If I'm painting white on a lasered piece, I always seal the whole project with shellack or clear spray paint. This prevents bleed through from the char and less coats of white paint. If I were making these clouds, I would do this step first then lay them on paint tripods (you can use SOLO cups in place of the tripods if you want to save money) and use a spray gun to paint all of them at once. Of course, you will still need multiple coats, it's white =) Spray all sides then top. Kinda like you would paint cabinet doors. This could allow you to paint multiple orders at once and get a nice factory finish. You can pick up an inexpensive spray gun and compressor at Harbor Freight. Happy Making!!
Like others have said, stack a bunch of the exact same shape and paint all the burned sides at once. For the front use a paint roller. The roller works great for me on some of my projects. Good video
I use a 3" foam roller to paint door round backings. It's fast and you can roll the sides also. I don't use a brush on anything. I keep the different color rollers in zip lock bags and use them multiple times. I have found this is the easiest, fastest and most cost effective way for me. For the clouds I would use a white primer, front and back and then paint. I have found out over the years through comments and suggestions from customers, that at least priming the back makes the piece look more finished.
Howdy, Paint Solution... Rockler sells a HVLP paint rig. Its a $170, then get a portable spray booth, or build one with PVC and 4mil painted plastic. Also you can use a product called floetrol for latex. It helps the paint lay down nicely. Another solution is to use a product like DuraPoxy from Kelly Moore. It drys fast lays down flat. It is designed for cabinets. It can be sprayed or brushed. Enjoying your content. Thanks... ill add rattle cans are great you just have to do light coats. two to three works well. very fast. so maybe that paired with a spray booth... aka paint tent.
I've had decent luck using a shellac primer first, followed by a light sand to knock down loose endgrains and then respraying projects. I believe the primer can be purchased in a spray can which my cut down on time, but doesn't solve the issue of being outside. I've seen some people buy cheap greenhouses as a cover for projects when drying outdoors however? Thanks for sharing.
You could roll the top and bottom first, then laser. Once cut you could stack 6 or so and do the edges. Separate quickly so they don’t stick. I haven’t tried it, but think it could work. Maybe some reusable chipboard/cardboard cutouts between the layers to prevent the paint from wicking between?
Like the suggestion for stacking your clouds to paint the edges and you could get a 'lazy susan' to spin the clouds to get all the edges. Just a thought.
Foam roller, I do spray with paint first a primer then one coat of wall paint, and you can get the sides done as well. You need to thin the paint with distilled water so it run off the stick in a thin line without breaking into drips if it drips you have to much water think of melted butter the way it would run off a stick. It would take me 2 min to paint 30 of them clouds per coat. you need to raze them up a little so you could get the sides and you would save paint if you spray because a roller suck up a lot of paint and with the left over paint in the spray pot you tip it back into your paint tin. But if you don't use distilled water the paint will go off if you reuse it after a week or two.
Roll the whole sheet of ply wood in white, cut out the clouds, put all the ones of the same size In a stack with spacers between each one (fold duct tape over itself a few times, only need 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch gap and the duct tape won’t damage the existing paint), then paint the sides with the brush, it’ll add an extra coat of paint to the corners because the gap you put in between as well which will help. Lastly for drying, if you have the ability to procure an extra oven, I often times will bake my products, it sets the paint up nice and hard, and drys them in 1/2 the time. I put the oven on 250 degrees and leave them in for 10 minutes, works really nice for multiple quick coats too.
Oh, you guys need to think outside the box for this one. What has been working really well for me is "Chalk Paint" plus a 1 inch foam roller! They are available in many different colors too or you can mix up your own colors in a jar beforehand. Method: wipe off any dust or residue with a damp rag, paint one coat, done! The mat finish is perfect for most projects too. You can thank me later 😊
Harbor freight paint sprayers are cheap and easy to set up. You also differentiate yourselves by using an air brush to add gray shades or shadow to your clouds. Also get a cheap camping tent to spray your clouds in. Make sure there is ventilation. Maybe bug netting too. Maybe use paint rollers. MDF is alot easier to paint then plywood. Couldn't tell what material your using.
