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Mar 29, 2026

Slate Photo Engraving Looks INSANELY Good | Diode Laser

Mar 29, 2026

I tested 4 different ways to engrave the same photo on slate coasters, and the result that stood out most was not the one I expected.

I tested 4 different ways to engrave the same photo on slate coasters, and the result that stood out most was not the one I expected. In this video, I compare raw slate, sanded slate, lacquer, black acrylic, and my WWGB prep to see which one gives the best detail, contrast, and overall look. If you are trying to engrave photos on slate with better results and less guesswork, this video is for you.

Mar 29, 2026

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Mar 30, 2026

What Slate Coasters Taught Me

Mar 30, 2026

After three slate coaster videos and a lot of testing, here is what I learned about prep, finishes, photo engraving, and the small mistakes that can throw everything off.

Mar 30, 2026

A little behind the scenes update for you all.

I’ve been working on a material test grid on a previously engraved slate that I sanded back, recovered, and then prepared with lacquer. For this test I ran a 3x3 grid with the same dog image to co

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Get to know me

I’m Alex, the person behind Severna Builds. What started as a simple desire to fix things and learn with my own hands slowly turned into a creative journey of building, engraving, experimenting, and sharing it with others. If you would like to know more about how it all began, you can read the story here.

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