Can I Start A Laser Business Side Hustle? Month 3

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: jameswithalase...
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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

[@stefanbadass5357]

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]

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

[@andyhexter6807]

Hi there, You will always sell more at craft fairs.

[@MongrelOne]

Use a deburring tool on the plastic stuff to clean up edges

[@JamesManCave]

The problem isn't the burr, it's that the edges are not flat, so it wouldn't have worked well as a template

[@SujMenon]

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]

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

[@ser.academia]

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

[@JamesManCave]

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

[@LyndaParry]

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]

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]

@@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

[@BarryHorton72]

The slate looks realy good whan waxed.

[@JamesManCave]

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

[@Everythings_Adjustable]

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]

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]

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

[@JamesManCave]

@@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]

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

[@JamesManCave]

@@Everythings_Adjustable 🤣🤣🤣🤣 brilliant

[@Pete.Ty1]

👍👍👍.Thanks James

[@JamesManCave]

Thanks for watching

[@rmar127]

Cool series, though I do have a question. What are you calling it a pizza pill 💊 when clearly it’s a paddle.

[@JamesManCave]

@@rmar127 it's a pizza peel, not a pill. Google pizza peel

[@paulfranklin8604]

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

[@JamesManCave]

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

[@paulfranklin8467]

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

[@geoffreycoan]

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]

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

[@MarkMichalowski]

Maybe thinner acrylic would work for the templates?

[@JamesManCave]

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]

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

[@KieronFlude]

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

[@JamesManCave]

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

[@michaelmoser3482]

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

[@JamesManCave]

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

[@chrisashdown1484]

You cannot live on £7.50 per hour, what it does show is personaliser products should not be the main selling earner, you need the Holy Grail which is making and sellinga smaller range of goods that sell in quantity to customers, just like the guy who decided to make cutting boards using stripes of different woods, easy to turn out hundreds whilst to do something else like making them. If you made hundreds of coasters with the same logo you would make a fortune but picking the right logo is the main problem. (thinking photo of famous Footballers or F1 cars)

[@JamesManCave]

@@chrisashdown1484 No you cannot live off of that. But as a starting point for a side hustle, I would say it's an encouraging amount after only 3 months. Baring in mind that I was learning lasering myself, and testing out different materials, this basically paid me to learn. The personalised products are the ones that make the money, some laser companies charge a base price of £15-£25 before they even factor in the cost of the item. As I said, I was learning so I understand this now. If I were to make this video with the experience I have now, I could improve my profit by reducing the hours I spent doing the stuff.

[@Kingplaylegend]

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

[@JamesManCave]

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

[@monkeysausageclub]

I've had decent results from matte acrylic.

[@JamesManCave]

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

[@afroshined]

First comment.

[@JamesManCave]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