Laser engraving flaking off?

[Sparq]

http://www3.sympatico.ca/reids/Xvalve.jpg

This is my new (used) X-valve...what exactly is happening to the laser engraved logo? Perhaps someone who knows a thing or two about the laser engraving process can fill me in here...

[CaliWagon31]

jst the paint that is inside the laser engraving is coming off

[pito189]

I can't say that I have ever seen that before, kinda weird.

[AGD]

There is nothing to flake off. The laser burns into the metal exposing the raw aluminum underneath. Its probably just dirty.

AGD

[paintballbeaver]

yeah toms correct had it happen on my e-mag

the aluminum oxidizes and turns a darker color or in your case i think its dirty try denatured alch. or soap and a tooth brush to clean it up

[Sparq]

Well I'll give it a shot...I had wondered how it could flake off when it's not actually an applied material, but that's how it looks at the moment.

EDIT: After some brushing, the lighter, shinier sections did indeed flake off, leaving a darker, blotchy grey base. How do they look immediately after engraving? Perhaps the lighter sections were a layer of oxidization, as has been suggested? Ah well...shiny or dull, as long as it's uniform :)

Note: I have a laser engraved barrel as well, and it's pretty much solid white.

[RobAGD]

What you can do is take a white crayon or greese marker and fill the lazer etching back in and clean off the excess.

Whats "flaking" off is the old burned materal, and that leaves raw alumium that oxidizes.

-Robert

[Sparq]

Thanks. I'd been thinking about what I could fill it in with...white crayon never occurred to me.

[RetroEclipseMan]

What about very carefully going over it in using a whiteout pen? That would be a bit more perminant.

[The Frymarker]

just get a little bottle of testors paint and rub it in.

[FragTek]

Would bleach mess up the engraving? My E-Max logo is getting a bit dirty and I would like to restore its color a tad... I was thinking bleach since its white, but maybe not, any suggestions?