Hi Guys I hope this review was helpful, please let me know your thoughts. Raffle has now ended and the winners will be announced shortly in an up coming update video. Cheers J

A coffee table you say.....when we left UK for South Africa in 1948 my father made a 1/2 dozen coffee tables in teak to sell for funds on the way..... all fully inlaid with veneer.....2 years later he was still getting letters for the tables from people who saw the first lot.....i think he would have sacrificed one of his balls for a laser like this.

Retired high end service and repair contractor here, with the exception of HVAC work a 10% margin is tough to maintain, 30% is perfect, and probably low when you consider quality against the competition that is charging more and delivering less.

Retired master mechanic here. I do enjoy watching good men with knowledge and ability show me stuff. Thank you.

New to laser engraving - been watching lots of youtube videos - yours are the BEST! :D Thanks for making this fun! :D :D :D

Gotta say, I like your closing about getting off KZfaq for a bit of time in the real world. Plus I like the xTool even more now that I watched you do the inlays and, before that, your calculation of ROI. Good stuff to see.

Can't wait to see more videos soon my friend Cool project. Keep up the great craftsmanship and hard work my friend. Forge On. Fab On. Weld On. Keep forge lit. Keep making. God bless.

Brilliant review 👍

Its so good to see you having this much sponsors, i watch you'r channel for YEARS, and i see you'r strugle, and im verry pleases to see that your making it, thankyou for being alive sir, much respect... (Danny from Brazil btw)

Yep I have exactly the same problem with sunlight. The skylight in my shed lets midday sun through, if it shines on the laser it's a fire alarm stop every time.

im impressed with the x tool, that celtic knot for a bit of scrap wood came out fantastic

❤wow that was very comprehensive you covered so much if I had the money would definitely buy a cutting machine looking for things I can do now after being so active then rheumatoid arthritis and floored me in a year keep up the great videos there great 👍

Thank you for another informative and inspirational video. Please post results back on KZfaq. Old timers don't Instagram so much. Would like to see more metal working ideas. I'll pass on entering for the co2 laser, since I'm in the states. Cheers Joshua!

You got skillz Enjoy your Vids... Lots of great Ideas...

Awesome video, thank you, Josha

Miss the old days of blacksmithing . A life worth living.

I really appreciate you keeping your mistakes and work-around in. Exactly the sort of issues that might throw a laser newbie like myself.

Thanks for the review...just what I wanted to see... Im just about to buy this very machine...with the extended bed...and air...

Outstanding video. Very relevant content, particularly as fast as this industry is moving. Outstanding sample projects, no fluff, your delivery is entertaining and effective and the video is well produced. Cannot wait to explore more of your content. You are a natural and wish you great success!

Best Review of this laser i had watched so far. Thx m8 i will order this handy tool next year (:

Great video informative and clear

Everything @cviator said, plus just thinking of jumping from 20 to 40 watt so really helpful. And love your piece of Thor kit😀

cheers pal, really useful info. gotta get this one instead of co2

Thankyou for a top video

This review is amazing. I like how you test them and after the job you give your own opinion. What is good and what's not. I plan to buy one to for my workshop. Thank you again for this video. Keep it up 💪💯

Buy the expansion kit! I installed mine two months ago and love it.

Another cracking review 👌🏻 That’s sold it for me as a full time knife maker who’s etched and stamped thus far 🍺👌🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Great info. We've been thinking about an xtool for a while!

I did buy my xTool about 3 Weeks ago. You should also look into their Infrared Diode Head. It is super simple to swap Heads for this machine and just add another wavelength to your tool chain.

Really well done. The flame sensors use IR I believe to detect the flames, and the sun basically has so many frequencies of light that it's going to trip it every time. I would've kept the CO2 for clear acrylics since it's a UV vs visiable light beam, but if you're not doing alot of clear acrylic cutting then these 40 watt diode lasers are definitely worth replacing them. This is the second video in a row I've seen of yours that's been so incredibly entertaining and informative...subscribed and will go back and watch the rest! Great job!

Awesome content! Cheers!

Amazing!

Hi Josh. That looks like a really great machine for anyone who wants to start a small business; It's ideal. Yes, it's expensive, but I think. you get what you're peer for. Thanks for sharing.

Awesome! For the inlays, did you use the Kerf adjustment in Lightburn?