There is a way to dip your product in paint. You would have to deal with the dripping though. An switching to latex house paint would mean you could do it indoors. An painting 1st then cutting like others have suggested will cause cleanup to be needed which will cut into time that you are trying to save.
I am lasering my first material guide as I write this lol. Have you thought about using a heat gun to smooth out any small bubbles or imperfections on the clouds? Maybe make a lazy Susan with three upturned nails you can put the clouds on. That way you can rotate and paint with ease.
Oh, one more thing, chalk paint rinses out easily under running water, so no need to keep them sealed in different color orientated bags. I use white chalk paint, rinse it under a tap, dry with a super absorbent cloth, like those thick yellow ones you find in those car washing kits and then dip in your mini paint tray with the next color...DONE! 😊
I would use and inflatable paint booth for vehicles they come in numerous sizes. And a professional spray gun with interior or exterior house paint for durability.If that wouldn’t work I’d definitely figure out a way to make $100 a pop.
Do the clouds need to be wooden? Consider white acrylic instead of plywood/mdf. Acrylic cuts very well on lasers as long as you have the right kind of laser machine (CO2 vs diode).
@@asherdiy No it would not your sides are end grain aka the hollow tube ends of wood and they are just going to soak and soak. You are right dipping is the way and there is a way to dip you have to either just think about it or maybe get with a coatings applications specialist like myself for the answer. An we dont work for free or give our processes out for free. Our time and experience is not something that is just given away. There is a way to dip your product though.
What his the thickness of the material and type? I have an Epilog laser and do not have a strong smell when cutting. My 60 watt can cut up to a 1/2" thick.
A battery powered spray gun would work fine. Efficient for small jobs without having to lug around a air compressor. Quick and easy refills.. probably invest in a small spray tent. Those two paired together would be great
I haven't read all of the comments but, as for painting, have you tried a roller? Not sure if wee sponge rollers would be best but there are many roller options. Could even attempt a textured roller for a more realistic, fluffy cloud concept 🤔🤔🤔
He asked about dipping and there is a way to dip but most will never think of it cause they are not really coating application specialists and have never had to work in that way and while a roller would speed it up it does not compare to the speed of dipping.
I see you are using a xtool diode, I have one of those too. I will be making mine into the extended version as yours. Do you have plans for the box? And what type of wood are you using for the clouds? Thanks again.
Sorry - I haven’t had a chance to put together enclosure plans yet. I do have a video about the build though if you haven’t seen it already. I use Maple veneer plywood for the clouds.
No, we haven’t tried that, but it’s really the sides that takes the bulk of the time. The tops are already quick. It’s a good suggestion though, thanks for weighing in.
@alexpettigrew583 yes this! Paint the full sheet with a roller, then you'll just have the sides to get when they're done cutting. That will save a lot of time
Hi! Ah, Denmark, I actually spent 3 months in Copenhagen several years ago. You have a beautiful country. Interesting idea about using foil. I hadn’t thought of that. Were you thinking the kind that is applied with one of those vacuum devices?
@@asherdiy Thank you for the nice comment about our country. I was actually just thinking of the "normal" vinyl, just like for car stickers etc. but I don't know if that's too much of a hassle.
fully black and white image, then exports as JPEG... (facepalm) jpeg is for continuous color images. Use PNG for line drawing and high contrast. In your case, export as SVG since that is a vector format and you will avoid an extra conversion.
I’m aware of these differences, this was just meant to be an example of what you can do. Plus jpegs are probably the most common type of photo file that average folks use, so in that way I thought it made the example feel a little more accessible. Cheers.
"if only there was a way to dip the cloud in paint" What if I told you that you answered the question to your problem. Look into hydro dipping. Its a pretty brainless process and you don't need to buy expensive equipment or paint. You basically float a layer of paint on top of water in a cheap bucket and stick your cloud through it. It should wrap the front and sides. Not sure if you paint the back side on your clouds so you might have to do a second dip.
Nvm was just thinking about the orientation and you should be able to cover it all if you go from the edge first and dip slow. Also I have never done this before, so I dont know the results, but it is a process that exists.
