Does the xTool F1 Engrave Metal For Jewelry Making?

[@robbabcock_]

Nice! My F1 is supposed to be here Tuesday so I'm eager to see what it will do.

[@rrelectronics27]

Thanks for showing this. I just purchased an f1 for craft shows. I was a bench jeweler for my family's store mostly doing repairs in my early 20s and am starting to get back into the industry. I wish your channel had been around then. You got a new subscription from me. Best wishes for your buisness. I know the industry can be difficult sometimes.

[@MelissaMuir]

Thank you so much for your support. Glad to have you here. I hope you like the F1. It should do well at the craft shows.

[@mylesnmilestv]

Hello Melissa, i have a question! I bought the F1 yesterday, but have been having some trouble with engraving picture images on stainless steel pendants. Words come out fine, however images do not come out as nicely. Can you let me know your recommendation of settings for image engravings with the F1 (Dot duration, power, DPI) . Also can you let me know what settings you use for engraving images on the metal cards that come with the f1? I look forwad to your response , thank you!😊

[@alexbernhard7131]

@@mylesnmilestv i have the same question. did you got an answer?

[@diegocabezas8024]

Did you find the answers out? Because I need help with that

[@mylesnmilestv]

@@diegocabezas8024 dot duration- 2080/ power 100% DPI- 680/ 12 passes/ Jarvis

[@shivaramrachakonda1751]

What is the cost of the machine

[@midnightjo1327]

Thank you for sharing! About how deep was the engraving? Do you think if you did more passes you could get it fairly deep? Like at least 1/2mm ideally a little deeper

[@MelissaMuir]

No. It will not engrave that deep. I wish it would. But it just isn’t powerful enough.

[@midnightjo1327]

@@MelissaMuir thank you!

[@briankivuti]

Thanks for the video! You'd mentioned that it can engrave the inside of a ring. I wanted to use it for hallmarking, but unfortunately didn't see an example in yhe video. Would you say its fine for this task?

[@williamlopez8119]

@@briankivuti I’m curious to know also

[@MsMymiracle]

Thank YOU!

[@hautebride]

Would you say this machine would work best for name tags, and making your own jewelry tags for branding? Thanks!

[@MelissaMuir]

I think it works great for that.

[@annabassett2426]

Jeweler here and this is the exact video i'm looking for. But I'm also trying to see if it can etch / engrave mother of pearl or shell / stone. I'd love to get some of my more complex images marked onto my ahnd polished cabachons!

[@MelissaMuir]

I know it can do stone, don’t know why it wouldn’t work on mother of pearl. I will have to try it out.

[@loisnufer758]

Thanks for the video! I'm trying to decide if I want the portable with 10W or the 20W or 40W models. I don't want to do a lot of craft shows, but I think that would be a big seller, but I don't want to sacrifice quality. Any comparisons on of these models? or advise. Yes, I would like to have both. Should I start with portable & move up later?

[@richliddell1324]

Hi Melissa, have you tried Cutting metal for earrings? Curious where is the best spot to buy the metal blanks and what metals are best? Thanks for sharing with us.

[@richliddell1324]

I just noticed it's the F1 Ultra that cuts the metal.

[@leahdurig8]

Thanks for a great and informative video! If I were to use this tool to engrave a large design on a flat brass or sterling cuff, do you think the engraving would be deep enough that once I bend and shape the metal you would still be able to clearly see the design? Also, would the engravings be deep enough to last on a something such as a cuff without wearing down too quickly? Considering this machine to supplement my other tools.

[@oboy9090]

Can you get colors to come out on the metals?

[@MelissaMuir]

@@oboy9090 you can get a few on this one. But really only on stainless steel

[@The_Moni_Method]

Hi, can the machine do the individual stainless steel beads or stainless steel bar beads first bracelets?

[@annjessup1670]

Curious what saw and blades you use for cutting out designs. Thank you! I have an xtool F1 on the way and plan to use it similarly to you but in supplementing my hand stamping work. Thank you again for making this video!

[@MelissaMuir]

Do you mean the saw blades when I cut the metal?

[@annjessup1670]

@@MelissaMuirboth. I ended up with a Knew Concepts and Nano blades 😊

[@MelissaMuir]

@@annjessup1670 I have never worked with the Nano blades. And the knee concepts seem to work well.

[@naiaram2661]

Hello! I want to engrave silver jewelry but I don't want the engraving to be too dark. Can you put a clear engraving? fine? thank you so much

[@MelissaMuir]

You can have it lighter. You just have to play with the settings.

[@Huntress6988]

Does it engrave sterling deep enough so you can polish if needed?

[@MelissaMuir]

No, not really. You would want to bump up to the F1 Ultra (video coming soon) for that.

[@OPRJewelry]

I’m s strongly considering purchasing the F1 to add to my tools in my home Silversmith and lapidary studio . As I am just learning all about lasers, I seem to be having a difficult time determining the following : When laser engraving a design into sterling silver, will the designs always be dark is there a way to create a laser engraving That is not darkened so it looks more like a diamond cut ?

[@MelissaMuir]

I have not figured out a way to make it look more Diamond cut. If I don’t want it dark, I can run over it with a bras brush and some soap and that will lighten it up a bit.

[@OPRJewelry]

@@MelissaMuir Thank you so much for the quick and concise reply. This is why you are my go to girl for all things metalsmith related !

[@MelissaMuir]

@@OPRJewelry awww thanks for the smile. 🥰😊

[@Elizalde-e4r]

Will this work on gold just like it did with silver? Like id bracelets,small pendants? Thanks.

[@MelissaMuir]

Yes.

[@meld3413]

I'm wondering what depth it can engrave to on silver? I am looking at designs that are currently 0.2mm deep but I can go to 0.1 or 0.05mm. Currently I outsource this work but if I can do it in-house to the required depth this machine might be worth considering....

