# What "wood" you use? **URL:** \ **Category:** Original/PRO Series (Buildbotics) (Gen 1)\ **Created:** [October 14, 2022, 1:30am UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/what-wood-you-use/15868 "2022-10-14T01:30:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JoshL](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.onefinitycnc.com/joshl/32/31049_2.png) [@JoshL](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/JoshL)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2022, 1:30am UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/what-wood-you-use/15868/1 "2022-10-14T01:30:23Z")
Hi guys! Im hoping you could guide me in the right direction here as to what you would use for a simple project like this? (See image) The customer basically wants a similar design to this but not painted, just plain wood and with black lettering. Im thinking something like premium grade Ply, maybe 7mm thick? I don’t really know much yet about what timber to use for small items like this. Just starting out really… Appreciate your help and feedback! 🙂 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/onefinitycnc/original/2X/4/4310f173ddcb91f5ee6b69a0437928a101ac5063.png) ---
**Author:** ![newbiee](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.onefinitycnc.com/newbiee/32/8326_2.png) [@newbiee](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/newbiee)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2022, 10:30am UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/what-wood-you-use/15868/2 "2022-10-14T10:30:50Z")
With plywood, the edges can sometimes look a little tacky and unprofessional. If I were to make it, I’d be using tight-grain wood like hard maple, cherry, or birch. I’m interested to see what others will say as well. ---
**Author:** ![MrChad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@MrChad](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/MrChad)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2022, 11:06am UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/what-wood-you-use/15868/3 "2022-10-14T11:06:53Z")
Another vote for solid hardwood. Maple or cherry would look good with black lettering. You could go with something darker like walnut and use white lettering. ---
**Author:** ![Off-kilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9adbd/32.png) [@Off-kilter](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/Off-kilter)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2022, 3:49pm UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/what-wood-you-use/15868/4 "2022-10-14T15:49:46Z")
Another vote for solid maple or cherry. Would look really nice with that design and both woods just glow when you add an oil finish. ---
**Author:** ![GregoryG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/97f17d/32.png) [@GregoryG](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/GregoryG)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2022, 7:48pm UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/what-wood-you-use/15868/5 "2022-10-14T19:48:37Z")
When I’m using cherry maple walnut Etc it’s to keep the wood grain look but when I’m painting the wood I’ll use selected Pine it carves really good of course I would use a wood conditioner before painting ![Message_1664412815456](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/onefinitycnc/original/3X/2/0/209b3db275b10930c10c6f74c2c418823196f9f2.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![JoshL](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.onefinitycnc.com/joshl/32/31049_2.png) [@JoshL](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/JoshL)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2022, 12:35pm UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/what-wood-you-use/15868/6 "2022-10-16T12:35:04Z")
Thanks very much for the feedback guys! I think we will be ditching the Ply on this one. Unfortunately, I don’t have access to something like Maple or Cherry at the moment. What I do have is Hevea which is a very light-colored wood and I reckon the black lettering should look very nice on that. I have done a couple of (internal) signs with this on the laser using 3mm Acrylic together with engraved lettering that I color-filled. This is a mockup of what they are looking for and what it could look like: ![Screen Shot 2022-10-16 at 10.16.50 pm](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/onefinitycnc/original/3X/8/8/88e182309cd826cbad83350c24bd0efe4bd71f3b.jpeg) So the name in Acrylic at the top will change for each cross (27 in total) and the rest is exactly the same. The next part in all of this is the tricky bit because I have not done a single cut or carving on my machine yet! I will have to spend the next few days on Youtube to get my head around where to start. But that is typical of me! I never say no to something new I know I can learn to do. But in saying that, please feel free to offer any advice on where to start because I really have no idea. I have about two weeks to get this done and dusted. Thanks again!! ---
**Author:** ![GregoryG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/97f17d/32.png) [@GregoryG](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/GregoryG)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2022, 10:23pm UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/what-wood-you-use/15868/7 "2022-10-22T22:23:21Z")
looks good, give update please ---
**Author:** ![JoshL](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.onefinitycnc.com/joshl/32/31049_2.png) [@JoshL](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/JoshL)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2022, 12:15pm UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/what-wood-you-use/15868/8 "2022-10-25T12:15:04Z")
Will do! I just got my machine set up tonight and powered it up for the first time. I got a Z-axis error though and Im not sure what it means or how to go about it. Looks like this: ![IMG_0325.HEIC](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/onefinitycnc/original/3X/a/e/aebe8ff9d79acd73b3a538416e3aa82dc43cdee0.jpeg) ![IMG_0324.HEIC](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/onefinitycnc/original/3X/8/c/8ca2250081ecc3dc5f83ef00fad8f5b1bdf21024.jpeg) Anyone have an idea? Thanks guys! ---
**Author:** ![newbiee](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.onefinitycnc.com/newbiee/32/8326_2.png) [@newbiee](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/newbiee)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2022, 12:18pm UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/what-wood-you-use/15868/9 "2022-10-25T12:18:25Z")
> [@Help! My Toolpath says 'Under' or 'Over" (BB controllers) OR 'Soft Alarm on AXIS" (Masso controllers)! (with videos)](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/help-my-toolpath-says-under-or-over-with-videos/1982): > > While this FAQ was originally wrote for the Non-Elite Machines, the same principal applies to both. Over/under on non-elite controllers and soft alarm on elite controllers mean the same thing, so the below principals apply to all machines. Many new users to the Onefinity CNC often get the machine unboxed, assembled, and moving in a few minutes without ever needing to look at instructions. But then they home the machine and are alarmed when their screen looks like this: (Left picture is non-e… ---
**Author:** ![PezWoodworks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ea5d25/32.png) [@PezWoodworks](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/PezWoodworks)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2023, 11:52pm UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/what-wood-you-use/15868/10 "2023-02-21T23:52:37Z")
Another option may be MDF that is veneered on both sides with your choice of hardwoods, the edges look good and is nice to machine ---
**Author:** ![kriaz101](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.onefinitycnc.com/kriaz101/32/32881_2.png) [@kriaz101](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/kriaz101)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2023, 9:03pm UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/what-wood-you-use/15868/11 "2023-02-22T21:03:00Z")
I may be late to respond, but I would try this on any light colored wood flooring that is easily accessible. It would also be cost effective.