Need advice on engraving a wooden chopping board — uneven shades
Hey everyone, I’m trying to engrave a wooden chopping board (butcher block) and the result isn’t coming out great. I’m getting uneven shades across the engraving — some areas look fine but others come out way more burnt than I wanted.
My setup:
• Machine: 60W CO2 laser
• Speed: 450
• Power: 19
What I’m going for: A clean, black engraving with consistent tone across the design.
What I’m getting: Inconsistent results — some spots look properly dark/black, others look overly burnt with visible charring/soot on the surface around the letters.
My questions:
1. Are my speed/power settings off for a 60W on wood cutting boards? Should I go faster, lower power, or both?
2. Does the unevenness suggest a focus issue, a moisture issue in the wood, or just wrong settings?
3. After engraving, would applying food-grade mineral oil help darken and even out the letters? Or would it make the burnt areas look worse?
4. For future boards — should I aim for a lighter engraving and let the oil darken it, or push for darker burn straight from the laser?
I’ll add photos in the comments. Any tips from people who’ve dialed this in would be super appreciated 🙏