Laser Etching Clay Tiles

This is the first step in a series of "experiments" I plan to execute with lasers and clay.  People familiar with lasers will know that laser etching glass is possible.  As glaze is essentially glass (being made up of silica combined with metal oxides that act as flux and colorant), we know that we can laser etch on glass.  I am interested in the result of etching onto wet clay and firing it to see the resulting quality of etching.  Additionally, (and with another Instructable!!) I will explore etching on bisque fired clay.

Materials & Tools

 - Clay - about 1.5 pounds of Light Gray Stoneware was used here (this is natural clay.  You CANNOT use polymer clay on the laser tables)
 - Two boards of equal thickness
 - Blue Painter's tape
 - Rolling Pin (for clay use only!!)
 - Clay Knives
 - Ruler 
 - Potter's Wire Tool
 - Spray Bottle of water
 - Sponge 

1. Cut your desired amount of clay from your block of clay.
2. Secure boards with painters tape to work surface and roll out clay into a slab. (This can be done on a slab roller as well)
3.  Measure and cut clay to desired tile size.
4. Prepare file for etching and place clay on a piece of wood or cardboard on the laser table.
5. Send file to laser & watch laser/clay etching magic happen!!

Once this is fired, I will upload an additional image of the tile.  Look for more laser etched ceramic Instructables soon!!

***Made at TechShop!!