Well, everyone has different opinions about the painting solution for you, but I think you should pivot slightly, and try out a new medium entirely for them! My thought, since you said that ideally you would love to just be able to dip them and be done…would be Resin! You could then offer a bunch of different options for your color/added bling of different micas/glitters/mylar foils/etc… My specific recommendation would be JDiction 4hr/8hr Fast Cure, it should keep your turn around times fast, and produce a beautiful hard non-yellowing shiny finish! And short of there being some drip clean up afterwards, it should be a 1 and Done type of finish. Great video though, and I’m definitely a happy new Subscriber! As a fellow Maker, it’s always great seeing what everyone else is up to creatively and Entrepreneurially.❤🫂🙏🤞🤘 Keep up the fantastic work! Hope my suggestion helps speed up your process and increase Customer satisfaction for yet again one upping the competition!
Paint roller on front AND sides. Do sides first, lay it down, then do front.
If I'm painting white on a lasered piece, I always seal the whole project with shellack or clear spray paint. This prevents bleed through from the char and less coats of white paint. If I were making these clouds, I would do this step first then lay them on paint tripods (you can use SOLO cups in place of the tripods if you want to save money) and use a spray gun to paint all of them at once. Of course, you will still need multiple coats, it's white =) Spray all sides then top. Kinda like you would paint cabinet doors. This could allow you to paint multiple orders at once and get a nice factory finish. You can pick up an inexpensive spray gun and compressor at Harbor Freight. Happy Making!!
Super helpful - thanks for the detailed comment here. This might be what I try next.
Like others have said, stack a bunch of the exact same shape and paint all the burned sides at once. For the front use a paint roller. The roller works great for me on some of my projects. Good video
I use a 3" foam roller to paint door round backings. It's fast and you can roll the sides also. I don't use a brush on anything. I keep the different color rollers in zip lock bags and use them multiple times. I have found this is the easiest, fastest and most cost effective way for me. For the clouds I would use a white primer, front and back and then paint. I have found out over the years through comments and suggestions from customers, that at least priming the back makes the piece look more finished.
Howdy, Paint Solution... Rockler sells a HVLP paint rig. Its a $170, then get a portable spray booth, or build one with PVC and 4mil painted plastic. Also you can use a product called floetrol for latex. It helps the paint lay down nicely. Another solution is to use a product like DuraPoxy from Kelly Moore. It drys fast lays down flat. It is designed for cabinets. It can be sprayed or brushed. Enjoying your content. Thanks... ill add rattle cans are great you just have to do light coats. two to three works well. very fast. so maybe that paired with a spray booth... aka paint tent.
Paint with a roller/brush the sides
I've had decent luck using a shellac primer first, followed by a light sand to knock down loose endgrains and then respraying projects. I believe the primer can be purchased in a spray can which my cut down on time, but doesn't solve the issue of being outside. I've seen some people buy cheap greenhouses as a cover for projects when drying outdoors however? Thanks for sharing.
You could roll the top and bottom first, then laser. Once cut you could stack 6 or so and do the edges. Separate quickly so they don’t stick. I haven’t tried it, but think it could work. Maybe some reusable chipboard/cardboard cutouts between the layers to prevent the paint from wicking between?
I enjoyed the content! Make more business videos like this!
Like the suggestion for stacking your clouds to paint the edges and you could get a 'lazy susan' to spin the clouds to get all the edges. Just a thought.
Foam roller, I do spray with paint first a primer then one coat of wall paint, and you can get the sides done as well. You need to thin the paint with distilled water so it run off the stick in a thin line without breaking into drips if it drips you have to much water think of melted butter the way it would run off a stick. It would take me 2 min to paint 30 of them clouds per coat. you need to raze them up a little so you could get the sides and you would save paint if you spray because a roller suck up a lot of paint and with the left over paint in the spray pot you tip it back into your paint tin. But if you don't use distilled water the paint will go off if you reuse it after a week or two.
