Thread: Batwing door feature panel - lasercut?

If SWMBO's door is in full weather, then I wouldn't be comfortable using mdf, I'd be more inclined to use merbau or kwila, or even old-growth meranti, i.e. the heaviest, darkest pieces you could find, or even good old tassie oak.

Originally Posted by rhancock

SWMBO spotted this door on her travels one day and wants to convert our existing verandah doors to something similar. The door itself is solid, and the bottom of our doors are timber in fill, so we'll leave those, so it's only the top panels we need to change. Basically all I need is to find an appropriate timber, find a pattern and get it lasercut.

So, what timber is used? It'll be painted with Solarguard, so moisture resistant mdf?
Who could I get to lasercut it? and what's it cut?

I suggest waterproof ply -- not marine ply, the stuff desifgned for external signs

Your real challenge will be the laser cutting.
Ideally you will go to the laser cutter with a vector CAD file of the design you want, though some laser cutters may be able to replicate a full size pen and ink drawing.
Maybe it's an opportunity to develop some CAD skills?

My understanding is that the key to a successful laser cut at that scale is sufficient fine detail in the CAD file

I would just use a jigsaw myself

Originally Posted by corbs

I would just use a jigsaw myself

depends on how much cleaning up you want to do with rasps, files and sand paper after cutting the shape.

it's a lot more with a jigsaw compared to a laser cut

Hey Guys,

A laser sounds great, but have you thought about a CNC Router at all,???


Just another option

HazzaB

Originally Posted by HazzaB

A laser sounds great, but have you thought about a CNC Router at all,???

A router wont do internal v-points, they have to be cut. The pattern looks simple, I'd use a jigsaw. Accurate cuts with quality blades, and the amount of sanding will be minimal, if any. Bearing in mind its going to be painted, so the finish doesn't need to be super smooth.

They will do V points down to the dia of the smallest cutter or they can do a gradual point using a V cutter which looks better than a everyday plain jane point (the whole pattern will need chamfering)

It's pattern V8 from Finlaysons Timber. You can buy it.

Thanks to all, you've confirmed what I thought really.

Mic-D, I looked at the Finalaysons site, but couldn't find a door like this. I am planning to take some measurements and photos of our door this weekend and email them and Woodworkers to ask for a quote. Do you have a link to the V8 pattern on their website?

www.finlayson.com.au/downloads/pdfs/products/S12_envirowood.pdf

Thanks, Mic. $700 is about what I thought a new set of doors would cost. I'm hoping that I can fit a panel to the existing (and perfectly fine) doors for around a third of that, but if not, we'll wait a couple of years till we can afford them. SWMBO was planning on knocking on the door to find out where they bought them from, so you've saved her a trip.