Laser engraving stained/painted leather

[BenjaminEstberg]

We engrave chrome tanned leather quite a bit at my work. Just started to get into the veg stuff. With my experience on chrome some can have a mask put on before the laser process but some will discolor when the mask is removed which is bad. i havent really had a problem with the soot sticking to the veg tan other than the white color. Pledge works ok. Also if you can mask off the leather and then engrave it there is a product called Eco-flo cova color which if you leave the mask on then you can fill the burned areas with the color let dry then remove the mask. looks sharp! hope it helps! Tom G is on the money another tip is get a packing tape gun and remove the blade it makes for a nice roller to seal the mask to the leather.

[Katlyn4jc]

Thanks 

[ludmasson]

I always etch the leather first , then stain it after. I find doing it this way works best.

[Northmount]

That sounds better.  Couldn't see how you would be able to line up precisely to etch after paint or dye.  Makes a lot of sense.

Tom