You should try Smokey Hill designs would called eco white or their new primed mdf you can get both in 1/8 or 1/4 in size
There is white pattern ply wood available now and all you would have to paint is just the sides 😊
Roll the whole sheet of ply wood in white, cut out the clouds, put all the ones of the same size In a stack with spacers between each one (fold duct tape over itself a few times, only need 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch gap and the duct tape won’t damage the existing paint), then paint the sides with the brush, it’ll add an extra coat of paint to the corners because the gap you put in between as well which will help. Lastly for drying, if you have the ability to procure an extra oven, I often times will bake my products, it sets the paint up nice and hard, and drys them in 1/2 the time. I put the oven on 250 degrees and leave them in for 10 minutes, works really nice for multiple quick coats too.
Oh, you guys need to think outside the box for this one. What has been working really well for me is "Chalk Paint" plus a 1 inch foam roller! They are available in many different colors too or you can mix up your own colors in a jar beforehand. Method: wipe off any dust or residue with a damp rag, paint one coat, done! The mat finish is perfect for most projects too. You can thank me later 😊
I would use a roller to put the paint on then use brush to finish its fast too
Harbor freight paint sprayers are cheap and easy to set up. You also differentiate yourselves by using an air brush to add gray shades or shadow to your clouds. Also get a cheap camping tent to spray your clouds in. Make sure there is ventilation. Maybe bug netting too. Maybe use paint rollers. MDF is alot easier to paint then plywood. Couldn't tell what material your using.
I am new but i would try painting first then cutting, or figuring out how to cut white craft foam or acrylic
There is a way to dip your product in paint. You would have to deal with the dripping though. An switching to latex house paint would mean you could do it indoors. An painting 1st then cutting like others have suggested will cause cleanup to be needed which will cut into time that you are trying to save.
I am lasering my first material guide as I write this lol. Have you thought about using a heat gun to smooth out any small bubbles or imperfections on the clouds? Maybe make a lazy Susan with three upturned nails you can put the clouds on. That way you can rotate and paint with ease.
Oh, one more thing, chalk paint rinses out easily under running water, so no need to keep them sealed in different color orientated bags. I use white chalk paint, rinse it under a tap, dry with a super absorbent cloth, like those thick yellow ones you find in those car washing kits and then dip in your mini paint tray with the next color...DONE! 😊
Small compressor and spray gun with a heat lamp to fast dry
Wagner and several others make a spray paint shelter for around $30 so you can spray inside
I would use and inflatable paint booth for vehicles they come in numerous sizes. And a professional spray gun with interior or exterior house paint for durability.If that wouldn’t work I’d definitely figure out a way to make $100 a pop.
You baited me in expertly lol. A set of 9pc for $99 and free shipping... not $100/ea lol.
You win
Spray and roller
Do the clouds need to be wooden? Consider white acrylic instead of plywood/mdf. Acrylic cuts very well on lasers as long as you have the right kind of laser machine (CO2 vs diode).
Stipple/pounce with a sponge dipped in the paint will dry quickly & give you fluffy texture
That’s a great idea. Do you think that would work well for the sides? That tends to be the most time consuming part of the painting process.
@@asherdiy you need to seal the sides to stop the endgrain from absorbing the paint unevenly
@@asherdiy No it would not your sides are end grain aka the hollow tube ends of wood and they are just going to soak and soak. You are right dipping is the way and there is a way to dip you have to either just think about it or maybe get with a coatings applications specialist like myself for the answer. An we dont work for free or give our processes out for free. Our time and experience is not something that is just given away. There is a way to dip your product though.
Have you thought of a spray booth of some sort to fix the outdoor issue? A pop up tent with screens sides?
What his the thickness of the material and type? I have an Epilog laser and do not have a strong smell when cutting. My 60 watt can cut up to a 1/2" thick.
A battery powered spray gun would work fine. Efficient for small jobs without having to lug around a air compressor. Quick and easy refills.. probably invest in a small spray tent. Those two paired together would be great
Create a small paint booth out of plastic then spray paint them using a spray gun and compressor or an electric paint gun.
Could you use white MDF and just paint the sides?
Use montana cans, prime with their gesso then paint
I haven't read all of the comments but, as for painting, have you tried a roller? Not sure if wee sponge rollers would be best but there are many roller options. Could even attempt a textured roller for a more realistic, fluffy cloud concept 🤔🤔🤔
He asked about dipping and there is a way to dip but most will never think of it cause they are not really coating application specialists and have never had to work in that way and while a roller would speed it up it does not compare to the speed of dipping.
