Material & Cutting Help

At H & H Creations, we take pride in providing quality materials for laser cutting, engraving, crafting, and fabrication.

Because every laser, material, and project is different, occasional cutting challenges can occur. This page will help you understand normal material characteristics, troubleshoot cutting issues, and know when to contact us for assistance.

Before You Start Cutting

Always perform a test cut before beginning your project.

Every laser cuts differently. Machine type, wattage, lens condition, focus, speed, power, air assist, material thickness, and other factors can affect cutting performance.

A setting that works perfectly on one machine may not produce the same results on another.

Testing your settings before cutting your full project can help save both material and time.

Safety First

Never leave your laser unattended while cutting or engraving.

Always follow the safety instructions and recommendations provided by your laser manufacturer.

Understanding Natural Wood Materials

Wood is a natural product, and variations between sheets are normal.

Depending on the material and grade, you may see variations in:

  • Grain pattern
  • Wood color
  • Veneer coloration
  • Small knots
  • Mineral streaks
  • Patches or plugs
  • Internal layers
  • Density
  • Thickness
  • Natural surface characteristics

These variations are part of working with natural wood and do not automatically indicate defective material.

Baltic Birch B/BB Grade

Our B/BB Baltic Birch is a two-sided plywood constructed with a veneer core.

The B face is the clearer side of the sheet but may still contain small pin knots and natural color variations.

The BB face may contain knots, color variations, and approximately 1–2 patches or plugs commonly referred to as “footballs.”

These are normal characteristics of B/BB grade Baltic Birch and are not considered defects.

Baltic Birch is constructed with multiple solid birch veneer layers that are cross-banded and laminated together with adhesive suitable for laser applications.

Glue Pockets, Voids & Difficult Cutting Areas

Occasionally, plywood may contain an internal area that is more difficult for a laser to cut through.

These areas are commonly referred to as:

  • Glue pockets
  • Glue spots
  • Voids
  • Dense areas

Because these conditions can occur inside the layers of plywood, they may not always be visible from the surface before cutting.

If your laser cuts through most of a sheet normally but struggles in a specific area, an internal variation may be contributing to the problem.

However, a section that does not cut completely through does not automatically mean the material is defective.

Machine settings, focus, lens condition, speed, power, air assist, and other variables should be checked first.

If Your Material Is Not Cutting Properly

Before reporting a material issue, please go through your normal laser troubleshooting process.

1. Check Your Machine

Make sure your laser is properly maintained and operating normally.

Check items such as:

  • Lens and mirrors are clean
  • Focus is correct
  • Material is positioned properly
  • Bed is level
  • Air assist is operating correctly
  • Machine components are clean and maintained

2. Check Your Settings

Try adjusting your cutting settings.

Depending on your machine, this may include:

  • Slowing your cutting speed
  • Adjusting power
  • Adjusting focus
  • Changing the number of passes
  • Adjusting air assist

3. Run a Test Cut

Always perform a small test cut before using an entire sheet for your project.

Testing is especially important when:

  • Using a new material
  • Changing material thickness
  • Using a new laser
  • Your machine has recently been serviced
  • Your lens or other components have been changed
  • Your normal settings suddenly stop producing the expected results

4. Try Another Area or Sheet

If possible, test another area of the same sheet or another sheet from the same package.

This can help determine whether the issue appears to be isolated to one area of the material or related to the machine/settings.

Recommended Material Allowance

When planning wood projects, we recommend allowing approximately 10% for normal material waste.

Waste can occur from natural wood characteristics, test cuts, project layout, cutting errors, knots, internal variations, or other factors associated with working with wood materials.

Planning for a reasonable amount of waste is a normal part of working with natural wood products.

Still Having a Cutting Problem?

If you have completed the normal troubleshooting steps and continue to experience an issue, please contact H & H Creations.

We are happy to help determine whether the problem may be related to the material, machine, or cutting settings.

Please Provide the Following

To help us troubleshoot the issue, please provide:

  • Your order number
  • The material and thickness you are cutting
  • Photos of the affected material
  • Photos clearly showing the cutting issue
  • Your laser manufacturer and model
  • Your laser's wattage
  • Your cutting speed
  • Your cutting power
  • Number of passes, if applicable
  • Any other relevant cutting settings
  • A description of the troubleshooting steps you have already tried

The more information you provide, the easier it is for us to help identify what may be causing the issue.

Please Keep the Material

Do not discard affected sheets while we are working with you to troubleshoot a material issue.

We may need additional photographs, testing information, identification from the material, or other documentation before we can determine the appropriate resolution.

Discarding the material before the issue has been reviewed may prevent us from being able to fully evaluate the concern.

If we ask you to perform additional testing, please follow the instructions provided before disposing of the material.

Material Issues vs. Shipping Damage

A material or cutting issue is different from material that was physically damaged during shipping.

Examples of shipping damage may include:

  • Broken sheets
  • Crushed corners
  • Severe shipping-related cracks
  • Damaged packaging that resulted in damaged material

If your material arrived damaged during shipment, please use our Report an Order Issue form instead.

Shipping damage must be reported within 2 business days of delivery.

→ REPORT AN ORDER ISSUE

Please retain the box, packaging, shipping label, and damaged material while your shipping issue is being reviewed.

Natural Characteristics vs. Defects

Not every variation in material is considered a defect.

Normal characteristics of natural wood and plywood may include differences in grain, color, knots, patches, plugs, and other characteristics consistent with the material's grade.

For example, patches or plugs commonly called “footballs” are an expected characteristic of the BB face of B/BB Baltic Birch.

When evaluating a material concern, H & H Creations may consider:

  • Material type and grade
  • Nature and location of the issue
  • Amount of material affected
  • Laser and wattage
  • Cutting settings
  • Troubleshooting performed
  • Whether the characteristic is normal for that material

Material Thickness

Wood and other manufactured sheet materials may have slight thickness variations.

When your project requires tight-fitting pieces, slots, tabs, or press-fit components, we recommend measuring the actual material with calipers before designing or cutting your final project.

Do not rely solely on the nominal product thickness when your design requires a precise fit.

Laser Settings

Any laser settings provided by H & H Creations should be considered a starting point, not a guaranteed setting for every machine.

Laser performance can vary significantly based on:

  • Machine manufacturer
  • Laser type
  • Wattage
  • Machine age and condition
  • Lens and optics
  • Focus
  • Air assist
  • Cutting speed
  • Power
  • Material
  • Material thickness

Always perform a test cut and adjust your settings for your specific machine.

Need Help?

If you've completed the troubleshooting steps above and believe there may be an issue with your material, please contact us.

Email: contact@myhhcreations.com

Please include your order number, photos, laser information, wattage, and cutting settings when contacting us.

Providing this information with your initial message will help us review your concern more quickly.

We're happy to work with you to help determine what's happening and find the appropriate next step.