Can I Start A Laser Business Side Hustle? Month 3

Рет қаралды 12,678

5 ай бұрын

Well who knows if this is a good idea or not? But I've decided to try my hand at a laser engraving side hustle. This episode is the third month of trying to get this business of the ground. I will also show you my results at the end of the video
My Etsy store: jameswithalaser.etsy.com
Below are xTool affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase from one of these links I do get a small commission.
xTool affiliate links:
Trade in any open diode machine for an enclosed xTool and get up to $500 off
UK store: uk.xtool.com/pages/trade-in?r...
EU Store: www.xtool.eu/pages/trade-in?r...
US Store: www.xtool.com/pages/trade-in?...
P2 55W CO2 Laser Cutter
UK Store: uk.xtool.com/products/xtool-p...
EU Store: www.xtool.eu/products/xtool-p...
US Store: www.xtool.com/products/xtool-...
As an Amazon influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases from the links below:
Amazon links:
5mm Acrylic sheet: amzn.to/42e0nM9
Slate round coasters: amzn.to/3QAJrdh
Slate square coasters/placemat set: amzn.to/3QSrQPk
Slate placemats: amzn.to/3MAS32A
3mm A3 size plywood sheets: amzn.to/40E3k86
3mm A3 size mdf sheets: amzn.to/40AzlxG
Wooden coasters: amzn.to/3LI2RLM
Microfiber cloths: amzn.to/46t8RzN
Mineral oil: out of stock
Xtool D1 pro 20W: amzn.to/48xwTvq

Пікірлер: 39

@stefanbadass5357 5 ай бұрын

Happy that you are developing a unique and personal style. I think the slate objects are very attractive. Look forward to seeing you develop it James.

@JamesManCave 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for the comment. There is literally 1000s of things out there that this can do, I enjoy the slate projects, they laser nice, and don't take a lot of time to finish. Next I want to move onto making things with the laser

@Pete.Ty1 5 ай бұрын

👍👍👍.Thanks James

@JamesManCave 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching

@SujMenon 5 ай бұрын

Hi James, thats a pretty comprehensive list of products that you have tried. Didn't know that you could sand off a slate coaster and re-use it again. That sounds really handy, as its always difficult to get it right at the first attempt. I havent tried cutting acrylic yet, but many people are saying the same thing with laser head that its better to get a CO2 laser for that. Will probably try with 'more' number of passes so that it doesn't melt the edges.

@JamesManCave 5 ай бұрын

Hi Suj, I don't think the number of passes would improve it, I think I will try a scoring pass so to speak, so it lightly cuts through the surface, and then i'll turn the power up and see how that works. But Loads more projects out there to be made on these machines, that's for sure

@GrumpaLoz 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for this James, I really enjoyed this upload. Had my eye on getting a laser engraver for some time.... thanks for taking the time to watch and comment on my channel too, you're a star! 😀👍

@JamesManCave 4 ай бұрын

Thanks Loz. If you do get one, you will find it very addictive indeed.

@ser.academia 4 ай бұрын

Glad I found your videos...! Very instructive and sharp... Sure you will sucess ! Something that got my attention: What "Electric: 24p" stands for?

@JamesManCave 4 ай бұрын

Thanks. That means my electric costs for the project was 24 pence. In my first video in the series people said I wasn't including electric costs for the projects, so I made sure to cover them in the last 2 videos

@BarryHorton72 24 күн бұрын

The slate looks realy good whan waxed.

@JamesManCave 24 күн бұрын

I've since discovered rubbing some olive oil on them works great as well

@michaelmoser3482 4 ай бұрын

What apps, or websites, are you using to market your products? And do they use SEO?

@JamesManCave 4 ай бұрын

I only advertised stuff on Etsy, I don't know about the SEO option, but I think although my pictures were clear, they were on a white background, similar projects are photographed in a realistic setting

@Everythings_Adjustable 5 ай бұрын

Dude, Interesting video, I'm thinking Judge Dread and Punisher coasters!!! Question about the coloured plastic if you stand it on its edge and shine a light up through it how does that look? I've seen that done with clear plastic, Also (I'm sure you already know) just a reminder about silicosis when working with slate 👍