Paint the sheet with a roller prior to burn then all you have to do is touch up
I see you are using a xtool diode, I have one of those too. I will be making mine into the extended version as yours. Do you have plans for the box? And what type of wood are you using for the clouds? Thanks again.
Sorry - I haven’t had a chance to put together enclosure plans yet. I do have a video about the build though if you haven’t seen it already. I use Maple veneer plywood for the clouds.
How thick is that plywood?@@asherdiy
Great video!!
Have you tried a paint roller for the clouds so that you can spend less time on the tops?
No, we haven’t tried that, but it’s really the sides that takes the bulk of the time. The tops are already quick. It’s a good suggestion though, thanks for weighing in.
Try painting the sheet before cutting. Then you would only have to do edges.
@alexpettigrew583 yes this! Paint the full sheet with a roller, then you'll just have the sides to get when they're done cutting. That will save a lot of time
Hello from Denmark. Thanks for some great and educational videos. Would it be possible to perhaps use foil/vinyl foil on the clouds? just an idea:)
Hi! Ah, Denmark, I actually spent 3 months in Copenhagen several years ago. You have a beautiful country. Interesting idea about using foil. I hadn’t thought of that. Were you thinking the kind that is applied with one of those vacuum devices?
@@asherdiy Thank you for the nice comment about our country. I was actually just thinking of the "normal" vinyl, just like for car stickers etc. but I don't know if that's too much of a hassle.
I see - interesting idea. I’ll keep that one in mind, if that worked it would likely be useful for other products in addition to the clouds.
Make a spray booth outside.
Hello good afternoon ,try painting the sheet of wood first . would saving you time afterwards
Maybe a 4 inch paint roller would be faster.
Good idea, but the bulk of the time goes to painting the sides, and the curves there are too tight for a roller unfortunately.
Use sanding sealer first, then paint. I'll take a 5% commission now own. Thank you 😂
Seriously, a non-descript one off screen grab of a so-called sale for Etsy... Best of luck!
Cut out whiteboard instead of wood! Lowes and Home Depot sell it.
fully black and white image, then exports as JPEG... (facepalm)
jpeg is for continuous color images. Use PNG for line drawing and high contrast.
In your case, export as SVG since that is a vector format and you will avoid an extra conversion.
I’m aware of these differences, this was just meant to be an example of what you can do. Plus jpegs are probably the most common type of photo file that average folks use, so in that way I thought it made the example feel a little more accessible. Cheers.
Dip and drip method
wagner power shot
Buy an electric or a larger pneumatic paint gun...
Go talk to a paint supplier and use thier expertise.
Slow DOWN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sell unpainted, problem solved!
"if only there was a way to dip the cloud in paint" What if I told you that you answered the question to your problem. Look into hydro dipping. Its a pretty brainless process and you don't need to buy expensive equipment or paint. You basically float a layer of paint on top of water in a cheap bucket and stick your cloud through it. It should wrap the front and sides. Not sure if you paint the back side on your clouds so you might have to do a second dip.
Nvm was just thinking about the orientation and you should be able to cover it all if you go from the edge first and dip slow. Also I have never done this before, so I dont know the results, but it is a process that exists.
Well, everyone has different opinions about the painting solution for you, but I think you should pivot slightly, and try out a new medium entirely for them! My thought, since you said that ideally you would love to just be able to dip them and be done…would be Resin! You could then offer a bunch of different options for your color/added bling of different micas/glitters/mylar foils/etc… My specific recommendation would be JDiction 4hr/8hr Fast Cure, it should keep your turn around times fast, and produce a beautiful hard non-yellowing shiny finish! And short of there being some drip clean up afterwards, it should be a 1 and Done type of finish.
Great video though, and I’m definitely a happy new Subscriber! As a fellow Maker, it’s always great seeing what everyone else is up to creatively and Entrepreneurially.❤🫂🙏🤞🤘 Keep up the fantastic work! Hope my suggestion helps speed up your process and increase Customer satisfaction for yet again one upping the competition!