Day In The Life of a Solo Full-time Laser Business Owner

In today's video I filmed an average (or so I thought!) Monday as a solo full-time laser engraving/cutting business owner.
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#laserengraving #laserbusiness #sidehustle
HEY, hi, hello! Using laser engraving and laser cutting machines comes with potential risks! This channel's content is intended solely for informational and educational purposes. JUSTIN LASER LLC cannot be held responsible for any damage or harm resulting from the recommendations, settings, activities, procedures, techniques, or practices mentioned on this KZbin channel. By watching this video, you agree that you are solely responsible for your own safety and property in relation to the information provided. Please conduct your own research before purchasing machines, materials, or accessories. This channel is supported by viewers like you and may earn commissions from purchases made through links provided.

[@Ian-Hall]

I start at 9:00am Do my Laser work and sign work for Ebay, Etsy and Amazon. Finish at 3:00pm (never later). Take the dog for a walk. Have an hour on my Sherco st300 trials bike exercise. Empty the dishwasher, Empty the trash, Sit with my dog George the cocker spaniel watch youtube for a bit and have a napp for 1/2 an hour. 6pm have a few beers, Have dinner with my wonderfull wife and watch tv, bed by 11pm. Happy Days

[@justinlaser]

Sounds like a great day!

[@Samcraftcom]

@8:15 story of our lives dude! Every time a package shows up it's a love hate feeling for sure. :) Looking forward to seeing your video on how you like the laser, etc. I've got the same one (I believe) in my shop and working on running it through the paces. :)

[@justinlaser]

Haha so true. Most certainly the same machine also look forward to your take!

[@wangjames9171]

Hey Justin! I have been following your channel for a little while now. Thank you so much for all the amazing contents! I really learned a about laser. I'm a pastry chef. The reason I came across laser machines was because I was wondering will that be possible to use laser to cut clear acetate sheets for chocolate decoration. I'm still not sure if it is possible for laser cutter to do that, because the acetate sheets are really thin. I have tried use products like Cricut but the results are not ideal because the blade will be stretching the material when it comes to cutting very small and complicated shapes. Do you mind share with me your ideas about laser cutting acetate sheets please? Thank you so much!

[@justinlaser]

Thanks so much I appreciate it!! You can laser cut acetate you will need a co2 laser though (no diodes). It does tend to be a little melt-y but you would just need to dial in the settings. The only thing I dont know about is how "food safe" something like that is after cutting. Food rules are out of wheelhouse but I do love pastries lol.

[@NormanCollinsTeaching]

"Create laser business from scratch and do videos about it." Yesss! I would so love this!

[@justinlaser]

Thanks! Figuring out a way to work that into the 2024 schedule.

[@NormanCollinsTeaching]

@@justinlaser I am right there now trying to get a laser business off the ground.

[@BritgirlTX]

Having the satchels/briefcases hanging on the wall caught my attention. I like that. What inspired you to hang them that way?

[@noah3553]

We're just alike! I'm a solo business owner; not in the laser business but the labeling business. My next move will be to add a laser to start producing stamps but finding space for it is a issue.

[@ALXSHARPEN]

I use to live in Cinnaminson I am now in Alexandria, VA but just added a laser to my sharpening business thanks for sharing what you do and agree making videos while working is hard. I do them and it's never easy.

[@justinlaser]

Thanks for checking out the vid! Yeah man making videos is like 5 times more work then the actual work itself lol.

[@davidelder5399]

Great insight into your workflow. I am looking forward to the machine reveal 😮

[@junjun3013]

Thanks for the video and I’m looking forward to the reveal of the mystery laser.

[@justinlaser]

Thank you for watching!

[@MkmeOrg]

Great update. Looking forward to more. Cheers

[@thejohnsons9]

What iron on adhesive do you use for your leather?

[@bearparts]

The leather goods on your wall are quite nice. Did you create them on the laser?

[@justinlaser]

Thanks! Some of them on the shelf but the bag on the wall I did by hand. Cut my patterns on the laser though haha.

[@bearparts]

@@justinlaser clean cuts is one of the reasons I am looking into buying a laser.

[@jlauck12]

Can’t wait to get to this level with my laser

[@justinlaser]

You will if you want it. There are many levels past mine as well haha.

[@componentscience]

Hey I'm actually looking at the Boss 1630. When doing acrylic are the fumes too overwhelming for a bedroom?

[@joffroepcke7393]

"...one big low stakes game of Tetris" really lawled

[@DGLaserCraft]

Thanks, Justin - nice video.

[@bigfranksworld]

Great workflow. I hope I can get into that much work to keep me that busy. Thanks for the video and information!

