Glowforge Tips & Tricks - How to Choose Materials

Hey folks! Today's video is all about materials and what to watch for when using them! Picking the right materials for your Glowforge or laser engraver is critical to a good final product. So when you buy materials for your Glowforge or laser engraver like a Trotec Laser, Boss Laser, Thunder Laser or Aeon Mira, it's good to know which ones to use!
Acrylics suppliers:
Canada - www.engraving-supplies.ca
Canada - www.easyplex.ca
US - www.ceruleantides.com
US - www.houstonacrylic.com
Columbia Forest Products plywoods:
Canada - Home Depot tinyurl.com/4n...
US - Home Depot tinyurl.com/je...
Baltic Birch suppliers:
Canada - KJP Select Hardwoods tinyurl.com/y6...
US - Check Facebook groups like Glowforge User Group (GUG) tinyurl.com/67... for suppliers. There's usually quite a few sellers there.

[@ALPHAJACK78]

Great info, thanks!

[@SteelForge1]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@terrishafer2573]

You were very helpful thank you

[@SteelForge1]

You're so welcome and thanks for watching! 🙂

[@Danishapop]

I feel you so much about canadian material availability haha.. thank you so much for your videos !

[@SteelForge1]

Thanks for watching! Yeah, we really do need better supply and representation up here, eh? 😉👍🏻🇨🇦

[@JohnVanderbeck]

Geesh nearly $70 a box in the US for those walnut panels now :(

[@ruftime]

In the USA, Johnson Plastics+ are a big player for engravable plastics.... their free catalog is 1 1/2” thick😎

[@SteelForge1]

Great call! Thanks for posting that 🤘🙂

[@andreawalford]

Thank you so much for your incredibly helpful videos. I ordered my Glowforge yesterday and have been binge watching your videos ever since. There is so much to know and I’m finding it hard to find answers to some things. Can you please tell me - when working with wood for home decor pieces (like wall art) - are you supposed to treat the wood in some way before and/or after cutting? If yes, what do you use to get a natural satin finish?

[@SteelForge1]

Thanks so much! It's been awhile since I posted a video because I've been so busy with orders! As far as finishing wood, you can stain or paint before cutting but don't treat the wood with anything that could give off toxic gases when burned. For a satin finish, there are several sprays/finishes on the market you could treat your project with after it's done. I don't use any myself just yet so I'm not sure of specific brands but I do know they exist.

[@garyderksen8930]

I live in Lethbridge Alberta.....Windsor Plywood is a good supplier

[@SteelForge1]

Thanks for the tip Gary! I'll have to check them out :)

[@19coyote5oh9]

Hey a fellow Canuck! My Glowforge is set to arrive today!

[@SteelForge1]

Nice!!! Congratulations, you're going to love it 🤘😃

[@19coyote5oh9]

@@SteelForge1 Just a follow up, received the glowforge 2 hours ago and seems defective. It will not print the first keychain properly and the rubber band that moves the head left to right is extremely loose. Also the head seems to bounce off the limiter on the left. So not happy.

[@SteelForge1]

@@19coyote5oh9 Oh no! That's not a nice way to get started. I'd make sure you've removed all the packing materials and reach out to their support for help. There's some fantastic Facebook groups where you can get some advice and insight too. The good news is, it's a very easy machine to fix. Good luck and don't be discouraged. I had a thing last week where the gantry belt (the thing that moves the printer head back and forth) got all twisted after a cleaning. Was super easy to fix.

[@SteelForge1]

Check this out. Sounds like somet that's easily fixed for sure. support.glowforge.com/hc/en-us/articles/360054011474-Adjust-the-Carriage-Plate-Belt-Tension?mobile_site=true

[@19coyote5oh9]

@@SteelForge1 OMG THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! It is working perfectly! You are my new bff! So glad I used YOUR referral.