Question of the week: What are the things you would like to know before you invest in a laser?

this is so insanely helpful. it doesn't turn me off from getting a Glowforge, but it does help me feel more prepared before getting one. Thanks so much you guys!

I wanted to add a note; those vinyl record clocks are usually cut out using a water jet cutter rather than a laser cutter when they're automated, but can also be done with a scroll saw if you practice. In case anyone was wondering how that's done.

This is hands down the best info I have seen. There are so many things I never even considered! Thank you so much for putting this together!

Thank you very much for your information about Glowforge. I've been thinking about getting one and these tips are valuable. You are darling and honest, thank you so much.

Excellent video!! I'm definitely considering getting a Glowforge and all of these are a MUST KNOW! Thanks gents - much appreciated!

You are both amazing! Thank you so much for sharing! SAFETY FIRST!!!

Thank you for your tips and honesty about the dos and don’ts, they were very informative.

Great video for creators in the researching stages of new stuff! Love it

Great info! Not even the leather makers out there showing using a glow forge are telling the dirty little MUST KNOW details. You guys rock!

Super helpful. Thinking about purchasing a Glowforge so I’m thankful for these tips

Thanks guys - considering a laser cutter for acrylic projects right now so this was very informative

Looking into buying one and I'm so glad I learned that about PVC. Yikes, that was the main material I had questions about. Great video! So helpful and you guys are so easy to listen to!

I love the honesty, this was very helpful, thank you

Great job on this video guys. I appreciate the links as well. i hope you both have a blessed weekend and I hope you and your families are all staying healthy. Dale

Thank you. This is helpful. I am saving to purchase a high-end Glowforge product. So, I'm taking the time to gather as much information as possible so that I can get the best out of my purchase, and practice maximum safety at all times. This is exciting technology. I look forward to additional videos on this and similar products.

All great and important points for most lasers. Thanks!

Great info guys, things that the average crafter won’t think about! Thanks

Yes I see this a lot in sublimation too! People heating pvc and releasing chlorine gas - but they say “I feel fine” 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ thanks for bringing that up!

This was a great top ten. We just ordered a Glowforge, so this video was perfect for us.

Thank you SO MUCH for this video. I was considering this product after a KZfaqr used it to create something in her video, that I am trying to find a way to do myself, but I was completely clueless. I thank Jesus for getting me to your video and saving me a LOT of headache.

Love the way you broke it down, the editing and quality so great!! New here just subscribed and looking forward to the next video!

Really appreciate you guys doing this

Excellent information that is very much appreciated!! 👍👍👍

Thank you for the video. I’m thinking of getting a Glowforge to make gifts for friends and family. I really appreciate the insight. As an old Army nerd, I did notice safety was pretty low on your list of things to know. I look forward to making things. Again, thank you for the very informative video.

Terrific video - very informative. Thanks!

Great video guys thanks for sharing really helped me be informed about where to start in choosing a laser printer!

Nice music. Thanks for the tip. My Glowforge just arrived!

The best video on KZfaq! Thanks a lot 🙏

When GF first hit the gofundme scene, I was very impressed, and was considering the passthrough version. I did my research first, a very in depth research in fact because $8K is a LOT of money for a hobby laser. The cloud based functionality was a major turn off for me. I'm in IT, specifically security, and I don't like the Cloud. Ask Capital One why. Aside from that, it has great potential. A few things I discovered after doing research. Laser tubes need to be kept cool for them to last. Overheat a tube and the CO2 mixture loses it 2 part and becomes CO, and no longer functions. I could not find any specs on the GF cooling system, so is it a glass tube, or electronic? Very few lasers use electronic tubes, which have huge heat sinks and fans to keep them cool, Epilog is one of them, and VERY expensive. Replacements are also a LOT more expensive than $499. Try 4-5 times that. Fume Extraction is a big one, which was well covered in this video. In the end I wound up spending about $2500 on a Ebay Chaser(Chinese Laser). It has a 28x20 bed, which is the size I need for the projects I do. It is HUGE, weighs nearly 500 pounds, does not sit on a table, requires a separate water chiller, and a large extraction fan is a must. It is not as super functional as the GF, requires separate software to run it, and separate software to create with. The Laser tube is over-rated, it is sold as 60 Watt, but is actually 50 Watt. These are the things to be aware of when looking at the cheap lasers. They are however upgradable, I can easily go to a 100 Watt tube if I want to. Compared to the GF though, the software and camera system is what makes the GF stand out from all the rest, and if one can afford it, it is a great machine, provided you have Internet. Oh and these DON'T work on dial-up! If you can't afford one, there are alternatives, but Do Your Research first, if you don't you will get burned. One more thing, it was mentioned about baby sitting. Make sure there is a fire extinguisher sitting near the machine and another by the door to the room it is located in, just in case you step away and it goes boom. The one by the door is especially important, because if the machine goes up, you may not be able to reach the one next to it if you had stepped away! Also, if cutting a lot of acrylics, don't use a honeycomb bed, use a steel plate with legs to support the work. What you can't see with the honeycomb is the offgassing when cutting condenses on the honeycomb over time, and that is what will actually start on fire, not the piece you are cutting, but the bed itself. I know, TL;DR Have fun Forging

Cool thanks for the tips! I got a Glowforge and need to set it up soon. I'll keep these tips in mind.

