degree in Graphic Design. Well 3 hours of clicking later, and she traced out the logo you see on the faceplate!

Just as I was doing a test burn for Suzuki, I get an E-mail asking if I could do the Hand Oiled Cherry Wood faceplate in a lighter hue. Pretty impressive translation software if you think about it. It ended up Suzuki wanted Maple as he saw a photo of a hand made Trainwreck cab that was in a nice flamed maple.

Obviously, if you take into account our time on this, we made no money. But it was fun, and I got a good feeling helping someone that was taking a shot in the dark that I'd be willing to work through this and not expecting this kind of service. I feel I did the right thing here...assuming I've not set a precedence of spending 5+ hours on each faceplate I make!!

So as simple as this one plate looks, there is a lot of background to it. I hope Suzuki appreciates the work that went into it, and if he ever sells the amp I hope the history of this one detail goes along with the amp.

I mean, that's all we can hope for right? That people remember the work and heart we put into the work we do?

[img:450:450]http://lonelyraven.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p915137661.jpg[/img]


[img186]http://lonelyraven.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p893916908-5.jpg[/img]


[img731]http://lonelyraven.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p774059807-5.jpg[/img]

[pezed]

Just wanted to say excellent work on the faceplates. Some of the nicest i've seen!

[drhulsey]

... This one looks simple, but...

Simplicity can be VERY artistic, as in this faceplate. The design looks like a piece of Zuni inlay jewelry from the Southwest.
Your thoughtfulness shows in these faceplates. That's why everyone loves them I'm sure Suzuki will appreciate it.
BUT- how's he gonna know which knob to turn

[Lonely Raven]

..
BUT- how's he gonna know which knob to turn

In all seriousness, I've thought about that as well. I figured if he wanted me to use Kanji for the knobs (which is possible to do, but difficult for me to find the right ones), he probably would have showed me which ones to use.

[Lonely Raven]

Another fine cherry plate made tonight.

[img:800:532]http://lonelyraven.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p241229774-4.jpg[/img]

I used a 3d etching style rather than the regular etching style. The 3d works better if there are many different shades as the laser varies it's power on the fly according to how dark or light the shade is. Where as the regular etching mode is very linear in it's power scale.

[img731]http://lonelyraven.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p457841781-5.jpg[/img]

[Lonely Raven]

On a sad note, I have to say my run with the 35 watt "laser" is coming to an end.

I was informed today that I will be relocated to another property within the company that's about a hour south of the location that has the 35 watt laser. So where I typically can find one or two nights a week to work on the laser, at the new location I'd be lucky if I could find one night a *month* to drive up north and get some work done.

I've posted an updated ad in the Classifeds section, I will be working on a bunch of standard faceplates as long as I have time and wood. For anyone that I owe a faceplate, or are in the works with Larry on a faceplate, I promise I will finish up what we have planned and you'll get your faceplate!

I will also be working hard on getting the Rocket faceplates setup and a bunch of them produced for the Rocket builds going on. I spent a couple hours tonight fine tuning the template and will be sending out a sample to RJ before the weekend. If the template checks out I will be churning as many of these out as I have time for!

Man I wish I had a spare $10k (used price!!) for one of these lasers. I'd set it up at my new house and be working on all sorts of neat projects!!

[drhulsey]

Another fine cherry plate made tonight...

I am amazed at the 3D So much detail in so small a space
It looks like that bear is climbing right out of the faceplate

[drhulsey]

Double post!