@JamesManCave 5 ай бұрын

Hiya mate, 1st of all, I looked into the fridge magnets, cutting that materials will give off chlorine apparently, so I opted not to do that! 😀 I've not tried that on the plastic, yet another thing to try out. There is honestly so much you can do with these things. Yep I'm aware of the silicosis issue, I have only sanded back 2 of the coasters so far, but normally I do everything outside to avoid breathing it all in 👍

@Everythings_Adjustable 5 ай бұрын

Shame about the fridge magnets, Have fun Mate it's interesting watching your journey / experiments 👍

@JamesManCave 5 ай бұрын

@@Everythings_Adjustable Thanks Tony, it's amazing what you can do on these things 🤪 P.S. I see someone has hit 1k subs, congratulations 🍻🍻🍻

@Everythings_Adjustable 5 ай бұрын

Thanks to you Mate! I'm now waiting for an promotion deal from Mercedes 👍😁

@JamesManCave 5 ай бұрын

@@Everythings_Adjustable 🤣🤣🤣🤣 brilliant

@LyndaParry 3 ай бұрын

Really enjoyed your videos . I’m a complete beginner so Bare with…I already make 1000’s plaster moulds/year but in need of someone to make my own original blank moulds which can then be used to create the vacuum moulds which I then mould from with my plaster . No idea how to find someone…can you advise want someone in UK not sure if this is your thing . Thanks

@JamesManCave 3 ай бұрын

Thanks. I guess someone with a CNC would be able to create those moulds for you, could probably create them with some sort of foam

@LyndaParry 3 ай бұрын

@@JamesManCave what type of foam ? Wouldnt it crush once placed in a vacuum mould machine and distort? Need the plastic moulds perfect to be able to cast from. Thank you

@Kingplaylegend Ай бұрын

How long does it take to engrave the chopping board ?!

@JamesManCave Ай бұрын

It depends on the design really. Quickest was about 45 minutes, and the longest was about 1hr 40.

@KieronFlude 4 ай бұрын

sorry if you said in the video, but where did you end up selling most your products?

@JamesManCave 4 ай бұрын

Hi, I did mention it, but I sold all the wooden coasters on a forum I am a member of. I posted a picture as just a bit of fun, but there was huge demand for them

@paulfranklin8604 4 ай бұрын

James Great videos, thank you for your insite. Can I ask where you find the files for the coins please?

@JamesManCave 4 ай бұрын

Thanks. They are my own files. Made from existing online pictures

@paulfranklin8467 4 ай бұрын

@@JamesManCavethanks for the info. I don’t suppose you will sell the files?

@MarkMichalowski 5 ай бұрын

Maybe thinner acrylic would work for the templates?

@JamesManCave 5 ай бұрын

The trouble with that is I would have to use a router bit with a bearing on it, and 5mm acrylic is just about the right size for the bearing to roll against. Any thinner and the bearing could slip over the template

@MarkMichalowski 5 ай бұрын

@@JamesManCave Ah yes, I see your point, James...

@geoffreycoan 5 ай бұрын

I’d assumed you hadn’t posted an update James as you were off in the Caribbean living off the profits of your laser engraving business. 😂 Thanks for sharing the profit and rate per hour, it is as you said a very crowded marketplace and that you’ve only sold 2 items indirectly through Etsy, a good indicator of that. Of the items you sold/£ profit, how much was friends/family/mates and how much was sales to people you don’t know? And I think you said at the beginning you’d been gifted the laser engraver? It still looks like a lot of fun but not going to retire on it yet…

@JamesManCave 5 ай бұрын

Yes, it certainly is very crowded. At least it is on all the personalised items. I would say (with quick maths) it probably about a 50/50 split on selling to family/mates v's people I don't know. I think I could have made more sells on Etsy if, I had of promoted the items via ad's, and had I put a few more things up for sale. Oh, and better pictures! 😀 A lot of the time i took was getting going, and figuring out the best speed v's power of the laser, towards the end I was flying then. So even a couple of Etsy sales would have changed the final outcome quite a bit. Yes, the laser was sent to me by xtool, I would have probably eventually bought one, it is really good fun, and with the right products and market space you could definitely earn extra income

@monkeysausageclub 5 ай бұрын

I've had decent results from matte acrylic.

@JamesManCave 5 ай бұрын

Since I filmed all that, I've had an idea to do a first pass at a higher speed and low power, like a scoring pass. This may help it. I will also try with some matte acrylic to see if that changes anything