A diode laser does not usually burn a clean round dot to emulate image pixels . It has a rectangular or oval footpint that prevents high resolution engraving. on wood, glass, slate and other materials. However this method of using TiO2 is unique in the way that it converts white material into black. It is not a burning or chemical reaction but a simple melting and fusing process between the glass on the tile and the TiO2. Heating the TiO2 converts it from a superfine white powder where it reflects the light to a little solid blob of TiO2 that absorbs the light. This black blob melts and aglomorates into a little ROUND blob (by capilliary action) at over 2000C and the glass on the tile melts at about 1400C, to form a liquid puddle in which the black blob floats. These two melted materials cool to form something that is best imagined as frogsspawn or maybe the white and yellow of an egg when you crack it into a pan. This unique action of creating round black DOTS is capable of producing images at about 500ppi. The bigger the tile and the bigger the image the more impressive this process becomes. Bigger images take an age with a diode laser but this process works equally well with a CO2 laser but 4 to 6 times faster. I have used airbrushing, it is prone to clogging and is very messy. The simple spray bottle technique is best but requires the right sort of spray nozzle and more coats to get an even finish. The IPA evaporates almost instantly so it takes but a few moments before you can overcoat. Note the use of rubber gloves , it might be just a food grade white powder but it bonds to your skin and takes a a LOT of washing off. This is an excellent video that explains the technique very well.and the results are very impressive . This is also one of the few useful applications for the matrix test to attain the best parameters. Don't bypass this vital inital experiment.
Can you point me towards learning more about diode lasers and their effects on specific compounds? I am by far not a chemist but am interested. You mention that this is not a chemical reaction, and those temperatures you mentioned - what sources are these from? I agree, the end result is extremely impressive
@@Sulfhur1k Hi I am just a very inqusative retired engineer that has been studying the whole non-metal cutting laser technology for about 8 years. There are so many aspects of this technology that people just observe and use without ever understanding the science that underpins it. Doide lasers are a fiaily recent (and still developing ) means of "damaging" materials and your question is equivalent to asking "how long is a piece of string|?" There is no single answer. You observe an effect that a laser has on a material , be it UV, diode, fibre or one of the gas lasers (CO2 and YAG ) and you then get drawn into specific aspects of physics, optics and chemisry as you try to decode what youhave seen. Most take for granted what they see, and are perfectly happy to just use something that woks without question. If you do stop and ask a question, the chances are that is is not a specifically reserched subject so there is no easy answer. . In this case there is no reference work that you can turn to that explains how white paint on a white glazed tile and a laser beam interact to causes an indelible black result. I came to this subject when a diode laser correspondent asked if the Norton white tile method was possible with a CO2 laser.? There were many You tube "experts" explainng the best way to get super results but none that expained the science behind the "magic". Thus, to answer my correspondent's question meant I had to dig deep to understand the science behind the technology. You may wish to view a couple of videos that step through my reaserch and proof of the fascinating properties of Titanium dioxide. See ruclips.net/video/-L94Do81v-s/видео.html and ruclips.net/video/QwujeITphFs/видео.html There is a further unpublished short video that demontrates the amazing potential of this process see ruclips.net/video/TVgmoN1wljs/видео.html
@@Sulfhur1k@Sulfhur1k I'm no scientist, but I own both lasers. The Co2 laser will cut any color of Acrylic, and the beam is round, giving it better results in the context of accuracy. Higher wattages are found with the Co2 laser. You can't beat the price of diode lasers and much less painful when they are degrading compared to the Co2 lasers. I completely used up my first $40k CO2 laser, and my 2nd $29k model is down to maybe 20 watts from the original 50 watts.
I tried this the other day. The spray bottle I had worked, but couldn’t get a real smooth coat. Had some bubbles. Tried a brush and a few coats. Came out pretty good. Finally I just poured it on the tile and tilted it and let it flow over the tile. It dried pretty smooth and the engraving was the best one. I don’t think it really wasted the mixture any more than spraying when considering the overspray, or than the brush with multiple coats to even it out.
If you could spin the tile while you're applying the mixture it would help to create a more even layer. *Advice we got from a friend who works in a lab that does nano-coating when my son and I asked him last year about doing this.
@@lasersandsaws if you found a turntable with 78 rpm 45 rpm and 33 1/3 I believe it would work, and a drill with a piece of round wood with a bolt through the center of the wood work too!
I know everybody is extolling the wonders that is TIO2, but I found that cheap, Plaid Folk Art acrylic craft paint - Snow White, to be exact - thinned down and sprayed through an airbrush produces the most excellent results. Super black engraving and it is easy as pie to wash off. Plus, it's a lot cheaper than any other method. But... to each their own 🤷♂
I was so intrigued after seeing your video, I decided to give it a try. I purchased the Titanium Dioxide from Amazon, along with some fine spray bottles. When they arrived, I got to work, using the techniques described in the video. I had just created a piece, using white Dupont paint, but was unhappy with the results - too light. Because everything was already set, I figured to use the same setting to see what kind of difference - if any - would occur between the Titanium and the paint. The titanium piece came out so well I'm afraid to wash it. The image is just about perfect, and light years ahead of the paint. This is going to be my preferred method of burning images in tile from now on. Thanks much for sharing the information via the tutorial.