I really appreciate you 👍

I have been considering getting an Xtool laser, and based on your review, I think it will do just what I need.

Another great video. It's amazing to see how much laser technology has come on over the years! I've entered the raffle, might win, might not, so long as it helps you create more content like this in all for it. I do miss seeing some forge work though tbh

Looks good dude

yes X-tool does have an expansion system. i have it. it doubles the size. definitely worth it for large engraving, or just to open the work space. Also, an enclosure is good. That 40 watt module FILLS my shop with walnut smoke 😂

Great overview! I just found your channel and watched several of your videos. Out of the 33w Longer vs the 40w xtool (both of which you reviewed), which laser engraver do you like better? Thanks!

You make using those look so easy to use but for old guys like myself I'd have to take several classes on how to use computers and then all the rest of it. I wouldn't know where to start at. But I bet my grand children would know what to do with it and make cool stuff. Nice video buddy. If I could afford one I'd definitely get my grand daughter one for her birthday. I'm so happy I started my grand children on using computers when they were only 4 or 5 years old. They can do way more than I can an I call them twice every month when I need help with my own computer and I'm noticing that I am not even turning my system on like I use to do. I'd rather be tying flies for fishing or setting up easy wood working ideas and not have stress from learning new things. After all that's why I always have said, that's why we have kids and grandkids, to do the computer work for us.

Great review, i was wondering if it cuts acrylic an if it does , what is the cutting quality. Thx

Hi Joshua. The machine works great but at 1600 pounds there is not enough gold on it for my money.

i hadn't thought about the idea of mixing woods - I'll give that a try. I've been experimenting with glass and slate. People wrongly say slate is mono - you can get around 5-10 levels from it. Glass - I'm struggling with - one. the 'tempered' coasters I got seem to not be tempered, since one cracked into bit slices. And it seems to be tricky to get a sharp enough laser melt to get a decent dither pattern for photos.

Not sure if it has already been mentioned in the comments but the knob that tightens the laser module can be pulled out away from the laser so that you never have it against the frame. There is a spring in there that will snap it back. Also I would turn off the fire sensor or at least reduce it's intensity in the settings. It can only be done in Creative Space but once it's written to the machine it will be off when you use Lightburn as well.

Neat tools and a crazy nice bit of work . However being The Technochallenged Chromagnum Manchild, quite out of my wheelhouse! 😂 Perhaps one day I'll learn computer stuffs Blessings aboundant brother. Crawford out 🙏🔥⚒️🧙🏼‍♂️

watch all your videos, one of my favourite youtubers. stop the laser vids, get the diy plasma table build out, or more useful tool reviews. lasers are too expensive, interesting though. sub £500 mark.

That reminds me of the age old saying, " Don't force it.... get a bigger hammer!" Nice video.

I do value this content

I have the D1 Pro with the 20w module, and my cross gantry looks a bit different than yours. It has some holes in it and included zip ties to keep the cable up and away from the rails during homing and working on wide pieces near the edges.

Engraving metal, then adding powder-coat and repeating the engraving(probably a lot lower power) may be a better option to sintering(may need air of but might not kill the lens protector with the lower temperatures needed)

Noice video :) Appreciate the time taken to put this together ! Question - what was that about a fire alarm and then the machine stopped .... But why? If the machine has a flame detection ( basically some IR detectors and some maths ) why then would it stop the cut head instantly on flame detection, i mean, it want's the fire to consume it's cut head ? I suggest the default behavior on flame detection should be to return the cut head to a corner and stop when hits limit switches ... If I've misunderstood and you've some separate fire detector please let me know :)

Thanks Joshua for another indepth video, brilliant results. Being a tight ar5ed Yorkshire man I wouldn't pay that much for the Xtool. There's a few design flaws for £1600

Laser hole-layout, should dig deep enough into metal to make a functional divot for a pilot-hole.......... (guide-lines for a metal band-saw may also be quite doable...)

Another fantastic video. Really enjoyed watching your video catalogue on the laser engravers. This one looks a nice bit of kit but out my price range. I'm looking to purchase the Sculpfun S30 Pro, is this one you have used before, or can you recommend a 10w machine for a beginner. Keep up the good work 👏👍🏻

What's your kerf offset value that you found was just right Joshua?

