The Laser: Just Another Tool in the Workshop

Let’s address the elephant in my workshop right now: yes, I use a laser. No, I haven’t turned my scroll saw into a coat rack. And no, this isn’t the end of hand-crafted intarsia as we know it.

In the world of intarsia, where every curve is lovingly cut, every grain admired, and every splinter is a badge of honor, the mere mention of a laser can trigger some strong reactions. It’s almost as bad as mentioning AI in a room full of creative writers. Almost like bringing a robot into a craft that’s supposed to be about hands, wood and patience.

For me, however, the laser is n’t a replacement for craftsmanship. It’s simply another tool in the workshop, one that can add detail, improve repeatability, save time on tedious jobs and open up possibilities that would be difficult or impractical to achieve by hand.

The important distinction is this: I don't use a laser because I want to avoid using my scroll saw. I use it because sometimes the laser is simply the better tool for the job.

The Laser Doesn’t Replace the Scroll Saw

My first and only laser is a 20-watt diode laser from WeCreat, the Vision model. With it, I can engrave wood and many other materials, and I can cut wood up to about 1/4 inch depending on the species and its hardness.

WeCreat Vison 20 Watts Diode Laser

Notice the number: 1/4 inch.

My standard intarsia stock is generally 3/4 inch. Could I try to cut 3/4-inch hardwood with a more powerful laser? Of course. The better question is: why would I want to?

There are three very good reasons I don't use a laser to cut my normal 3/4-inch intarsia pieces.

The cost

Burning a thick piece of walnut, maple, cherry or another quality species into a pile of smoke just to produce a shape that I could cut cleanly on the scroll saw doesn't make much economic sense considering that the machine required to do this cost more than $10k.

The burn marks

A laser cuts by burning. The thicker the material, the more heat and time are involved, and the more you have to deal with darkened or charred edges. Getting those edges ready for traditional intarsia fitting and shaping can become a project of its own.

It’s just no fun

This one matters to me just as much as the first two. I don't make intarsia because it is the fastest possible way to turn wood into a shape. I make it because I enjoy the process; choosing the wood, following the grain, cutting the pieces, shaping them and watching the project come together.

So yes, a laser can cut wood. That doesn't mean it should replace the scroll saw. Just because a tool can do something doesn't mean it’s the right tool for the job.

What to use a laser for in Intarsia

This is where things get interesting. Once I stopped thinking of the laser as a cutting machine and started thinking of it as a precision tool, I found a lot more uses for it.

The laser is particularly useful when the job involves very fine detail, repeatability, engraving, lettering, logos, templates or other small elements that would be tedious or difficult to reproduce by hand.

One example is the custom detail on a Christmas truck project. The laser allowed me to add a business sign to the door and a Chevrolet emblem to the fender. Those details are small, precise and repeatable, which is exactly the kind of work where a laser earns its place in the workshop.

Laser-added details on the red Christmas truck

Fine engraving

Names, lettering, logos, symbols, textures and tiny details are obvious applications. The laser can produce a level of precision and consistency that would take a great deal of time to reproduce by hand.

Repeatable details

If I need several identical pieces, the laser doesn't get tired, lose concentration or change size halfway through the job. That makes it useful for small components and details that need to match.

Textures and visual detail

A laser can also add controlled lines, textures, shadow details and other marks that complement the dimensional shaping of the wood. The key word is complement. The laser adds information to the piece; it doesn't create the artistic decision for me.

Templates and workshop helpers

One of the less glamorous but very useful applications is making sanding templates, guides and other workshop aids. A laser can create these quickly and accurately, which can then help with traditional woodworking and intarsia. That's a perfect example of the laser supporting the craft rather than replacing it.

Laser + scroll saw = more possibilities

For me, the real magic isn't the laser by itself. It’s what happens when I combine the laser with traditional tools.

The scroll saw can create the intarsia pieces. The drum sander, rotary tool, rasps and sandpaper can shape them. The laser can add a tiny logo, engraved texture, lettering or other detail. Then I bring all those elements together into the finished piece.

Each tool has a job.

That's the way I think about technology in a traditional workshop. Instead of asking, 'What can the machine do instead of me?' I ask, 'What can the machine do that lets me take the project further?'

You're still the artist. The laser is simply another way of applying the detail.

Understanding the burn

There is another reality that anyone considering a laser for woodworking needs to understand: a laser cuts and engraves by applying heat. That is both its strength and its limitation.

For engraving, that controlled burn is exactly what you want. It creates contrast and detail. For cutting, however, that same heat creates a darkened edge that may or may not be desirable.

When working with intarsia, where pieces need to fit together cleanly and where the natural color of the wood matters, those burned edges can create extra work. You may find yourself sanding away discoloration that you never would have created with a scroll saw in the first place.

That's why I don't see a laser as a universal replacement for the saw. The best-looking result is often the one that comes from choosing the right tool before you start.

What I actually use my laser for

My laser has become useful because I don't ask it to do everything. I use it where it adds something to my normal workflow.

All the stripes, pickups, knobs, frets, logo were done on the laser

• Engraving lettering, names and logos

• Adding very small or intricate details

• Creating repeatable small components

• Adding textures, lines and visual details

• Engraving the pattern onto the wood instead of gluing it

• Making templates, guides and workshop aids

• Working on specialized or mixed-material projects

• Adding details to larger handcrafted pieces that would be tedious to reproduce by hand

And the list keeps growing. That's probably the most exciting part. As I become more comfortable with the machine, I find new ways to combine it with techniques I've already learned. Just look at my Guitar Legends series, all the small details were made using the laser, from the fret on the arm to the screws on the pick guard.

Choosing a laser: think about what you actually make

If you're considering buying a laser, start with your projects, not the machine.

CO₂ lasers are larger and more powerful, and they are well-suited to thicker cuts and faster engraving. Diode lasers are generally smaller and can be a more accessible way to get into laser engraving and cutting.

The right choice depends on what you want to make, the materials you plan to use, the size of your projects, and the level of detail you want to achieve.

Also, consider the less exciting parts before you buy: workspace, ventilation, filtration, software, support and safety. A laser is a real machine that produces smoke and heat. It deserves a proper setup.

You don't need the biggest or most expensive machine to discover what a laser can add to your workshop. Start with what you actually need.

The laser doesn't replace the craft

I'm not interested in turning my workshop into an automated factory where nothing is done by hand. If that were the goal, I'd probably find another hobby.

What I enjoy about intarsia is the process: choosing the wood, following the grain, cutting each piece, shaping it, sanding it and watching a flat drawing slowly become something three-dimensional.

The laser hasn't changed that.

It has simply given me another tool.

I use my scroll saw when the scroll saw is the right tool. I reach for the laser when it can do something better — whether that's adding a tiny detail, engraving lettering, making a repeatable component or helping me create something that would be difficult to do by hand.

That's the real magic of combining the two.

The laser doesn't replace the craftsman. It gives the craftsman more possibilities.

So if you've been thinking about adding a laser to your own workshop, don't ask:

"What can I make instead of using my scroll saw?"

Ask: "What could I make if I had both?"

That's where I think the real magic begins.