Thanks for the comment. Glad to hear it's working for you. Since this video I have learned that a 50/50 ratio is to much. If you get clogging on your sprayer try @Giovanni-hh2jg suggestion of a 1 to 5 ratio. One part tio2 and 5 parts IPA. I have been using this mix now and it's much better. I'll be doing a video on this soon.
@@lasersandsaws Try using aWD-40 spray bottle - I have a sign company and use them for denatured alcohol, adhesive remover and wet application fluid - all work well through it, as it is made to spray an oil.
This is a great way to color the tiles. And I already have the ingredients. Thanks for the info. You statement that breathing the TI02 powder is not worse than spray paint might not true. TI02 is a known carcinogen when inhaled.
This is really cool, never would have thought white powder goes black. TiO2 does absorb UV so that is probably why a diode laser works. It would be interesting to try this with other oxide powders, those that colour concrete would be cheap. Red, yellow, black and? Hmm hardware store has 1Kg for $15, Black, Red, White, Bluestone(grey), Chocolate, Sandstone.
Note for anyone trying this: use a good respirator with a particle filter when handling the titanium dioxide powder. It is a carcinogen and you do not want to get lung cancer from breathing in the powder/fumes :)
Why would there be a "food grade" of this if it is a carcinogen? It isn't used in foods then? I know almost nothing about this powder, just wondering and thanks for the warning, I will be careful if I get some, and won't use it in my kitchen :D
@@CountYulith it's the powder/fine particles that get into your lungs that's dangerous. If you eat it as part of food there is not that problem (but try to avoid eating it as well, they have found out it affects your body in a bad way too)
I have been researching this method a lot and plan on trying it next week. I was going to try an airbrush, but I saw several people, including you, say that it tends to clog. I found a couple of videos where people suggested using the Harbor Freight touch up spray gun. (61473, or 46719). I believe the nozzle on this is 0.8mm which is just a bit bigger than the 0.3mm or 0.5 mm of most airbrushes. They said it is just enough bigger that it doesn't clog. It is about 33 dollars. I picked one up yesterday, so I am going to give it a go. I already have a decent compressor so no added cost there. I'll let you know if it works.
Very well explained video and BOTH thumbs up for it XD Please continue and I have a question for you or users who have experience with BLACK porcelain.Can this mixture also be used on black porcelain or does it not need to be pretreated at all?
I have the Ortur LM3 10W and just couldn't get paint to work like on my other lower powered laser modules. I tried TiO2 with 91% isopropyl alcohol and magic occurred! I tried a few spray bottles but photo etches did not come out that great. I also bought 2 small detail HVLP guns but they did not work that great. I then purchased a higher end airbrush - Eclipse HP-BCS Airbrush. I use a 3:1 ratio by weight and spray 4 coats. It dries almost instantly so it goes pretty quick. For me the coating doesn't just blow off the surface so I can coat extras and store them for later use. I typically etch at 5000/17% for 423dpi. Issue I have is, even when using a DIY spray booth I get lots of bounce back spray (I use 30psi). I get excellent repeatability and may need to re-think the spray booth to have top side suction. Any help on the overspray appreciated.
I ended up making a booth and installing a ventilation fan on the back wall with a filter. Made a big difference containing the spray. The way I did it in the video makes a huge mess.
Nice video! Thank you for sharing. Experimenting with TiO2 is on my list and I have everything I need other than the time. ;-) I was going to use denatured alcohol and a brush. I was wondering if a spray bottle would work so that was also on my list to experiment with. Your results look fantastic. I like the clean up with just water.
Wow! I just found this video and it is spectacular, really spectacular. I only have one question, titanium dioxide, where can you buy it? A superb job!! Congratulations
Measurement question: In the comments I saw that you used a 1:1 ratio measured by volume, for example, 1 Tbsp of alcohol to 1 Tbsp of titanium dioxide. How many tiles do you estimate that you could cover with that small amount?
Great video my friend. So my question is about the tiles, have you used unglazed vs glazed tiles as well and do you have an opinion on that ? Thanks for posting your video, thumbs up !
I tried unglazed tiles when I first got my laser. It's pretty much impossible to get the paint (or in this case TIO2 coating) off the unglazed tile cleanly.
In Europe, Titanium Dioxide, or E171 is considered to be carcinogenic when inhaling it. Therefore it's now forbidden in a lot of appliances. The way you are using it, makes inhaling an even bigger problem, therefore I would not consider this method myself.
Great video and great results. Always looking at new methods. Titanium oxide in foods is now banned In Europe and I am certain the FDA are looking into it. Although the powder is available here food grade or not the reason for the ban is of course its carcinogenic. So the thought of spraying it into the air really bothers me even with a good mask. Like you say it's every where and if you touch it, it comes off. But really nice results.
