Custom Wood Signage For My Small Business

My name is Zee Kesler and I’m going to walk you through how I created custom wood signage for my YouTube channel Curio Cabin as one of my first projects on a Thunder Laser.

As a maker, I really enjoy customizing my own space. So, I decided to start a YouTube channel where I document maximalist decor and renovations around my home. I’m just starting out this venture, so what better project to start off with than creating a sign with my channel name?

Step By Step Custom Wood Signage Instructions

Design a logo with a high-contrast background. I used a free program called Canva.
Either save the image and import it into Lightburn, or screen capture the image and paste it into Lighburn.
Right-click on the image and select “Trace Image”
Adjust your settings, so your image is properly highlighted. (See video: cutoff and threshold for help with this)
Drag the original image away from the traced image and delete the original.
Highlight the entire traced image by clicking and dragging to the left. If you click and drag a selection area left, the highlight box should turn green. This means every object the selection box touches will be selected. (Video: about green and red selections)
While everything is selected, right-click and select “Ungroup”.
Go through and delete parts of the traced image you do not want to laser cut or engrave.
In my project, I cleaned up the small holes in the brush script and deleted any holes that were too small to ‘poke out’ once the letters were cut.
Before you cut your entire project at full scale, do some mini tests. Do this by selecting your entire image and adjusting the size of your image. (You can use inches or milimeters) and move it where you want it to be on the laser bed. I tested on both mdf and plywood.
Choose your materials and use your Thunder Laser Materials settings booklet for reference. Start using the settings it recommends, do some tests and then adjust accordingly. You can also use the materials test setting on your laser to see how each setting will turn out on your particular material.
Write your settings on each mini test you create for each material.
Now that I know my settings, I am ready to cut my actually letters! In order to use as much of the material as possible, I am going to copy and paste each letter onto a new layer. I will click off the “Output” slider for the layers I don’t want to cut, and those won’t be sent to the laser.
Next I sent the project to the laser and framed my cut area.
Not shown-focus your laser if it isn’t focused already. (Watch: How to manually focus your Thunder Laser)
I used some stone blocks to hold down my mdf, since it was a bit bowed. I set my origin and framed the area before I added the blocks to ensure the laser head wouldn’t hit the blocks. (This would be very bad!)
Next I cut the letters by pressing start.
I popped the letter out of my mdf sheet as well as the small holes which are a features of my brush script. I used a flathead screwdriver to pop out the thin narrow pieces.
I repeated the same process of copying and pasting each letter onto a new layer. Once again, I ensured the other layers has the ‘output’ toggle switched off and the layer with the letter I want to cut is toggled on. Before I cut, I moved my mdf around and framed the area to cut the letters as close to one another as possible.
Once all my letters were cut, I lightly sanded any edges that needed it. (This was needed in the holes and tight curves especially)
Once all my letters were cut, I then cut my plywood circle.
Next I painted my circle and my letters with acrylic paint. I also painted the sides of my letters to hide the burn marks on the edges.
When my circle was cut, I glued my letters on the circle background.
I didn’t show this part, but I made a last minute decision to add lights on the back of my sign. To do this, I cut another circle of plywood on the back which was slightly smaller than my other circle. I then added a small rectangle on the bottom(for my light controller) and a small circle at the top (for hanging from a screw).
I used led strip lighting made by NLiten and downloaded the Bektonix app to control the pattern and color of the lights.
TBA: need to buy a usb connector for the lights! I will update you when I get it!

a young light skinned woman with long light brown hair holds a laser cut letter made of wood. In the background the words Thunder Laser Canada are on the wall

a close up image of the letter C being cut for custom wood signage on a laser cutter

Zee Kesler a light skinned woman with red glasses and dark long hair is close to the camera with a laser cut teal sign with white letter on a table behind her in the background

circular wood sign with laser cut letter made from mdf. Letters are a brush script and say Curio Cabin. They are made on a Thunder Laser machine

Stay Tuned!

I love maximalist design and decor and I am super excited about using a laser cutter to create custom projects for my home but also for packaging for my wool business Magic Trout Imaginarium. Subscribe to watch tutorials and educational content to learn how to use your Thunder Laser machine to it’s fullest potential!

Happy Lasering!.