Almost everything we make starts as a sheet of Baltic birch plywood. Here’s why we use it, what makes each piece look the way it does, and how to keep your coasters, ornaments and signs looking good for years.
Why Baltic birch?
Baltic birch is plywood made from thin layers of birch glued with the grain alternating, so it stays flat and strong even when it’s cut into lace-thin patterns. Compared with the plywood at a big-box store, it has more (and thinner) layers and far fewer hidden gaps inside, which matters when a laser is cutting a snowflake with arms only a few millimeters wide.
It also has a light, even color that makes engraving stand out. Names, maps and patterns burn in a warm brown that reads clearly from across the room.
We use two thicknesses:
- 1/8 inch for ornaments, earrings, gift tags and layered pieces
- 1/4 inch for coasters, signs, holders and anything that needs to be sturdy
Why the edges are brown
A laser cuts by burning a very thin line through the wood, so every cut edge comes out a toasted brown. That’s normal, and it’s part of the look: it outlines each shape and makes cut-through patterns pop. If you see a faint smoky tint near an edge, it’s from the same process and will stay the same over time.
No two pieces are identical
Birch has natural grain, small color changes and the occasional darker streak. We pick the best parts of each sheet for the front of a piece, but your item won’t look exactly like the photo, and that’s a good thing: it’s real wood, made one piece at a time.
Caring for your pieces
Coasters
- Our coasters are sealed with a clear coat. Wipe them with a damp cloth and let them air-dry.
- Don’t soak them or put them in the dishwasher. Standing water can raise the grain or loosen the layers.
- If a coaster gets wet on the bottom, stand it on its edge to dry.
Ornaments and decorations
- Dust with a soft, dry brush or cloth.
- Pack them flat in tissue or between pieces of cardboard when you put the tree away. Thin lace details are strong once they’re hanging, but they can snap if something heavy lands on them in a storage bin.
Signs and wall art
- Keep them out of strong, direct sunlight if you can. Like any natural wood, birch slowly deepens in color with sun exposure.
- Hang indoor pieces indoors. Humidity and rain will warp unfinished plywood.
Something wrong with your piece?
If anything arrives damaged or isn’t right, email us at support@funlaserstuff.com with a photo and your order number. We’ll make it right; see our returns and refunds policy for the details.