Laser-etched tattoos: don't try this at home, kids

It's not too often case mods cross over into the world of body mods, but when you think about it, it was kind of only a matter of time before people started using laser-etchers to give themselves immaculately detailed burn "tattoos." It's unclear what kind of lasting effects using an Epilog on your own skin will have, but don't be too stunned if it just peels right off and eventually becomes some weird, blurry scar. In other words, attempt this dumbass feat at your own risk. Oh, and you didn't think we would let this one off without a video, did you? It's after the break -- too bad there's no smell-o-vision to give off the nauseating scent of precision-burnt human flesh.

[Grant @ Jul 4th 2008 11:37PM]

nauseating?
More like delicious!

[Will H. @ Jul 5th 2008 12:48AM]

http://www.instructables.com/files/deriv/F6O/9WH4/FI42NCL6/F6O9WH4FI42NCL6.MEDIUM.jpg

Yummy indeed.

[GatgetMan @ Jul 5th 2008 1:28AM]

Don't let that rat's nest wig fool you! It's clear looking at the skin pigmentation and freckles that this is the work of a red headed step child....

[HyperHacker @ Jul 5th 2008 1:29AM]

I've eaten potato chips that smelled just like burnt flesh. Interestingly, they were delicious. They didn't taste like flesh, but I've only ever tasted live, non-burnt flesh, so that may not mean anything.

[Dan @ Jul 4th 2008 11:37PM]

Sorry for the comment spam, but I'm wondering if there's any place that will laser etch laptops in the Los Angeles area.

Not so interested in etching myself...

[derX @ Jul 5th 2008 12:54AM]

I'm fairly certain had you not included "Sorry for the comment spam" your comment would've just been ignored and not low ranked.

Hell, you may have even gotta a on-topic response.

[chris @ Jul 5th 2008 12:59AM]

G O O G L E I T

[GatgetMan @ Jul 5th 2008 1:30AM]

Hey no problem, Here's a link that'll take care of you perfectly!

http://www.drmatlock.com/

[vdogg89 @ Jul 5th 2008 10:01AM]

Lawl @ gadget. that just made my day

[Mr. Fax Sender @ Jul 4th 2008 11:38PM]

Hi this is Bam Margera, and this is the "Brand of the Future".

This time the dick on his ass will be a lot cleaner and clearer.

[apread @ Jul 4th 2008 11:41PM]

Prior to reading this article, I was contemplating attempting this at home where I, naturally, keep a laser-etching machine.

[derX @ Jul 4th 2008 11:48PM]

At home? Hrm, I leave mine in the office so the kids can't get to it.

[quomen @ Jul 5th 2008 1:25AM]

He was being sarcastic...

[JMMGoalster @ Jul 5th 2008 1:30AM]

so was he....

[MED @ Jul 5th 2008 1:33AM]

WHOOOOOOOSH! thats the sound of the joke flying over your head chris.

[MED @ Jul 5th 2008 1:44AM]

i mean quomen. i accidently looked at the above post

[Ethyriel @ Jul 5th 2008 1:51AM]

We're actually thinking of getting one at work to cut down our outsourcing. Who's first?

[GadgetGuru @ Jul 4th 2008 11:43PM]

This kid is scarred for life...better get the coconut butter out

[rock99rock @ Jul 5th 2008 1:59AM]

Co - Co bu uhh uh thaaaahhh

[initialxy @ Jul 4th 2008 11:45PM]

wonder if it causes skin cancer.

[Flashpoint @ Jul 4th 2008 11:53PM]

It probably wouldn't cause skin cancer but, it might lead to infection or cosmetic defect.

[jason @ Jul 5th 2008 2:45AM]

yeah. i really want to see what these look like 1 year from now. then 5 years. i bet it will look pretty gross.

[jason @ Jul 4th 2008 11:47PM]

are those freckles ?

[McBUNT @ Jul 5th 2008 12:20AM]

Yes, what does everyone think of freckles? I've always wanted to know...

[GatgetMan @ Jul 5th 2008 1:35AM]

Is that a toothpick in your pocket...?

[chulo9 @ Jul 4th 2008 11:48PM]

hello cancer

[derX @ Jul 5th 2008 12:10AM]

Cancer: Hello, chulo9. How's it going? How are the kids?

