My first commission

 After posting some pictures on social media, I got asked if I could make a map of Lake Huron. This was a fun project to do, and was even more fiddly than Italy.

I'm pleased with it, and even more pleased with switching from a matte to a gloss clear-coat, even though it doesn't translate well in pictures.

I also learned that if you spray clearcoat in an extremely hot garage, much of it will solidify before it hits the project surface, and result in a grainy texture. Nothing a little light sanding with a paper bag couldn't fix though.

Italy

 After a successful first project, I started getting files for several other local lakes, I realized that I should probably make something for my wife. As a long time lover of everything Italian, Italy was perfect for her. Again, I am extremely pleased at how this turned out, although I have to come up with a strategy to handle and preserve all the little fiddly bits like islands and such.

First Project! Lake Tahoe Bathymetric Map

I discovered a whole range of ready-made SVG files for laser cutting on Etsy, and became fascinated with Bathymetric Maps. What better first project to try then a local Jewel, Lake Tahoe?

I'm very pleased with how it turned out. I'm hoping to install an Extension Kit so I can use bigger material. I currently am constrained to a 12x12" project piece, and as a result projects are about 11.75" wide or high.

What's this then?

 So in 2022 I got an Ortur Laser Master 3 during a Black Friday sale. I messed with it for a bit, but never really dove deep into using it. I burned some images onto Cardstock, learned a little about Lightburn, and then it just sat, leaned up against a wall, for a better part of a year...

A few months ago, I became obsessed with a character design from the Fallout Video Game series, the New California Ranger. I wanted to make one of the helmets. While getting a pattern, and researching the build, I realized you can use a laser to cut EVA foam (see also here). After experimenting with the laser and EVA foam (which worked out well), and started playing around with cutting 3mm birch ply as well.

I hope to chronicle my journey here.