I am certainly not an expert but to my knowledge it is only harmful to your lungs. Like he says in the video, wear a respirator. There are also other methods of application to tile, i have seen some people mix the tio2 with glue and water then use a foam brush. But again, be careful when mixing.
Do Brasil venho lhe parabenizar pelo excelente vídeo. Você já tentou utilizar está mesma cobertura de dióxido de titânio em cima da parte reflexiva de um espelho para gravar uma foto nele? Ou o risco de reflexão é tão grande que você nunca ousou? Você sabe se alguém já fez isto ou se faz?
Just got some Marble coasters today, after some great success with Bamboo Coasters and Black coated metal Business cards I thought I would get more ambitious with cheap white Marble coasters.
Turns out 50/50 is to much. It clogs the spray bottles to fast. I've been using a mix now of 1 part Tio2 to 5 parts alcohol. It's easier to spray and gives the same results.
@@doctorpd1959 I did it by volume so 1 cup tio2 to 5 cups alcohol. But it's not an exact amount. Your just trying to get enough tio2 on the surface but not clog the sprayer.
Thermark makes an excellent product that can be applied with an airbrush hat will last for many years, Black is durable as you need no need to treat the Tile at all
I see a lot of videos about ingraiving on tails but only have one question. What to do with all these tails after? What is the purpose? Put on the wall or what?
Hi there! Thanks for the video. Can you give me some advise please? I have also tried the method. Immediately after lasering it looks nice, but after rinsing the image is ruined. I tested the best settings and let everything dry thoroughly. What am I doing wrong? Is the method only suitable for a diode laser or also for a co2 laser? I have a Co2 laser, this could be the issue. Thanks Barry
Nice. How durable have you found TI02 to be once you cleaned off your tiles? Do you need to be fairly gentle with the marking or is it mostly permanent? Thanks.
For image processing, do you just pull in a raw image into lightburn and it just works or do you still process via Photoshop / imag-r first using the norton black tile method process?
will this work on dark tiles, I have attempted twice with different settings no paint do titanium oxide. The laser made where it goes shiny not engraved. 20w diode laser.
Thanks for sharing! I’m so glad there’s a non-paint method to do this. I really disliked the wait time with paint and chemicals needed to remove the remaining paint. You mentioned a 50/50 mix. Since you have a dry and wet ingredient, are you saying you put like 1/4 cup of powder and the same of the alcohol in the spray bottle?
IDK why everyone talks about the time for paint to dry and the excessive cleanup on paint. One of the first alterations I tried was to laser the wet paint immediately after spraying. Works great for me and the cleanup is super quick with a little acetone while the paint is still relatively wet. Do like his results and might be a good alternative tho.
I use an 80/20 mixture and two coats with excellent results. 20g. Titanium dioxide and 80g. 99% alcohol. Defiantly the challenge has been finding a spray bottle that works.
@@yourtimehomeinspections4354 I have gone thru so many spray bottles. None seem that great for the job. I tried airbrush but that clogs right away. Right now I'm trying a different mix and painting it on with a foam brush.
@@lasersandsaws did you use lightburn only? did you need to invert image. can you make a video showing the process on how you put the image in lightburn, im just learning. thank you for replying. settings, speed,power, etc... thx
i used this ti dioxide but nothing is happening. no image is being burned. 100% power at 500mm speed. im confused. ortur laser master 2. i also purchased the ti dioxide from your link. im i putting it on to thick? using the 91% alcohol too. fine mist sprayer, coating on tile looks good. any advise. thanks
Without seeing your actual parameters I can't really tell you whats wrong. But here is a couple things to try. 1. you might be going to slow and to much power. 2. Make sure your focus is set correctly to your tile. 3. Make sure your actually getting a good coating of tio2.
I would like to use this technique, BUT can you go over again how "inexpensive" this treatment is for someone like me who does not own a laser or possess the knowledge to write the program for the laser to create a tile design I see in my head?
I tried this method, I have splotches , am I putting it on to heavy? I did test on text at 2000@30 to 70 on my I concluded that 40-45power was good. 22w diode.
Fast search: Is titanium dioxide legal? It is associated with health risks such as DNA damage and immune system toxicity. The European Union banned the use of titanium dioxide in foods due to these safety concerns, yet the additive remains legal in the US.
I can send you a copy of the images if you want. Just email me so I know where to send. But the cpt america-ish one was a sketch. The other 2 were greyscale.
Thanks a lot for this. Do you think it would work on things like cement planters or candle containers made with Cementall? I don't engrave tiles, just Cementall.
Nice work - I've seen a TON of these videos and it looks like there is a "clean" way to get black on tiles at last! What do people do with the tiles, tho? 🤔
An example of what I meant would be 1 tbsp of alcohol and 1 tbsp of TiO2. It's not exact. This is just the ratio I use but you could try any ratio and maybe get better results.
I can get Titanium dioxide in different colors (pigments). Will using different colors result in a colored etching (similar to lasering over powder coat pigments), or still just a gray or dark image like with standard paint?
