Basswood sheets are the one laser material I always keep in stock. They are versatile and inexpensive, which makes them my go-to for a wide variety of project.
The most common application of basswood sheets has been “holders” in my workshop. I’m not sure that’s the right word, but a thing to hold my Forstner bits, another thing to hold my squares, and another thing to hold my pliers. I’ve also used basswood sheets to engrave photos and logos, make wooden gaskets that I use in my dust collection system, make jigs for engraving wooden poker chips, and more.
Why I bought basswood sheets
A few basswood sheets came with the purchase of my xTool P2S laser and one of my first experiments with the laser was to engrave a photo on a basswood sheet. I took pictures of my boys shooting soccer goals, removed the background and converted the images to grayscale, then engraved them on basswood sheets that were later crafted into signs for their bedroom doors. The boys love them!
The Good Stuff
- Quality. So far, I’ve used about 30 of these basswood sheets and have yet to run into a defect. The faces have a very uniform grain (no knots) and the edges are free from chipping.
- Workability. Basswood takes paint and stain well (absorbs evenly) and is easy to sand. Laser engraving results are consistent – I don’t have to test and vary settings from sheet to sheet. Laser cutting can be done at just 60% power on my 55-watt laser. The sheets can be cut with very few burn marks, which means very little sanding.
The Bad Stuff
- Warping. Warping is expected in a sheet of wood that is only 1/8 thick, so this isn’t really a flaw in the product. But it’s worth mentioning since they come in packs of 12. They are flat upon arrival because they are wrapped and sealed in plastic. But once opened, they are subject to the temperature and humidity swings of your workshop. My advice is to open one end and slide sheets out as you need them, storing the rest in the original plastic. It also helps to store them flat rather than on edge. If possible, put something flat and heavy on top.
Conclusion
These Basswood Sheets (18 x 12 x 1/8) are ideal for a wide variety of lasering and woodworking applications. I want to experiment with other types of wood sheets (baltic birch and maple, perhaps walnut too), but I don’t have much incentive when basswood is meeting all of my needs.
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