[DefPo3t @ Jul 4th 2008 11:48PM]

iPod tatto .... Check
zune tatto .... Check
laser etched eight track tape ...... Here I come

[Brandon David @ Jul 5th 2008 3:47AM]

I believe you meant tattoo.

And are you serious?

[Artie Lange @ Jul 4th 2008 11:51PM]

Tats, piercing, body mods - I welcome any method that allows me to identify bourgeoisie d-bags at 10 paces. It makes life so much easier.

[Dylan @ Jul 5th 2008 12:00AM]

Thats an incredibly ridiculous and uneducated generalization.

[Artie Lange @ Jul 5th 2008 12:18AM]

You're right. I forgot to add "poseur".

[Will H. @ Jul 5th 2008 12:41AM]

How does it make your life easier? Surely you don't need any help judging other people to maintain your better-then-everyone attitude.

[Asha @ Jul 5th 2008 3:07AM]

Unfortunately, there is not way to detect you at 10 paces so that we know that a inept idiot is in our vicinity.

[Reader @ Jul 5th 2008 7:33AM]

And yet everything you mention in your first post has nothing to do with the bourgeois class of Americans. Tats/piercings/etc are usually seen on the lower/middle class (sorry for the generalization, but it's true) instead of the rich. Poseur possibly, that's closer to the right track.

[sgt_easton @ Jul 5th 2008 2:11PM]

I bet you're racist too. Did you miss that lesson in elementary school about "not judging a book by its cover?" Bigoted fool.

[Reader @ Jul 5th 2008 8:47PM]

Well I grew up in the lower class and that was my observation. Obviously most of Engadget disagrees, but others' opinions aren't really going to change mine. Statistical evidence to prove me wrong would though.

[paul34 @ Jul 4th 2008 11:52PM]

The only thing better than the smell of burning flesh is the great feeling of skin cancer. Glorious.

[Dylan @ Jul 4th 2008 11:52PM]

I for one welcome our laser-etched robot overlords.

[Anthony @ Jul 5th 2008 12:02AM]

That couldn't have been worth it. I burnt my arm on the element in my oven while removing a potato once and I still don't know what was worse...the pain or the smell.

[HighTeckRedNeck @ Jul 5th 2008 5:34PM]

Having burned myself in virtually every possible way -- campfires, wood stove, ovens, exhaust manifolds, irons, cigarette lighters, etc. -- I feel somewhat qualified to respond.

It is a dry burn just shy of 2nd degree. It'll sting for 3-5 days, fade to skin-tone after a week, and be mostly invisible (save for maybe some slight scarring) within 2 weeks.

Now I need a silicon graffiti tattoo: http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/creatures/pages/dilbert.html

[-Tj- @ Jul 5th 2008 12:14AM]

I've never been too fond of tattoos, especially tasteless ones, but this takes the cake. You would think he would at least tattoo something a bit more interesting, like a naked woman, or at least related to this attempt, like the logo for laser products, not some poorly-drawn robot and early '80s video game icons. Hmm... perhaps they are fitting. They do scream "nerd."

[paul34 @ Jul 5th 2008 12:44AM]

Well, so does the "what is sunlight?" skin tone.

[Nogami @ Jul 5th 2008 4:49AM]

Personally, I would've gone for some TRON style circuitry on the back of my hand. Equally geeky, but I think the coolness factor would be higher.

I'm curious as to what it would look like a few months from now. Presumably a scar of some sort?

[ErikLindemann @ Jul 5th 2008 12:15AM]

Disgusting? Yes.
Though those looking to get "Pirate" branded like in Pirates of the Caribbean have a pretty sanitary way to do it.

Really, if I want body art, I'll stick to ink.

[AlphaDeltaVIII @ Jul 5th 2008 12:21AM]

What a bunch of dumbasses.

[Will H. @ Jul 5th 2008 12:42AM]

+1

Me too.

[DefPo3t @ Jul 5th 2008 12:42AM]

first to comment. nope
first to low ranked. We'll see what we can do

[tanjim @ Jul 5th 2008 12:57AM]

hmm, youre being sarcastive about the first comment thing right? i mean, as of right now, you have the most recent (as in furthest from teh first) comment on the page.

[steve @ Jul 5th 2008 1:26AM]

....how do dumbasses manage to get a laser etching machine?
i want one of those