@@lasersandsaws so thanks I buy this and some people use red or green color food...why is this good for what ? Need buy any color food or need be green or red?
I've only tried on white ceramic tiles but I think it works on any ceramic or glass. It's very durable. I couldn't scratch it off with a screw driver when I tried.
A diode laser does not usually burn a clean round dot to emulate image pixels . It has a rectangular or oval footpint that prevents high resolution engraving. on wood, glass, slate and other materials. However this method of using TiO2 is unique in the way that it converts white material into black. It is not a burning or chemical reaction but a simple melting and fusing process between the glass on the tile and the TiO2. Heating the TiO2 converts it from a superfine white powder where it reflects the light to a little solid blob of TiO2 that absorbs the light. This black blob melts and aglomorates into a little ROUND blob (by capilliary action) at over 2000C and the glass on the tile melts at about 1400C, to form a liquid puddle in which the black blob floats. These two melted materials cool to form something that is best imagined as frogsspawn or maybe the white and yellow of an egg when you crack it into a pan. This unique action of creating round black DOTS is capable of producing images at about 500ppi. The bigger the tile and the bigger the image the more impressive this process becomes. Bigger images take an age with a diode laser but this process works equally well with a CO2 laser but 4 to 6 times faster. I have used airbrushing, it is prone to clogging and is very messy. The simple spray bottle technique is best but requires the right sort of spray nozzle and more coats to get an even finish. The IPA evaporates almost instantly so it takes but a few moments before you can overcoat. Note the use of rubber gloves , it might be just a food grade white powder but it bonds to your skin and takes a a LOT of washing off.
This is an excellent video that explains the technique very well.and the results are very impressive .
This is also one of the few useful applications for the matrix test to attain the best parameters. Don't bypass this vital inital experiment.
Very informative, thank you.
explain it clearly and impressively why don't you lol. so what do you know about Space lasers? lol
Can you point me towards learning more about diode lasers and their effects on specific compounds? I am by far not a chemist but am interested. You mention that this is not a chemical reaction, and those temperatures you mentioned - what sources are these from? I agree, the end result is extremely impressive
@@Sulfhur1k
Hi
I am just a very inqusative retired engineer that has been studying the whole non-metal cutting laser technology for about 8 years. There are so many aspects of this technology that people just observe and use without ever understanding the science that underpins it. Doide lasers are a fiaily recent (and still developing ) means of "damaging" materials and your question is equivalent to asking "how long is a piece of string|?" There is no single answer. You observe an effect that a laser has on a material , be it UV, diode, fibre or one of the gas lasers (CO2 and YAG ) and you then get drawn into specific aspects of physics, optics and chemisry as you try to decode what youhave seen. Most take for granted what they see, and are perfectly happy to just use something that woks without question. If you do stop and ask a question, the chances are that is is not a specifically reserched subject so there is no easy answer. . In this case there is no reference work that you can turn to that explains how white paint on a white glazed tile and a laser beam interact to causes an indelible black result. I came to this subject when a diode laser correspondent asked if the Norton white tile method was possible with a CO2 laser.? There were many You tube "experts" explainng the best way to get super results but none that expained the science behind the "magic". Thus, to answer my correspondent's question meant I had to dig deep to understand the science behind the technology. You may wish to view a couple of videos that step through my reaserch and proof of the fascinating properties of Titanium dioxide. See ruclips.net/video/-L94Do81v-s/видео.html and ruclips.net/video/QwujeITphFs/видео.html There is a further unpublished short video that demontrates the amazing potential of this process see ruclips.net/video/TVgmoN1wljs/видео.html
@@Sulfhur1k@Sulfhur1k I'm no scientist, but I own both lasers. The Co2 laser will cut any color of Acrylic, and the beam is round, giving it better results in the context of accuracy. Higher wattages are found with the Co2 laser. You can't beat the price of diode lasers and much less painful when they are degrading compared to the Co2 lasers. I completely used up my first $40k CO2 laser, and my 2nd $29k model is down to maybe 20 watts from the original 50 watts.
A little tip, that i got from another video. Putting some food coloring in the bottle, it will help to see where the tile is not covered.
I tried this the other day. The spray bottle I had worked, but couldn’t get a real smooth coat. Had some bubbles. Tried a brush and a few coats. Came out pretty good. Finally I just poured it on the tile and tilted it and let it flow over the tile. It dried pretty smooth and the engraving was the best one. I don’t think it really wasted the mixture any more than spraying when considering the overspray, or than the brush with multiple coats to even it out.
If you could spin the tile while you're applying the mixture it would help to create a more even layer. *Advice we got from a friend who works in a lab that does nano-coating when my son and I asked him last year about doing this.
That might be worth a try to get an even coat.
@@lasersandsaws If I remember correctly he said it didn't have to be fast, you're not wanting to sling it off.
@@56effie I wonder if an old turntable would work.
@@lasersandsaws if you found a turntable with 78 rpm 45 rpm and 33 1/3 I believe it would work, and a drill with a piece of round wood with a bolt through the center of the wood work too!