I appreciate the safety info. Thanks!

Thank you for this very comprehensive video

Very helpful video. Always nice to hear people that enjoy their work. Thank you. i subscribed.

Oh my gosh, your video is fabulous! I bought a Glowforge several months ago and am just now getting started with it. I set it up, chose a file, and went to print it and realized, as you stated here, the Glowforge is NOT plug and play! I love all the tips you shared here as well as the links you provided. Thank you so much - this is invaluable for newbies like me!

Excellent video. Great stuff to be mindful of.

Thank you. This was very informative.

Great video, you guys!

Thanks very professional and helpful !

Amazingly good information. Been looking at a Glowforge. this is some good info.

I’m getting my Glowforge Monday. I’m going to etch on bar necklaces and cut acrylic.

Wonderful video very informative!! I’m looking into getting one !

That table is such a good idea, some images on it would be good too

Very very good information thank you I no longer want one I have kids around so this tutorial really help me

Very helpful! thanks!

I'm so glad to have found this video pop up on my feed. I am a maker of all sorts of things that I sell on Etsy. Of course, this magical machine is one of the things I want so badly but just can't afford yet. This is one of the best REAL resources out there that tells the truth about some information, that I had to look at from so many other resources, all right here in one video. The noise and ventilation is definitely not transparent in any other video that I've seen. I actually know that it probably would be very inappropriate for my 2nd bedroom condo workspace! I look forward to checking out some of your other videos!

I’m considering a glowforge. Thanks for an awesome video.

This was a really helpful video. Thanks!

Nice job on video. Very Helpful! Thank you!

Very useful video, thank you. I can't afford one yet, but am trying to research to make sure it's what I should get when I finally can make the purchase.

Love this video thanks 😊

I’m buying this. Thank you!

Thanks for the information!

Thanks for the informative video. You should do videos of lasering/“glowforging” different objects like you mentioned such as volcanic rocks, gems, a skateboard etc. it would be interesting to see.

Informative.. appreciate you guys

Great information!! I really want a glow forge. But now I need to think about when, how, and where I’ll have it. Thank you.

Excellent information...thank you

Thanks for sharing this!

Great video thanks guys

Thank you so much for this video. So many things I didn’t know were addressed here. May need to start out on a baby laser first

Thanks for information, greatly appreciate.

So cool!! Love the video!

awesome video thank you.

Thanks. This was helpful.

Whew! Thank you!

This was absolutely informative...can't believe there's dislikes

Great info, fellow youtubers! My kind of content. Subscribed

I love your logo!

Thank you for this, I think Santa might be bringing me a Glowforge for Christmas.

I’m adding a laser cutter to my arsenal in about a years time so I’m starting my research. Your video quality is awesome and my! You guys are hot! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥😆

Very informative video!

Hi. Great and informative video. You spoke about the in-line fan that you purchased that is much quieter than the one that comes inside of the glow Forge. Yes I understand it’s a 6 inch opening that needs to be brought down to a 4 inch opening, but how do you turn off the fan inside the glow Forge in favor of using this fan? Obviously I haven’t purchased my glow Forge yet Love the idea of making it quieter by purchasing a different fan. Thank you for making these videos and answering comment questions.

sooooooo many of my friends on facebook are getting into laser printers...and im intrigued. would love to see you guys do a demo on making your leather tags.. i love them!

Interesting, thank you guys! :)

A huge Thank you to you guys. I am still doing my research as to why I want one. At present where I would set it up doesn’t have ventilation so I’m not ready to invest. I am also unsure if I should start with the glowforge aura or go all out and purchase the glowforge pro. Anyway, I am grateful I came across your post because it has stopped me just going out and buying something that I may not have the right environment to use.

Good info. Plus you guys are a nerdy version of Ricky and Julian from trailer park boys! Thanks again for all the great information

very good info thanks

My family owns a glow forge and a snap maker. The snap maker is cool it 3D prints does Cnc and laser engraving

Very interesting topic and video!! Great editing!