[@MelissaMuir]

This does not go deep at all. If you go over the design multiple times very slowly, it can give you a little bit of depth, enough that you can feel it, but it is still mostly just below the surface.

[@maryilko3009]

Hi! I’m wanting to engrave my own designs in paper to use in the rolling mill. Would this work or should I use a 40 watt laser? Thanks!

[@MelissaMuir]

So sorry Mary, I am only now seeing this message. Yes, I would think you could make your own designs, but a 40 watt laser will give you far more possibilities.

[@omerkadio]

Thanks a lot! Wondering if F1 can work on multiple designs at one go same like M1 model?

[@MelissaMuir]

I do not have the M1, but I can lay out multiple designs and have it go, so I would say yes

[@acdc4344]

Hi! With this machine can cut silver 925, apriximately 1 mm?

[@MelissaMuir]

No. Sadly it will not cut the metal.

[@1slicka4nd]

Hi. I would like to engrave on stainless steel watch back covers and some jewellery. I have the tts 10watts. It simply isn't etching anything on the metal. 100 power. 100mm/m speed. 10.000 lines/mm. Any suggestions.

[@MelissaMuir]

Slow your speed down. I typically use a speed around 5-10

[@Makeup360]

So you engrave there plates at the same time where you engrave a bat, how you did that like multiple pieces at the same time

[@MelissaMuir]

It is all in how you lay it out in the program.

[@TheAndyroo770]

What I was thinking is to paint the metal black, invert your design, laser blast the design obliterating the paint, then use chemical etching to get a deep engrave/etch.

[@MelissaMuir]

That may work. I have not tried that

[@J_Rod_51]

@@TheAndyroo770 use a jewelry coating to seal it.

[@mrssmith1845]

@@TheAndyroo770 or just print and use the blue paper and etching solution, save yourself 3K. I was hoping this would do proper engraving for fine jewellery but looks like it's not suitable

[@SoleilMagica]

Is the laser good enough to hallmark jewellery with it?

[@MelissaMuir]

@@SoleilMagica yes. It can do that. It won’t be very deep, but it can be deep enough

[@jamesfarley4759]

Does this engrave copper as well?

[@MelissaMuir]

It will mark copper. It will cut into just the surface, but nothing deep.

[@acdc4344]

or what machine do you recomend to cut silver, approximately 1 mm or more 2 mm?

[@MelissaMuir]

I am still learning about the machines that cut silver. Sorry, I don’t have an answer for that.

[@tamaratamarashvili9830]

Hi 👋 please tell me can i grave argent and gold ? Thank

[@MelissaMuir]

@@tamaratamarashvili9830 yes. You can. It just doesn’t go deep.

[@BCubeddesignsllc]

Where do you get silver coin blanks from?

[@MelissaMuir]

I made them from sterling silver sheet. I have a disc cutter that will allow me to cut whatever size I need.

[@PhysicsHack]

Hello there. I make physics demonstrations. I tend to use copper and stainless steel. Do you know if this will mark stainless? Alos, i have a piece that i make (a 3D compass) that holds a compass between 2 x 70mm (3") glass domes/watch glasses. Id like an efficient way to use a rim to hold these together permenantly. Any ideas for process or materials i could use?

[@MelissaMuir]

Yes. It will mark stainless very well. I am not quite certain about what you are asking on the compass. Do you want it to be able to cut out the material for the rim?

[@BGeorgeVideo]

Can the F1 (not the ultra) do color?

[@MelissaMuir]

@@BGeorgeVideo I think k it can a little bit on stainless.

[@OceanRat34]

What computer program is that you are using?

[@MelissaMuir]

@@OceanRat34 it is the one that comes with all the xTool lasers

[@eamonmolineux340]

Will it put logo on watch dials.

[@MelissaMuir]

I haven’t tried that, but I would suspect yes.

[@jeffhulett4194]

Good review, looks like a great tool if you are a professional, I am a hobbyist, so it would be a way too expensive toy for me.

[@MelissaMuir]

Thank you, actually, this is the one I would suggest for the hobby level. The more professional ones run anywhere from $7k - $30+K.

[@benjaminpastrana9662]

Hello Melissa! I can’t remember but I don’t think the engravings I did did not took so long and I never used more tha 1 pass.

[@MelissaMuir]

And you feel like you got a deep impression? I can do it faster and get a somewhat dark mark, but if I go slow then I get a better impression.

[@pancerny565]

xTool F1 is a dual laser diode and fibre so far what i know so its just a mater of switch betwen

[@MelissaMuir]

@@pancerny565 yes. That is correct.

[@janepanzer5084]

original xTool F1 is diode and IR; new xTool F1 Ultra is diode and fiber

[@duocmat5192]

❤

[@ACNJewelCraft]

super

[@ACNJewelCraft]

how to indian rs

[@MelissaMuir]

I don’t understand what you are asking.

[@AngiesByKim]

Im trying to engrave a ring and all i see is the red laser but not the blue to line them up.

[@MelissaMuir]

Are you using the RA2? Or are you doing this flat on the bed? Have you removed he lens cover?

[@AngiesByKim]

​@@MelissaMuirI figured it out. I'm struggling with placement but finally got one close. How do you get your gravers so sharp? I've followed every book and I fail lol.

[@MelissaMuir]

@@AngiesByKim I use my graver hone or diamond shaping wheels to sharpen and polish my gravers. It makes it so much easier.

[@OnlyWillowJewellery]

My silver engravings are not as dark as this 😭

[@MelissaMuir]

@@OnlyWillowJewellery it takes a bit to get the settings right. High power low speed and making sure the laser is in focus is what has helped me be successful

[@EaselCat]

I ordered one just for marking metal for hand engraving!!!