@@lasersandsaws Heck, I'll bet a cheap lazy susan would work.
I know everybody is extolling the wonders that is TIO2, but I found that cheap, Plaid Folk Art acrylic craft paint - Snow White, to be exact - thinned down and sprayed through an airbrush produces the most excellent results. Super black engraving and it is easy as pie to wash off. Plus, it's a lot cheaper than any other method. But... to each their own 🤷♂
add a drop or two of food coloring and it's easy to see what's covered and what's not.
Great suggestion.
I was so intrigued after seeing your video, I decided to give it a try. I purchased the Titanium Dioxide from Amazon, along with some fine spray bottles. When they arrived, I got to work, using the techniques described in the video.
I had just created a piece, using white Dupont paint, but was unhappy with the results - too light. Because everything was already set, I figured to use the same setting to see what kind of difference - if any - would occur between the Titanium and the paint.
The titanium piece came out so well I'm afraid to wash it. The image is just about perfect, and light years ahead of the paint. This is going to be my preferred method of burning images in tile from now on. Thanks much for sharing the information via the tutorial.
Thanks for the comment. Glad to hear it's working for you. Since this video I have learned that a 50/50 ratio is to much. If you get clogging on your sprayer try @Giovanni-hh2jg suggestion of a 1 to 5 ratio. One part tio2 and 5 parts IPA. I have been using this mix now and it's much better. I'll be doing a video on this soon.
@@lasersandsaws Thanks. I thought the mixture was a bit thick when I used it. But it worked fine. I'll keep it in mind when I mix a new batch.
@@lasersandsaws : This is super helpful!! I've had a hard time figuring out the ratio and my spray bottles have gotten consistently clogged.
@@johngrimoldy7637 Clogged spray bottles is the biggest downside I think. I need to find a better way to apply.
@@lasersandsaws Try using aWD-40 spray bottle - I have a sign company and use them for denatured alcohol, adhesive remover and wet application fluid - all work well through it, as it is made to spray an oil.
This is a great way to color the tiles. And I already have the ingredients. Thanks for the info.
You statement that breathing the TI02 powder is not worse than spray paint might not true. TI02 is a known carcinogen when inhaled.
This is really cool, never would have thought white powder goes black. TiO2 does absorb UV so that is probably why a diode laser works. It would be interesting to try this with other oxide powders, those that colour concrete would be cheap. Red, yellow, black and? Hmm hardware store has 1Kg for $15, Black, Red, White, Bluestone(grey), Chocolate, Sandstone.
Note for anyone trying this: use a good respirator with a particle filter when handling the titanium dioxide powder.
It is a carcinogen and you do not want to get lung cancer from breathing in the powder/fumes :)
Good advise. I wear one every time including when using paint.
Why would there be a "food grade" of this if it is a carcinogen? It isn't used in foods then? I know almost nothing about this powder, just wondering and thanks for the warning, I will be careful if I get some, and won't use it in my kitchen :D
@@CountYulith it's the powder/fine particles that get into your lungs that's dangerous. If you eat it as part of food there is not that problem (but try to avoid eating it as well, they have found out it affects your body in a bad way too)
Awesome info! Thanks!
I had already purchased some TiO2 with the intention of trying this. Glad to know it will work!
I think you can even use isopropylic for cleaning the tiles before spreading the TiO2 and the process will be cheaper again.
These are beautiful!
Thank you for the nice compliment.
Going to give this method a try for sure. Thanks for video.
Wow, those came out amazing. Thank you!
Greta video and I really like the wood positioning jig you made for your laser bed
Very useful tip!! Tyvm!
I wonder if this method can be used on glass, white acrylic, or any other white materials? It would be a game changer if does
I know it will work on glass but I think acrylic would melt and not fuse to the tio2.
I have been researching this method a lot and plan on trying it next week. I was going to try an airbrush, but I saw several people, including you, say that it tends to clog. I found a couple of videos where people suggested using the Harbor Freight touch up spray gun. (61473, or 46719). I believe the nozzle on this is 0.8mm which is just a bit bigger than the 0.3mm or 0.5 mm of most airbrushes. They said it is just enough bigger that it doesn't clog. It is about 33 dollars. I picked one up yesterday, so I am going to give it a go. I already have a decent compressor so no added cost there. I'll let you know if it works.
Love to hear how it goes. Thanks for the comment.
How did it turn out?
@@RobertLugg Been out a town a lot and have not had a chance to try it yet. I've got some time off in October if I don't get to it before then.
Would love to hear your expierence as well😊
I tested it and you can use a 5:1 ratio of alcohol to the tio2. It makes it watery enough for it to work in an airbrush and makes a fine mist!
I just tried this not too long ago, I'm still working my mix out but I have found if you sift the Ti02 it mixes easier.
I've never heard of this art technique before (laser engraving ceramic tiles?) It looks impressive.
Look up Norton white tile method
@@beer1for2break3fast4 Thanks. I will.
did you turn on air assist or fume extractor??? would the tio2 blow away?