Hey guys! Thanks for the good content. I've been doing a bunch of researching online attempting to find a video that shows the glowforge's capabilities with cutting different kinds of hardwood as well as their thicknesses. I want to cut 1/4" perhaps up to 1/2". The online community does have ambiguous answers but I think a video would do this topic justice! How many passes, what kind of wood, wood thickness etc. What's your experience with such things?

Very informative, and has given me food for thought. Do you have info comparing these Glow Forge lasers with others? I’m still researching what will be the best machine for me.

Nice Video guys very informative. Rural living has its drawbacks. The internet is very intermittent and weather dependent. I really was considering a glow forge to compliment my camio 3. Cloud storage is regrettably a deal breaker.

This is one of the most helpful videos I found on this. Thank you! What would you recommend for under $500 and maybe desktop size?

Thank you so much for making this video. I really want a Glowforge, but I now know that I don't enough space to properly handle it. Also I wasn't aware that you needed to replace parts to the tune of $500 every 2 years. Not a lot of money but it is something to consider for a casual user. I guess I'll stay in my lane with a Cricut

Awesome guys! I just subbed! You only 45 away from 1k!🎉🎉

Very Good Video

Literally got an inline fan for free. Should be ordering the pro in the next couple weeks

Super interesting, and nice job on your editing! New Sub here!

Beautifully shot video. Actual footage of the GlowForge would have been nice. Like when you talked about the fan sound, a shot of yours running with sound would be helpful.

Hi, not sure how important this is but your link for the 6" fan actually takes you to the 4" version. I wasn't paying attention to that little fact and ending up buying it. Hopefully it will be adequate :)

Man cool info

You covered good things here, but I think a big question people might ask is what really is the difference between a K40 and a Glowforge or FSL Muse. I just ordered a Glowforge. I have a K40 that I did a lot of work tweaking. All in I have about $1500 in the K40. Started with a good one shipped inside the states, developed a cooling system, added a new brain, installed a amp meter, cut down the exhaust vent to make clearance, bought good software (Lightburn), added air assist, better in line exhaust fan, cable chain, new mirrors and lenses. It isn't a bad machine. It gets the job done. The case leaks like a sieve and no matter what you do, you have to vent the whole room. It isn't the most precise thing in the world, and the work area is functionally like 8 x 10 inches. I have done some cool stuff with it, I made the sea ghost for a D&D campaign in 28mm scale with 4 levels, it went over really well in game. But I did set fire to the thing trying to cut an intricate design for another project. No major damage, but I used to be a firefighter and didn't panic. So there is that. Do not leave these things unattended. This isn't a real comparison of the machines, just a quick take.

Sustained a concussion 2 years ago, been unemployed for 2 years and with certain lingering symptoms still hanging on I am trying to find something I can make money with other than computer repair work (extremely slow in my area) and thinking this might be a good fit for some income flow. Excellent video, trying to decide because even at $3-4k it is a lot of money if it does not pan out.

Nice video! I needed a larger laser so I did some research and found a very reliable 36” X 51” laser that was shipped from a manufacturer in China and I spent about the same you spent for your Glowforge. I think Glowforges are great machines but I needed something bigger and something that had more power...150 watt.

I am so glad I watched your video. I was thinking about joining this community of creaters but I have realized this is not for me. Its a really cool craft and I can see there is a lot of money that could be made. Like anything you have to be knowledgeable about your equipment. There is so much you need to learn that I felt overwhelmed. I wish the best of luck to anyone who wants to invest in this cool equipment. But please make sure you do your research and know what your doing.

I was planning on getting GF in the future, but wasn’t about to sink several thousand dollars in my first engraver. I picked one off Amazon for about $300, it had to be assembled myself, and it has no clear preview mode. But it’s good for a learning tool and gaining experience as a first time user. Thanks for the tips on the Glow Forge!

Brilliant video, you've saved me 10k, was about to buy two of the pro's here in the UK but I'm not prepared to use a tool that relies on cloud software to operate, especially as I bet there are clauses in the ULA that make designs open source. Sorry Glowforge, I didn't spend 4 years pursuing a patent with reg'd designs to make my invention a community asset.

Loved your video! I'm in the process of purchasing a glowforge. I wonder if you can explain better how you set up your clouldline fan

Thanks for the great information guys. I'm about to start building my own laser cutter/engraver and I'm doing a lot of planning ahead of time. With regard to ventilation, what setup have you found that works for you to pop a smoke billowing hole in the side of your house :-)? I was originally thinking of putting mine in the basement, but I may be reconsidering that as I'm reading tales of exhaust fans pulling water heater and furnace exhaust back in to the house since the powerful fans create a low pressure zone in the room while they are venting the laser.

I currently have a VersaLaser 10w and the CO2 tube refresh is $,1300!! It seems louder than the GF from what I can tell. My VersaLaser was $10k. The GF is a steal compared to this!