Laser Ready Slate: Clean & Prep Coasters

How to Prep Slate for Laser Engraving | Slate Coasters Step-by-Step

In this video, I walk you through my complete process for prepping slate coasters for laser engraving, from sourcing and grading to cleaning, lacquering, and setup before engraving. This isn’t the only way to do it — it’s the real-world process I use when producing slate coasters for sale at Fox & Kit WoodWorks.

If you’re working with slate coasters, laser engraving slate, or selling engraved slate products, this video will help you avoid common mistakes and get cleaner, sharper engravings with better contrast and consistency.

What you’ll learn in this video:

Where to source slate coasters and what to look for
How I grade slate (A, B, and C) for production vs detailed work
The best way to clean slate before laser engraving
Natural slate vs lacquered slate engraving pros & cons
How slate thickness affects laser focus and engraving depth
Tips for drying, airflow, humidity, and avoiding lacquer clouding

Whether you’re running a small laser business, engraving slate coasters to sell, or just getting started with laser engraving for beginners, this process will save you time and frustration.

If this video helps you out, make sure to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you can follow along as I grow Fox & Kit WoodWorks and share more real-world woodworking and laser engraving tips.

Chapters:
00:04 – Intro & What This Video Covers
01:09 – Sourcing & Grading Slate Coasters (A / B / C)
03:15 – Cleaning Slate with Isopropyl Alcohol
05:05 – Lacquer vs Natural Slate (Pros & Cons)
10:00 – Lacquering Technique & Prep for Laser Engraving

Tools & Materials Mentioned:
Slate Coasters (4x4 with rubber feet preferred)
98–99% Isopropyl Alcohol
Soft bristle brush
Rust-Oleum Clear Lacquer (Ultra Smooth / Automotive Nano)
Air blower

#laserengraving #smallbusiness #diy #slate #xtool