M4 Carbine Gun Key Holder: CNC Laser + Pine

My nephew likes to play first person shooter video games so I thought I’d make him something to hold his house keys in his apartment that would remind him of all the time he’s spent firing a M4 Carbine gun in the virtual world before he heads off to work in the real world.

For this custom CNC laser project using the M4 Carbine gun, I used 3/4″ Pine as it’s relatively light weight, durable and provides amazing contrast when CNC laser engraved (burned on purpose) and a nice darker edge to go with just about any wall.

This is most definitely not the first custom key holder I’ve made, I made a wonderful one that’s found a house with my cousin who’s a Moose hunter that’s displayed prominently at his place which I also designed with him in mind.

And yet another based on the design from my Uncle’s artwork he puts in all his places.

There are a ton of corporate and specially sponsored versions I’ve made as well but cannot disclose as the client didn’t give me permission but let’s just say that CNCROi.com can make these custom key holders out of any material into any shape, size or design elements you want, it all comes down to time and money.

We have a lot of different tools available at CNCROi.com, from other CNC machine types to hand tools and power tools.

While each has their place, they all have their advantages and disadvantages, our goal here is to produce the most optimal result for any given application and for this M4 Carbine gun key holder, Pine + CNC Laser was the natural choice.

For instance, if this M4 Carbine wooden key holder was to made out of metal, then the choices would be narrowed down depending on the design specs, either CNC waterjet cut through or CNC router cut with an inlay which CNCROi.com then adds additional details to using our laser.

That’s where the true power of my company stands when it comes to custom projects for our customers, experience with equipment, knowledge of materials and passion for design all come together to produce the absolute best for YOU.

For instance, if you wanted a paint fill, so that there was a solid color where you see the engraving, yep, CNCROi.com has done that.

You want this made M4 Carbine made out of solid Corian with a paint filling, yep, we can do that too!

If you wanted a matching coaster with actual glass (in this case a wine bottle), CNCROi.com can totally do that just as easily.

We can go as custom as your budget and timeline allow, that’s true passion meeting experience that CNCROi.com offers it’s customer base.

I hope you can gain an understanding of why when I mention we can make anything that it’s not only words that I’m speaking, but it’s proven by hundreds of videos, photography and well documented (at least the stuff that isn’t covered under a NDA).

After the M4 Carbine custom key holder is engraved out of the 3/4″ or 18 mm Pine, it’s time to cut it out as for my nephew, I didn’t want to just make him a board with an engraved gun on it, but an actual shape that he can feel and pretend shooting around.

The reason why CNCROi.com first laser engraved the Pine before cutting it out was so that absolute precision of the engraving wasn’t disturbed, the longer the entire piece can stay together, the better it is for making sure engravings happen when they are supposed to as lessens the possibility of mid-production movement of the overall board.

I really enjoyed designing this project, my nephew’s name is also engraved into the gun using a reverse engraving technique which totally personalize the M4 Carbine wall mounted key holder.

The finished M4 Carbine key holder is now finished being engrave and cut out of the Pine, it’s time to take it out of the laser, and begin the sanding process which is preceded by removing the protective mask over the entire surface.

First I just check the entire piece to make sure everything that was to be engraved was, mounting holes are in the right place and to see if there are any other details I’d like to add.

Yes, I could have easily engraved this piece to scale, but it’s easier to carry around a smaller version and it’s what fit on the scrap piece of board I had in the shop for this CNCROi.com demonstration.

If you are wondering where that scrap piece of Pine came from, it was from an earlier engraving of a wine bottle with a John Wayne quote.

You can see on the M4 Carbine that there is a lot of soot and resin that settled on the gun, as a result, we’ll first remove the masking.

Generally, the next step is sanding the surface to remove any resin that got under the mask but in this case, there was none, it all came out fantastic so it was ready to head to my nephew’s right away!

This gun key holder really came out great, the perfect mix of contrast and detail along with personalization that fit perfectly within the design.

Using a military stencil for his name really gives it that extra bit of belonging, it was a nice touch that I added to the design that really give it a lot of sentimental value.

It’s amazing to think that this is all made from a solid piece of Pine, no paint, no spray, nothing, just a laser with Pine produces an amazing result that’s just perfect.

Here’s the money shot, the Pine is thick enough to allow the gun to stand upright without anything else holding it in place, I look forward to seeing this for years to come in my nephew’s place.

If you are looking for custom key chain holders, coasters or just about anything else, be sure to contact CNCROi.com with your specs and we’ll make it just for you with the same passion and attention to detail we put into this masterpiece.