Engraving Stainless Steel with the xTool M1: Tips, Tricks & Settings

Since I got my xTool M1, I’ve been curious about its ability to handle other materials aside from wood. Recently, I decided to challenge it by trying engraving stainless steel spoons. I learned a lot during the process, and in this beginner-friendly DIY tutorial, I’ll share my experience, the settings I used, and a few tips to help you avoid the mistakes I made along the way.

Why Engraving Stainless Steel Can Be Tricky

Stainless steel is highly reflective, which makes it difficult for the laser to properly focus and engrave, especially when working with a diode laser. On my first few attempts, the laser just wasn’t engraving. Essentially, the laser was bouncing right off the spoon, so it couldn’t leave a mark.

To fix this, I tried a simple trick that finally worked and allowed me to successfully engrave the stainless steel spoon. By covering the engraving area with blue painter’s tape, it helped diffuse the light, giving the laser something to focus on so it can start etching into the steel.

Watch the Tutorial

What You’ll Need

Here’s what I used for this project:

• A stainless steel spoon (or another stainless steel item)
• Blue painter’s tape
• Isopropyl alcohol and cloth for cleaning before and after engraving
• A laser engraver (I’m using an xTool M1 10-watt)
• The design file (available for download at the end of this post)
• My Settings for Engraving Stainless Steel

Step-by-Step Process

Prep Your Stainless Steel Spoon

Wipe down your stainless steel spoon or other stainless steel item with alcohol to remove oils and residue.

Cover the area where you want to engrave using the painter’s tape. Make sure the tape is smooth and has no bubbles or wrinkles.

Measure & Position Your Spoon

You’ll want to use digital calipers to measure the inner point of the spoon for an accurate engraving.

Since spoons have a tricky shape to them you may want to experiment with the placement to get it as flat as you can. I was able to use my honeycomb plate and magnetic pins to raise the handle of the spoon a bit.

Then make sure it’s secure.

Load Up Your Design and Settings

I used a fun “witches brew” design for my test, which you can find below.

Once you’ve framed your image, add your material thickness, and adjust your power and speed settings. I spent some time experimenting, but here’s what worked for my10-watt xTool M1 laser engraving settings:

• Power: 100%
• Speed: 2
• Pass: 1
• LPC (lines per cm): 100

Though it took a while, these settings gave me a clean and visible engraving. Your results might vary depending on the exact type of stainless steel you’re using, along with laser engraver, so start with these numbers and adjust as needed.

Clean Up & Reveal

Once done engraving, just peel off the painter’s tape. I used a weeding tool to easily remove excess tape from some of the lettering.

Wipe the surface with alcohol to remove any leftover residue.

You should see your design etched in and now have a spooky cute Witches Brew stainless steel teaspoon.

Tips for Better Results When Engraving Stainless Steel

• If the design looks faint, you can run a second pass without moving the spoon.
• Use the painter’s tape trick for laser engraving reflective metals
• Test your settings on a cheap spoon first before working on anything sentimental or expensive. I picked up a pack of four at my local Dollar General!
• Keep designs simple for your first attempts. Small intricate details may not show up too well.

Final Thoughts

Engraving stainless steel with the xTool M1 is super easy as long as you have the right approach. Using painter’s tape to reduce reflection was the key to making this project happen.

If you want to try this yourself, you can download my design file below and start experimenting. I’d love to see what you create, so tag me on social.

Instagram: @LinaMakesArt

TikTok: @LinaMakes

Youtube: @LinaMakes