I bought one 2 mo ths ago it has lareadu paid for itself love them

I've been looking at the various diode lasers for a while now, my conclusions are that despite there being numerous versions out there there are probably only 3 or 4 companies making them in China , the rest are just rebadged versions, there are apparently 2 laser diodes used, one at 5.5W optical output and one at 6 or perhaps just over 6 W Optical output, thus you get 4 (or more) combined beams via a prism giving either 20 or 22 W, 30 or 33W and 40W (and we must assume soon arround 44W). You loose a tiny amount of power by running it through the prism typically about 0.5W per beam So given that the laser heads are likely only from two companies with just minor cosmetic differences between everyone you then have to look at everything else that makes up the lasers, typically this is bed size, build quality and accessories. Note that as you increase the laser power the module gets physically larger and this means your cutting area decreases slightly.Theres a few interesting options. Sculpfun's latest ULTRA versions come with a 600 x 600 area as standard, their previous machines are typically around 400 x 400 but you can expand to 400 x 935 or even expand both axes to a massive (for a diode laser) 935 x 905 mm (the ultra does not currently have expansion options) Atomstack are another maker where rebranded versions are available, again most of their models are circa 400 x 400 mm cutting area with an expansion option to 800 x 400 mm, their add on for etching cylindrical objects is one of the best out there and apparently is compatible with most brands of diode laser requiring you to use one of just two different connecting cords To get the best quality from your laser cutter/etcher i.) Use a honeycomb or similar base for flat materials and make sure you use a dull sheet of metal (Aluminium best as a diode won't cut it) a reasonable distance below the bed, sand the sheet so that you don't get any reflections of laser light back up into the laser module ii.) Put the whole thing in a box and extract the air (mainly) from beneath the cutting area, this will significantly reduce the amount of smoke damage on the rear of cut material. This also helps reduce the chace of fire and will keep the lens cleaner You can etch anodised aluminium, but the only metals a diode laser will cut is likely to be steel and stainless steel up to maybe 5 thosandths of an inch (0.125 mm) thick for 20W or more powerful lasers, you might be able to also cut Bronze as it has a similar thermal conductivity to steel. A diode laser will not cut clear materials however as with anodised aluminium applying a removable coating to glass or perspex will often allow you to etch the surface. When cutting made up boards e.g plywood or MDF be prepared to test each board, fine grain timber like Birch Ply will be harder to cut than cheaper ply, partly due to the wood but also due to the glues used in the laminations, some of which are more resistant to laser cutting whilst others are more flamable, there appears to be very little difference between regular MDF and the more expensive laserable MDF, however in both cases you want that extraction system I mentioned earlier, the fumes from the glue/binder material is not good for your continued health, make sure your extraction unit clears the fumes from your workspace. Lastly when cutting synthetic materials BE PARTICULARLY CAREFUL and look up what can be given off, lasers will cut many fabrics, leathers and foams, but some e.g PVC and fake leather can potentially kill you, PVC gives off Hydrochloric Acid and Chlorine Gas for example

These 40W diode lasers sure are getting useful.

Awesome

14:16 Might be interesting to cut veneers for inlay work.

I've been aching to get a later cutter/engraver for a few years now, but more for cutting and etching acrylic and other plastics for making light diffusors or edge lit stuff, so diode lasers aren't really an option. I know CO2 laser tubes do eventually wear out, but I'm a little dubious on lifespan of diode laser lifetime. Will a diode laser hold up long enough to see a ROI?

I was thinking that you should same those inlays, seal, and polish a little, and then sell them as cutting boards. You cut 2 designs, in which you would get 2 cutting boards, 1 light on dark and 1 dark on light. Custom mapping them could exponentially increase the price. Edit... I didn't mean making, but I am struggling to know what I meant. My spellchecker is really a Grammer wrecker! Oh, I know, I meant custom ordering, but I don't know the exact word that I meant. Anyways, you could make them thinner, getting 2 for every one of what you did, then make little wood feet or if a hard wood, and route a ring around the surface to can any liquids. I guarantee that you could sell them! Especially if they were sanded with a high grit, and then go fiber and more fine until it has a sheen! Nothing works like wood for a cutting board. I would buy one.

