Can You Laser Engrave Leather?

leather hat patches

Yes, you can laser engrave on leather. It is a actually becoming more and more popular as more people are starting to get into the laser engraving hobby. Both hobbyists like myself and professionals can use their laser engravers to personalize and enhance leather items such as wallets, belts, and keychains. Below I will be going into everything you need to know.

Which Type of Leather is Best for Laser Engraving?

There are many different types of leather that you can purchase from countless different online stores or brick and mortar establishments. However, the best leather you can use for engraving is natural leather that comes from animals.

These are some of the types of leather that is available for purchase:

  • Cowhide
  • Sheepskin
  • Goatskin
  • Pigskin
  • Deerskin
  • Buffalo leather
  • Kangaroo leather
  • Ostrich leather
  • Alligator & Crocodile leather
  • Snakeskin & Lizard leather
  • Stingray leather

The most popular type of leather is cowhide. It makes up the majority of leather products that we see on a daily basis due to many factors such as its durability, versatility, and availability. You can see cowhide being used in everything from the furniture you have in your home and the leather car interior. Not to mention shoes, and leather jackets.

What Type of Laser Engravers Can Engrave Leather?

There are mainly two types of laser engravers that can engrave leather. Below I will go over each.

Diode Laser

These laser are the ones that I have the most experience with as I currently own two of my own. These types of laser engravers are usually chosen by anyone entering the laser engraving hobby as there are some cheap options available. Amazon has options as low as $150.

CO2 Lasers

These types of lasers are able to to engrave on leather much better than diodes. The only downside to these types of laser engravers is the fact that they're more expensive and usually bigger than said diodes. I see Amazon has a cheap option known as the VEVOR 40W CO2 LASER ENGRAVER.

Key Considerations for Laser Engraving Leather:

  1. Leather Type: Most types of leather can be engraved. It is however your job to choose the type that best suits your needs. Before ordering hundreds of a specific type of leather, order samples and practice on those. If they work out, order more.
  2. Moisture Content: Adding some type of moisture to the leather before engraving can help prevent charring and ensure better results. However, try not to add too much moisture as that can affect the effectiveness of the lasers output.
  3. Ventilation: Be sure to have proper ventilation during your engraving process to avoid having fumes and odors in your work area. An exhaust system or working in a well-ventilated area is best. Amazon has many options for exhaust systems that you can choose from.
  4. Test Runs: Just like I said earlier, try to always perform test engravings on scrap pieces of the same leather to fine-tune your settings.

What leather products can you make?

There are plenty of leather products that you can engrave. Below is a list of some that would make great products to personalize.

Personal Accessories & Wearables

  • Wallets
  • Purses & Handbag
  • Keychains
  • Necklaces & Pendants
  • Bracelets
  • Headbands
  • Shoes

Office & Professional Gear

  • Briefcases & Portfolios
  • Journals & Notebooks
  • Bookmarks

Home & Decor

  • Coasters
  • Ornaments
  • Photographs on Leather

Fashion & Accessories

  • Hat Patches
  • Guitar Straps
  • Pet Collars & Tags

Expanded Ideas

  • Phone Cases
  • Knife Sheaths
  • Watch Straps
  • Belts
  • Passport Covers

Can You Laser Engrave Leather? My Personal Journey When I first got my laser engraver, I was terrified of ruining expensive products. One being leather. Fast forward to the present, I've engraved everything from leather wallets to leather belts to leather hand bags. If you're wondering if you can actually laser engrave leather then the answer is an absolutely yes.

Finding the Right Leather (Trial and Error) This is what I tell everyone who wants to engrave on a new type of material. Practice, practice, practice. I never try to engrave on a new type of material without first practicing on some type of waste material first. This is where you will get to find out the best speed and power settings for your specific material.

Here's what I've personally worked with (and my honest thoughts):

Cowhide: This is my go-to choice if I need the best quality. I get mine from Amazon and other online retailers.

Synthetic: This is the type of leather that I have been working with more lately. Reason being, it is of good quality as long as you find a supplier that makes high quality options. There are options on Amazon where you can get a piece of 17X79 Inches for only $22. How can you beat that price?

My Laser Setup I currently have two different laser engravers. I have a 6 watt Monport diode laser and a 20 watt Longer Ray 5.

Conclusion Laser engraving on leather has been one of the best experiences for me. It's exciting to see so many more people getting into this hobby like I did. Whether you're a hobbyist looking to personalize certain types of gifts or a professional creating custom products for clients, the possibilities with leather are endless.

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