How to Engrave a Slate Coaster?

Slate is one of those popular stone choices for making coasters – first because it’s readily available, and second because it has a dark surface with natural textures that make designs stand out.

Engraving slates has also become simpler and easier with the rise of laser engraving machines. With desktop laser engravers, you can add names, monograms, or detailed patterns on a slate. You just need a digital design – the machine handles the rest.

If you’re curious to explore slate engraving, read on to find out the best lasers for the job and the complete steps to craft your own customized slate coasters.

What Kinds of Lasers Are Suitable for Engraving Slate?

Currently, three types of laser engravers are common on the market: diode, CO2, and fiber. Although, they all can engrave slate, their power and other material capabilities differ.

Diode Laser Engravers

Diode or blue light laser engravers are the most affordable desktop engravers among the three. Their optical power is moderate, usually between 5W to 40W. For deeper and more prominent engravings on the slate, a 20W diode laser would be an optimal choice.

Despite being affordable, they have a versatile material capability – one of the best entry options for DIYers and hobbyists. One popular option is xTool S1. It’s available in 10W, 20W and 40W variants. The 40W S1 is the world’s first 40W enclosed diode machine.

CO2 Laser Engravers

CO2 laser engravers are more powered than diode lasers, usually above 50W, and their laser wavelength is readily absorbed by slate. They can even engrave and cut through materials that are not supported by diodes, for instance, clear acrylic. They are better suited for small businesses, which need repetitive engraving tasks. Among options, xTool P2 is one of the best desktop CO2 engravers on the market.

Fiber Laser Engraves

Fiber laser engravers are the most powerful of the three, and best suited for metal engravings. However, they can deeply engrave a slate coaster in seconds. Choose them if your use case involves metal or plastic engraving along with slate.

How to Engrave A Slate Coaster with A Diode Laser?

For crafters and DIYers, a diode laser engraver would be more than enough for slate. For the engraving procedure explanation, we will be using xTool S1 20W as reference.

Step 1: Get Slate Coasters

Slate coasters are easy to find in both circular and square shapes. A high-quality rock coaster pack is also at the xTool material store. You can test that out for the best results.

Step 2: Prepare a Design File

Choose a design as per your taste – popular options include monograms, quotes, logos, and decorative patterns. The design should be detailed, as laser engravers capture small elements well, and it should ideally be in grayscale for optimal results on slate.

If you don’t have a design ready, browse DesignFind for pre-made engraving files. To create custom designs in seconds, you can also our new AI design tool, AIMake. With a few words prompt, you can create an engraving-ready design file.

Step 3: Configure the Engraving Settings

Position your slate coaster securely on the engraving bed. Use S1’s pin-point positioning system to get a working area layout on the XCS. Import the design file and adjust its size according to the work area.

Choose the material as ‘Rock Coaster’ in the material library and it will guide you on optimal settings for the slate. Manually, the recommended design settings can be on EasySet Library.

You can achieve color engraving too. For that, you’ll have to play with the speed and power. Learn more through this project.

Step 4: Start Engraving

Once your settings are configured, close the lid and start the engraving. As the engraving begins, you’ll see the laser moving precisely over the slate. Usually, one pass is enough for a prominent engraving. However, for a deeper pronounced effect, try running a second pass.

Step 5: Clean and Seal (Optional)

After engraving, clean the slate coaster gently with a soft cloth to remove any residue or dust from the engraving process. For added protection, you can apply a sealant to the engraved coaster. This step is optional, as unsealed slate works well as a coaster.

We have listed down the procedure for engraving a slate coaster. You may replicate the process to engrave other slate items, such as slate plaques. Try making some unique coasters and don’t forget to share with us through Design Find.