I really enjoy your videos. i am particularly interested in the frame laser engravers. I have a conventional CO2 laser that I have had from new for about 15 years. It is a 40 watt machine and although the power has dropped off due to the age of the machine it still works, however it has developed another fault that may require more money to be spent, significantly more than the cost of the +1000 pounds of the machines you have recently reviewed. So at the moment it would be cheaper to buy a diode laser than get my machine repaired. Do you have any information on the cost of replacing the diode laser unit and do you have any information regarding possible life expectancy of the diode units. Rgds, Jeff

I keep trying to justice buying another toy that I can hide from the wife.... you got me one step closer. :)

Seen people place a thin sheet of glass held off the surface by matches, and then using paint pigments to infil etchings.

Looks like a superb piece of kit

Hi, personally, I love these comparison type videos. Six months on, do you still rate your x-tool cutter?

I"ve been looking at the XTool D1 and have been trying to decide if I have the 40W, would I need the Infrared laser for doing metal.

@16:00 what model is the big vice you have on the table.

Can we use a bigger table such as 1m x 1m ? Can the stepper drive this 1m gantry ? Do you have any idea to make table bigger ?

I think an argon atmosphere will work on that powder

Can the xtool cut clear acrylic? seems that is one of the big advantages of co2 over diode.

So it is best to use "Multipass"

but can't you do more with the CO2 laser like aluminum and brass? Diode lasers wont engrave a lot of different metals right?

Have you tried using dry molly on the steel :)

cool

I like, and a comment for the algorithm. : -)

I think the enclosure and the ability to evacuate the smoke is worth a pretty penny. But could that be added for 100 pounds instead? Well, build it and do let us know!

The CO2 can cut clear acrylic and I think the diode can only cut dark acrylic.

Is your 30% M/U based on you marking up from costs, or are you actually getting 30% of your sell price? Just curious.

👍

How long will it last for ?

5:59 Yeah, you really got stung on that CO2 laser cutter. You can get a lot more for that money if you buy a professional cutter. It will look awful, it won't be kind to you, but you get a lot more laser power.

I'm stuck between Xtool and Acmer P1 33w.

About your pricing .. while the mashine is working I'm sure you will be doing something else . So I would say that 2 times what you said.. :)

Lᴀsᴇʀ Wᴀғғʟᴇs .

Surely the ACMER is a better value machine?

Put the metal powder under glass

Stop watching KZfaq? Are you serious? I have too many creators to support! If I was creative AND I had any money to spare, maybe...

I would probably take the laser out and make a laser gun out of it, do my engraving free hand, laser guns are awesome..Maybe not legal...

Quicker means more quick, so more quicker would be more more quick. OK then. Of course, this is a new thing that has suddenly become widespread for some reason so you are not the only offender by any means. Are people saying most quickest yet, I wonder. Maybe soon. I can hardly wait. 😉

Bye

👨🏼‍🦰 *Joshua is Home Alone* 👨🏼‍🦰 🥽👨‍🏭 *Joshua is Bored* 👨‍🏭🥽 Mrs De Lisle [arriving home] after an especially long day at the Shoppes, is met at the door… 👨🏼‍🦰Welcome home Sweetheart …notice anything different? 🤗 👩🏻 ermmm…you cleaned the gunk from under your fingernails? 👨🏼‍🦰 No no n…well, yes, but that’s not it! 👩🏻 I don’t know …what 👨🏼‍🦰 I want you to guess …look around 🙅🏻‍♀️ Joshua I don’t wanna guess; I’ve got groceries to put away before the 🍨 melts …just tell me 👨🏼‍🦰okay, Okay …you’re gonna Love It! 🤦🏻‍♀️ Joshua, please 👨🏼‍🦰 “Bevels!” 🤩 👩🏻 right …and what does “Bevels” mean?🤨 👨🏼‍🦰 I added Bevels 👩🏻 okaaay …bevels to WHAT, exactly? 👨🏼‍🦰 EVERYTHING! No more boring, squared-off edges in THIS house …aren’t they just Beautiful, Honey?😍 🤦🏻‍♀️ Joshua De Lisle 👨🏼‍🦰 Yes, my Love 👩🏻 You’re sleeping in your Workshop tonight 👨🏼‍🦰 are you …are you Serious 🙇🏻‍♀️ Ask. Me. Again. 👨🏼‍🦰 Woo-hoo! Imma go make me a 🛏️ …this’s gonna be Awesome!!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Try bronze metal to clad on steel in Argon atmosphere without flux.

I want the X tool p2 which can etch up to 8x2 foot board but the cost puts me off at £6k+ for it all.

Awesome