Great video. One question: is that 50/50 mix by volume?
yeah I am wondering that tool, volume or weight?
When you say 50:50, are you talking by weight or volume? Thanks! I have plenty of TD from my soaping. :)
I did it by volume but it turns out the mix ratio isn't all that important. Some people report great results with only 20% Tio2.
I just found this video. Thank you for this alternative to paint. After the washing, Do you have to seal it against water?
Very well explained video and BOTH thumbs up for it XD Please continue and I have a question for you or users who have experience with BLACK porcelain.Can this mixture also be used on black porcelain or does it not need to be pretreated at all?
I have the Ortur LM3 10W and just couldn't get paint to work like on my other lower powered laser modules. I tried TiO2 with 91% isopropyl alcohol and magic occurred! I tried a few spray bottles but photo etches did not come out that great. I also bought 2 small detail HVLP guns but they did not work that great. I then purchased a higher end airbrush - Eclipse HP-BCS Airbrush. I use a 3:1 ratio by weight and spray 4 coats. It dries almost instantly so it goes pretty quick. For me the coating doesn't just blow off the surface so I can coat extras and store them for later use. I typically etch at 5000/17% for 423dpi. Issue I have is, even when using a DIY spray booth I get lots of bounce back spray (I use 30psi). I get excellent repeatability and may need to re-think the spray booth to have top side suction. Any help on the overspray appreciated.
I ended up making a booth and installing a ventilation fan on the back wall with a filter. Made a big difference containing the spray. The way I did it in the video makes a huge mess.
Is the image permanent like the paint method? I’ve taken a screwdriver to paint ones and zero damage to the image.
@@stephenrowland1709 Yes it is permanent.
Nice video! Thank you for sharing. Experimenting with TiO2 is on my list and I have everything I need other than the time. ;-) I was going to use denatured alcohol and a brush. I was wondering if a spray bottle would work so that was also on my list to experiment with. Your results look fantastic. I like the clean up with just water.
Perhaps you could mention in future videos your image preparation.... are you using NWT method through ImagR??
Wow! I just found this video and it is spectacular, really spectacular. I only have one question, titanium dioxide, where can you buy it?
A superb job!! Congratulations
Amazon sells it.
Measurement question: In the comments I saw that you used a 1:1 ratio measured by volume, for example, 1 Tbsp of alcohol to 1 Tbsp of titanium dioxide. How many tiles do you estimate that you could cover with that small amount?
This video might be more clear and it's a better way to apply tio2. ruclips.net/video/QHCoeLrig6A/видео.html
which method you use I mean diether or line to line I watch every your video please just continue you are amazing
I used Jarvis on these. 10 watt laser at 5000 mm/m and 45% power. You might need different speed and power for your laser.
Love it man! Got a new sub....keep em' coming. Can't wait to experiment with this
Great video my friend. So my question is about the tiles, have you used unglazed vs glazed tiles as well and do you have an opinion on that ? Thanks for posting your video, thumbs up !
I have only used glazed so far.
I tried unglazed tiles when I first got my laser. It's pretty much impossible to get the paint (or in this case TIO2 coating) off the unglazed tile cleanly.
Awesome tip! Is this process dishwasher-proof? The tiles could be good to use as coaster 🙂
Yes it is permanent.
Great information, thanks.
Where did you get your images?
In Europe, Titanium Dioxide, or E171 is considered to be carcinogenic when inhaling it. Therefore it's now forbidden in a lot of appliances.
The way you are using it, makes inhaling an even bigger problem, therefore I would not consider this method myself.
Good reason to take precautions. That's why I wear a mask and recommend everyone does as well.
this is a “possible carcinogen”, it also includes ginkgo beloba and aloe vera
Ahh, then getting cancer is not a problem because there is also Aloe Vera in it. 😢
Great video and great results. Always looking at new methods. Titanium oxide in foods is now banned In Europe and I am certain the FDA are looking into it. Although the powder is available here food grade or not the reason for the ban is of course its carcinogenic. So the thought of spraying it into the air really bothers me even with a good mask. Like you say it's every where and if you touch it, it comes off. But really nice results.
I am certainly not an expert but to my knowledge it is only harmful to your lungs. Like he says in the video, wear a respirator. There are also other methods of application to tile, i have seen some people mix the tio2 with glue and water then use a foam brush. But again, be careful when mixing.
Do Brasil venho lhe parabenizar pelo excelente vídeo.
Você já tentou utilizar está mesma cobertura de dióxido de titânio em cima da parte reflexiva de um espelho para gravar uma foto nele? Ou o risco de reflexão é tão grande que você nunca ousou? Você sabe se alguém já fez isto ou se faz?
I’d trust 50/50 by weight or volume?
Just got some Marble coasters today, after some great success with Bamboo Coasters and Black coated metal Business cards I thought I would get more ambitious with cheap white Marble coasters.
