How to etch the Instructables Robot onto wood or anything else!

 by GorillazMiko
Well, at first I learned how to do this from this Instructable. So, I did the Instructables Robot, but in a different way. I hope you like it.
This can be kind of a like a gift for your friend that really likes Instructables. I might do this for my friend Dylan, I got him into Instructables.
I hope you like this Instructable!
 
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Step 1: Get your materials.

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The only things you need for this Instructable are:
1 Soldering iron (NOT a soldering gun.)
The place you desire to have your Instructables Robot.
A mechanical pencil, or something that has the plastic tip.
1 Pen (optional)
A picture of Instructables Robot
1-40 of 56Next »
NeonLime says: Feb 11, 2008. 6:55 PM
A Soldering Iron Should NEVER Be Used On ANYTHING Except Solder And Metal...
tilmen in reply to NeonLimeJul 4, 2011. 10:06 PM
why?
dragonsniper in reply to NeonLimeMay 17, 2011. 1:15 PM
and wood

:{)
dylankunaikennedy in reply to dragonsniperJun 6, 2011. 11:52 AM
i did this but i wrote MY ROOM and hung it up it has a very old west look
violetkitty says: Jan 4, 2011. 6:31 PM
you said you could soulder anything. how about metal?
summit says: Feb 22, 2008. 10:24 AM
+1 This idea is awesome!!! So going on my dresser.
summit in reply to summitFeb 22, 2008. 3:46 PM
By the way...I was on Radioshack.com and was searching for a soldering iron. I was reading a review...and it was you!!! I'm pretty sure it was you anyway. Does a cordless red soldering iron sound familiar?
GorillazMiko (author) in reply to summitFeb 22, 2008. 9:57 PM
That's me!
mg0930mg in reply to GorillazMikoApr 12, 2009. 8:43 AM
I was going to ask the same thing...lol
summit in reply to GorillazMikoFeb 23, 2008. 1:41 PM
Yeah I thought so!
pappyld04 says: Oct 27, 2008. 10:16 AM
If you do your drawing in pencil and sort of heavy you can use the cap or round end of an ink pen to rub the lines for transfer. You can also just use a pencil with the lead and start at the top with back and forth scribbling on the backside.
foxtrot4697 says: Aug 29, 2008. 7:34 PM
why dont youjust say how to etch the instructables robot onto anything?
Goodhart says: Feb 22, 2008. 4:05 PM
That second picture (step 2) with the dresser in it, you note in the upper left corner about not being a Satanist, but that is a star of David, isn't it? Of course, Alchemists use the same star or sometimes an eight pointed star, in a transmutation circle. ;-)
GorillazMiko (author) in reply to GoodhartFeb 22, 2008. 8:27 PM
Nah, it's a band called H.I.M. His Infernal Majesty. I am not a Satanist. :P
Goodhart in reply to GorillazMikoFeb 22, 2008. 8:32 PM
Oh so it is a 5 pointed star ? That is also used by some alchemists LOL I didn't think you were..... :-)
foxtrot4697 in reply to GoodhartAug 29, 2008. 7:29 PM
lol
Khaos11 in reply to GoodhartApr 18, 2008. 5:41 PM
heartagram...
Goodhart in reply to Khaos11Apr 18, 2008. 5:50 PM
Thanks, yes I have been corrected :-) ( see below )
Khaos11 in reply to GoodhartApr 23, 2008. 4:18 PM
o sorry my bad
Khaos11 in reply to Khaos11Apr 23, 2008. 4:19 PM
didnt see that before
Goodhart in reply to Khaos11Apr 23, 2008. 4:22 PM
NP :-)
GorillazMiko (author) in reply to GoodhartFeb 22, 2008. 8:38 PM
It's a heartagram. Look at it, it's a heart, with like.. a star in it kind of.
Read about the band here.
icedog515 in reply to GorillazMikoMar 11, 2008. 5:09 PM
lol a pentagram poster...yea my friend likes that band.he draws the symbol everywhere.(hes kind-of a nerd _)
Goodhart in reply to GorillazMikoFeb 22, 2008. 8:43 PM
Oh ok, I can see it now. Sorry about that *blush*
theburn7 says: Jun 2, 2008. 6:23 PM
All i have is a soldering gun :(
Kiteman says: Jan 13, 2008. 1:01 PM
The finished product looks more melted than burned - was it real wood you were burning into? Good idea, though, and even if it is just melted in, rubbing in the ink is an imaginative step.
GorillazMiko (author) in reply to KitemanJan 13, 2008. 2:16 PM
It was real wood. Not PLAIN wood though.
Goodhart in reply to GorillazMikoFeb 22, 2008. 4:02 PM
Polyethylene (polyurethane) coated, maybe ?
GorillazMiko (author) in reply to GoodhartFeb 22, 2008. 8:30 PM
It's some kind of ultra thin coating... like SUPER ultra thin, you can barely see it. Barely even notice it there. It's just noticeable to know that you're not rubbing your hand against just wood, there's some stuff on it. And the new avatar--you're back!!! :-O
Goodhart in reply to GorillazMikoFeb 22, 2008. 8:33 PM
Ah, yes I have some wood with something similar on it. Made using the boards for pyrography difficult at best, impossible if I didn't sand the stuff off first. :-)
Gjdj3 says: Jan 24, 2008. 4:47 PM
i like the stickers. i think i have the same ones. did u answer a burning question or something? PS. Good instructable. +1
GorillazMiko (author) in reply to Gjdj3Jan 25, 2008. 6:39 PM
Nope, Eric said I was a great help to the community and stuff, so he sent me a patch and stickers.
Gjdj3 in reply to GorillazMikoFeb 2, 2008. 7:59 AM
Cool. You do help the community a lot. Great job with everything.
GorillazMiko (author) in reply to Gjdj3Feb 2, 2008. 1:39 PM
Thanks Gjdj3! :-)
Shifrin says: Jan 15, 2008. 3:56 PM
+1 and Favorited : )
GorillazMiko (author) in reply to ShifrinJan 15, 2008. 3:57 PM
Thanks Alex. ;-)
The magical duct tape kid in reply to GorillazMikoJan 22, 2008. 5:28 AM
+1 awesome!
Rectifier says: Jan 16, 2008. 11:19 PM
Cool man, glad to see my instructable stuck with ya, and thanks for the link. You even put me in the keywords :) The odd thing to me is, like Kiteman says, I don't see very much in the way of actual "burning" on your final product. If you compare to my results (the link), anything I've ever burnt looked much like that - dark black or brown, with no ink or other finishing required. To me it looks like your effect here is mainly due to something like the heat softening the wood and making it easy to carve with the iron's tip, rather than true pyrolysis (breakdown of wood to carbon by the heat). This is also apparent because you mention having to remove wood fibers - when the iron is hot enough, the cut becames very hard, black and smooth. No scraping or fibers, it sinks in like a knife into butter. That's your battery powered iron, right? It might not quite have enough power to make dark lines in wood, so make sure it's fully charged before you start a project like this that requires a lot of power. Even so, you might need a plug-in iron to get really solid lines. I'm not hating on your instructable though - it's a good "etching" effect, and you did a good job. Looks like you're getting a lot of use out of that iron, keep it up!
GorillazMiko (author) in reply to RectifierJan 17, 2008. 4:22 PM
Thanks, I guess this is kind of like "melting". I'm glad you like it, and my iron isn't too good.
Shifrin says: Jan 15, 2008. 4:48 AM
Sweet, This is really cool, and I like your stickers/patches! keep up the good work! -Shifrin
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