[@jamesc2212]

being a postal supervisor why are you going to the post office to buy postage.. much cheaper to use a online postage service and either do a carrier pick up which is free or like my wife does we have a small postal unit at our airport... in out...

[@justinlaser]

I buy online with one of the popular 3rd party sites but still drop off. Gets me out of the garage for a little bit.

[@AlexElizabethDiaz-mb8fp]

out of all brands/models, which machine(s) would you recommend starting with for leatherette hat patches with the intention of creating a business, I'm looking to spend the least to start and will upgrade machines as needed. I would like plug and play or closest to, and I want to produce a great quality product from the start. Thank You !

[@justinlaser]

If its just doing patches I would highly consider a galvo head machine like the xTool F1. Youll get great results and its much, much faster than a gantry system like Im using in the video.

[@AlexElizabethDiaz-mb8fp]

@@justinlaseroh interesting , I was under the impression that all co2’s would be faster than all diodes, I would only be able to do 1 patch at a time on that though right? And yes I am thinking of focusing on hats but It would be nice to be able to try out other things if desired, like tumblers. Thank You for replying.

[@AlexElizabethDiaz-mb8fp]

Also I just realized that f1 is 2 lasers in 1… hmmm that does sound great for starting out, gonna research if it can do tumblers.

[@AlexElizabethDiaz-mb8fp]

@@justinlaser I've had a couple recommendations on the xtool s1, and just watched your video on it, would you do an xtool s1 or an omtech polar ? Thank You

[@jayceechandler4905]

thank you for this video

[@justinlaser]

thanks for watching!

[@ahammadnihal]

do you design the files yourself or outsource it to someone ?

[@manerd13]

Where do you get the metal wallets? Been looking for a good place and have had no luck.

[@justinlaser]

I get them on Etsy. Lots of nice variety. Im sure I could go straight to a China source for big orders but the middle-man price isnt bad shipping from the US.

[@BGeorgeVideo]

What is the website that your orders come to?

[@petadang]

Can't wait to see the new omtech diode

[@Golfexpertbelieveme]

what are you cutting out? I tried your facebook page and it doesnt really show what you are cutting and shipping. Your link on your facebook page to your website doesnt seem to work either.

[@justinlaser]

Ill have to check links I just moved hosting. For this video I am cutting acrylic patterns for leathercrafters and sewing. I have stock products as well as do custom orders. It is my main seller but I do other more traditional engraving stuff as well.

[@AZbone]

I do woodworking as a side gig. I’m missing out on a lot of opportunities because I don’t have the tools to offer personalization. I’m looking to buy a laser but I’ve been overwhelmed my everything I read. I was hoping you can you recommend some options. 1) ability to engrave wider font and somewhere around 1/4” deep or deeper if possible. 2) the ability to cut wood for signs (let’s say 1/2” thicker would be better) 3) I’d like the functional area to be around 24x24 or more. Basically the area that the laser can do it’s thing. Space isn’t really an issue. Cost, I hope to be under 1k but will go up to around +-2k if it really hits all my needs. Do you have anything you can recommend that will fit my wishes? Hopefully this is enough info but I’ll happily provide more info.

[@justinlaser]

For something that needs to cut 1/2" wood (well) you will need co2 laser upwards of 100-150w. Im not sure how many at that power range will be available at the price range though. You might be able to get one direct from China off ebay for around $2500 but thats always a gamble. Any of the reputable US sellers will start at $3500+. You could also shop pre-owned or check classifieds.

[@jack8162]

Deep cuts you should just do with a router and stencils or table CNC, lasers don't seem like the best tool for the thicker stuff, and lasers cause their own problems with thicker material cuts. For 1500-2000 dollars you can get a pretty nice table top CNC.

[@jeffreygeddes3802]

Thanks for the video! Next time your in the city have a Tony and NIck's cheesesteak for me!

[@justinlaser]

Haha nice! Drive right past there after picking up my stuff they are right down the street.

[@v6solly]

Feel free to tell me to do my own research 😂 but i'd love to know what system you're using there to compile your etsy and shopify orders? Thanks and great vid 👍🏻

[@Samcraftcom]

There are several paid plugins for your Shopify store to integrate Etsy sales into it. I would suspect it's one of those. :)

[@opigonbad1]

Justin, I see your room is cluttered with test items. I’ll buy the laser smoke ortur enclosure that’s in the way. $50 😀

[@pamelabrown3057]

What is your Etsy shop?

[@justinlaser]

Makesupply is the main one. Going to be starting another as well.

[@readingcraze7283]

What laser do you have

[@justinlaser]

Boss LS-1630 is the main laser.

[@grady9685]

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