Couple of questions- what do you use tiles for? Just like art or coasters or…? And where did you get the files? Love them! Thanks! :)
When you say 50 to 50 ratio on the mix is that like 1 cup to 1 cup . Or by weight? Thanks in advance
Turns out 50/50 is to much. It clogs the spray bottles to fast. I've been using a mix now of 1 part Tio2 to 5 parts alcohol. It's easier to spray and gives the same results.
@@lasersandsaws So is the mixture consist of 100 gram of TiO2 to 500 gram of alcohol or 1 cup of TiO2 to 5 cups of alcohol? Thanks.
@@doctorpd1959 I did it by volume so 1 cup tio2 to 5 cups alcohol. But it's not an exact amount. Your just trying to get enough tio2 on the surface but not clog the sprayer.
Thank you INCREDIBLE Video!!!
Thank you.
Thermark makes an excellent product that can be applied with an airbrush hat will last for many years, Black is durable as you need no need to treat the Tile at all
super expensive with a short expiration period.
I guess you can't use air assist as it will blow off the to2.
these look beautiful. Which laser did you use? I have a 10W diode. Will this work?
I used a 10 watt Roly lasermatic.
This is cool. Do you know if this technique will work on other surfaces?
I think it works on glass, some rock, acrylic and probably other things.
I see a lot of videos about ingraiving on tails but only have one question. What to do with all these tails after? What is the purpose? Put on the wall or what?
50:50 by weight or volume?
volume
Was coming to ask the same question
Hi there!
Thanks for the video.
Can you give me some advise please?
I have also tried the method. Immediately after lasering it looks nice, but after rinsing the image is ruined. I tested the best settings and let everything dry thoroughly. What am I doing wrong?
Is the method only suitable for a diode laser or also for a co2 laser? I have a Co2 laser, this could be the issue.
Thanks Barry
I'm not sure what might be wrong. Maybe to much power. I don't have a co2 laser to test on but I think it should work.
@@lasersandsaws I have tiles enough so i will keep trying ;-)
@@lasersandsaws Got it fixed! I have significantly reduced the speed and power.
Nice. How durable have you found TI02 to be once you cleaned off your tiles? Do you need to be fairly gentle with the marking or is it mostly permanent? Thanks.
It's permanent.
For image processing, do you just pull in a raw image into lightburn and it just works or do you still process via Photoshop / imag-r first using the norton black tile method process?
I usually process in photoshop first.
will this work on dark tiles, I have attempted twice with different settings no paint do titanium oxide. The laser made where it goes shiny not engraved. 20w diode laser.
Thanks for sharing! I’m so glad there’s a non-paint method to do this. I really disliked the wait time with paint and chemicals needed to remove the remaining paint.
You mentioned a 50/50 mix. Since you have a dry and wet ingredient, are you saying you put like 1/4 cup of powder and the same of the alcohol in the spray bottle?
Yes exactly. But it doesn't have to be exact. I just eye ball it.
IDK why everyone talks about the time for paint to dry and the excessive cleanup on paint. One of the first alterations I tried was to laser the wet paint immediately after spraying. Works great for me and the cleanup is super quick with a little acetone while the paint is still relatively wet. Do like his results and might be a good alternative tho.
I use an 80/20 mixture and two coats with excellent results. 20g. Titanium dioxide and 80g. 99% alcohol. Defiantly the challenge has been finding a spray bottle that works.
@@yourtimehomeinspections4354 I have gone thru so many spray bottles. None seem that great for the job. I tried airbrush but that clogs right away. Right now I'm trying a different mix and painting it on with a foam brush.
@@zumbafosto But can you simply rinse your's with tap water?
Hi sir, how many watts laser power i should have to printing on ceramic?
Well done. Thanks for doing this!!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Amazing detail.
Hello, txs' for sharing this trick. but i have one question, you said 50% of each, it's 50% in volume or in weight?
volume but you can just eye ball it.
@@lasersandsaws txs'
you have a video showing what you did to create the image for lasering. also what watt laser did you use? light burn, gimp? thanks
It was done with a 10 watt Roly lasermatic10. The software used was lightburn.
@@lasersandsaws did you use lightburn only? did you need to invert image. can you make a video showing the process on how you put the image in lightburn, im just learning. thank you for replying. settings, speed,power, etc... thx
i used this ti dioxide but nothing is happening. no image is being burned. 100% power at 500mm speed. im confused. ortur laser master 2. i also purchased the ti dioxide from your link. im i putting it on to thick? using the 91% alcohol too. fine mist sprayer, coating on tile looks good. any advise. thanks
Without seeing your actual parameters I can't really tell you whats wrong. But here is a couple things to try. 1. you might be going to slow and to much power. 2. Make sure your focus is set correctly to your tile. 3. Make sure your actually getting a good coating of tio2.
I live in ireland and find it hard to get IPA do you think surgical spirts would be the same as or work as good as isopropyl ??
Try this method. It uses water, elmer's glue and Tio2. ruclips.net/video/QHCoeLrig6A/видео.html
nice
have you ever tried spray sidewalk chalk?
