NYC Resistor

We learn, share, and make things

Lionel Hutz Had The Right Idea

I like laser etching bizarre materials and the latest is compressed cellulose sponge, which can be found at most craft supply stores.

Emulating a fantastic lawyer from a classically elegant television show, The Simpsons, I made sponge business cards.
http://flickr.com/photos/kellbot/3215659987/

Compressed sponges expand when you put them in water, its awesome! They were cut on a 35 watt laser at 100% speed, 100% power, and a frequency of 1000.

Expanded Sponge

You can pick up some of your own on Etsy. They’re super fun to play with. Oh, I guess you could use them for cleaning too. I did a whole bunch of tests with sponges, with full details at kellbot.com.

4 comments
  • Jeremie

    Are they the same kind of sponge used to clean the tip of a soldering iron ?

  • http://etsy.com kellbot

    Yup, same kind!

  • atannir

    What, no pictures of the Menger sponge sponge? I only got one photo of the expanded form when I came to visit one open craft night: http://www.semimajor.net/img/menger_sponge_sponge.jpg

  • http://www.nycresistor.com/2009/02/03/menger-sponge-sponges/ Menger sponge sponges! » NYC Resistor » Electronics, Hacking, Classes, and Workspace.

    [...] by Kelly’s experiments with laser-cut sponges, I cut myself a few Menger sponges* the other week. They’re handy both for light [...]