I would like to use this technique, BUT can you go over again how "inexpensive" this treatment is for someone like me who does not own a laser or possess the knowledge to write the program for the laser to create a tile design I see in my head?
"stop using paint"
*proceeds to make homemade paint with iso as the medium*
Basically but you don’t have to clear coat it 😂
How about on black ceramic tiles
I tried this method, I have splotches , am I putting it on to heavy? I did test on text at 2000@30 to 70 on my I concluded that 40-45power was good. 22w diode.
Amazing. I love the Captain America. Oh, how long did these take ? Laser power?
Thank you for sharing! How many lines did you do at 45%, 5000? TIA
6.38 pm est I now have a better understanding of this procedure . Thank you. 7/24
Can the engraved image on the tile survive in hot sun?
Has anyone tried this with a CO2 laser? Can the image be easily scratched off?
Hi great results,how do you measure it out,what do you use to get the mix correct
The mix really doesn't matter to much. Just thin it enough so it will spray without clogging.
Fast search:
Is titanium dioxide legal?
It is associated with health risks such as DNA damage and immune system toxicity. The European Union banned the use of titanium dioxide in foods due to these safety concerns, yet the additive remains legal in the US.
is this safe with a C02 laser? like a Glowforge pro?
Wear a mask to be sure.
I like to lightly wet sand mine with 400 grit sandpaper.
Is the 50% TO2/alcohol recipe by weight or volume?
@lasersandsaws Could you tell me what type of images you used for this video? Halftone, greyscale, line art?
I can send you a copy of the images if you want. Just email me so I know where to send. But the cpt america-ish one was a sketch. The other 2 were greyscale.
Thanks a lot for this. Do you think it would work on things like cement planters or candle containers made with Cementall? I don't engrave tiles, just Cementall.
I tried it on a rock and it worked. It might work on cement too.
Nice work - I've seen a TON of these videos and it looks like there is a "clean" way to get black on tiles at last! What do people do with the tiles, tho? 🤔
For me the tiles just pile up in the garage LOL.
@@lasersandsaws Preah on, brutha!
so do you turn air assist off so it doen't blow off the dust?
I do yes.
Does this cut into the tile or deposit material on top? Does it scrape off?
It bonds to the surface and is permanent.
@@lasersandsawsit scrapped off for me
How you measure both to get equal amount since one is liquid and the other a powder
An example of what I meant would be 1 tbsp of alcohol and 1 tbsp of TiO2. It's not exact. This is just the ratio I use but you could try any ratio and maybe get better results.
Have you tried this method on white mugs? Or any color mugs?
I haven't tried it but it's a great idea.
@@lasersandsaws Does this work on clear glass?
@@skeetfontenot4922 Yes it does.
What laser engraver are you using? Great post!
Roly lasermatic 10.
My mixture is coming out very grainy. I have mixed as much as possible. Any ideas? From anyone?
The mix is grainy or the engraving is grainy?
Does the mixture hold up to storage after you mix it up? Or do you mix before each session? Thanks for the video.
Holds up fine but it will separate so just shake it up real good before each spray.
@@lasersandsaws Thank you. I’ll give it a try. 👍🏼
I can get Titanium dioxide in different colors (pigments). Will using different colors result in a colored etching (similar to lasering over powder coat pigments), or still just a gray or dark image like with standard paint?
I know that there are oxides that would make different colors but I don't know which ones.....yet. Thanks for the comment.
Would the borax method used on wood also work on tiles?
I don't think Borax would work in the same way. The Tio2 is actually being permanently fused to the tile.
@@lasersandsaws Thank you
How durable is it after engraved? do you have to coat it with a top coat of something.
It's permanent.
I just engrave no paint then I run alchol based ink
Would this come out black on glass?
Yes it will.
That looks outstanding. Here's a dumb question....why can't you just laser the tile without applying this finish or paint?
Because it doesn't work. TIO2 bonds to the surface, turning it black as well.
Nice - Any way to add color to it?
There are other types of oxides that make different colors. Cobalt oxide leaves a blue etch for example. I've never tried any other than TiO2 though.
can i use ethyl alcohol 70% solution????
50/50 by weight or by volume?
hm i cant find in my country TIO2 food grade...only normal powder TIO2 its problem? orwhat difference?
I think it will work.
@@lasersandsaws so thanks I buy this and some people use red or green color food...why is this good for what ? Need buy any color food or need be green or red?
That's pretty awesome.
Couple questions.
How durable is it?
Does it only work on white glazed tiles?
I've only tried on white ceramic tiles but I think it works on any ceramic or glass. It's very durable. I couldn't scratch it off with a screw driver when I tried.
@@lasersandsaws I love to hear that
How does the artwork hold up? Can it be scraped off?
It doesn't come off.
What is the brand of the machine? What happened to the Oturo?
I used the Roly lasermatic10 on these. I don't use the Ortur anymore. It was always breaking. The Roly works perfect everytime.
Can you use a co2 laser with this process?
I don't have a co2 but some who do have told me it works.