Can I Start A Laser Business Side Hustle? 2nd Month

[@AlfisGarage]

Love the honesty about the market being saturated - most people are shilling this just for the views :)

[@ggjflyguy]

try custom engraved mirrors, they are a huge seller for me, the pack of 12x12 mirrors work out to be roughly 5 dollars each and i sell them for 45 dollars, plain no frame, i let the customers do that, or charge more if they want me to do it up to 65-75 dollars

[@JamesManCave]

Thanks very much for the heads up, I'll certainly look into that. Do you sell on Etsy? If so, feel free to post your shop link 👍

[@mrgscustomtees3960]

Not on Etsy, I sell locally and through posts on facebook. I started by doing one and posting it on my personal page and people started messaging me wanting them. Just started with clear glass dinner plates also

[@irhapsody2010]

Do you make mirror coasters? Or what exactly do you use them for? Sorry, for the questions ... I was trying to picture what that would look like.

[@christopherclark6353]

​@@mrgscustomtees3960hi pal any help into what type of laser I would need as I want something to get my misses into as she is very creative and would be easier for her to start making money from home so not sure on what actually sells the most but I'm looking into getting a good laser that is good enough to engrave on anything and can engrave on anything like coasters l, glass items, and also any places that are good to get stock from please

[@Pupido_McMuffin]

My brother has a woodworking business on Etsy, and lately, I've been trying to help him out a bit. Your videos have given me some good Ideas!

[@Kowzorz]

I appreciate you considering power usage and cost, even if they are "negligible".

[@JamesManCave]

I knew people would ask about it. It's very cheap to run a laser

[@spwood86]

Hi James glad to see you back again. regarding lasered slate you can sand and reuse them if mistakes are made :)

[@JamesManCave]

Hi mate, thanks for the tip! The slate coasters engrave well, so not gone wrong on one of those yet, the wooden ones though, I did try sanding one down and it was too thin to reuse!

[@eimead]

Love this video series. I'm quite new into laser engraving too but am dipping into it as a side hustle here in Ireland. I've been focussing primarily on slate and I've managed to get a good workflow going. It is a bit laborious and time consuming but I've been able to get quite photorealistic engravings going and the custom orders have been good. Dipping into hipflasks and coffee cups etc now. Subbed and keep the videos coming.

[@JamesManCave]

Sorry, somehow I missed your comment. It's good to hear of other people starting off in this hobby, I really enjoy it. I've not really tried any photos on slate, or on wood for that matter. Maybe that's something I can try next. I considered doing flasks, but that market has many people producing them, so I opted against it. Good luck in your venture

[@seifer447]

Hi James. Quick thing that helped me for the smoke the lasers create is an enclosure and fan with an air conditioner window block. Don't know if you have a convenient window, but it's been helpful.

[@JamesManCave]

Hi, thanks for that. I had considered making my own enclosure, but I just don't have any room left for anything that big. Plus, now it's cold out, I'd have to leave the garage workshop door open for the extraction pipe. So it's either freeze, or not be able to move in the workshop! 😬 I am considering building a work bench, and part of that will have a laser enclosure in it, if that worked ok, then I would plumb a pipe out the wall

[@SujMenon]

Side hustle is coming around good, James. Didn't realise that there is so many small initial setups to do to get a perfect etch!

[@JamesManCave]

Cheers Suj, it like most things, once you refine it, and dial it in right they come out perfect

[@marknichols7861]

There are line drawings of old sailing ships - maybe on glass. one fellow was doing expired patent office drawings of various things.

[@JamesManCave]

Hi, yes I've seen the expired patents videos, that got me thinking about doing blue prints of cars. Don't know if that would be a popular thing or not

[@marknichols7861]

@@JamesManCave the masses are a fickle bunch. You could do niche markets - like trains for the rail fans (model and real).

[@ArrestoMomentum_75]

Hey, Great Video. One thing you have not taken into account when working out your profit. What is the cost of the laser cutter / engraver? I know you got it sent to you. But most folks would need to buy the laser bed etc and calculate that into the profit margin's. If it's thousands of £ then you looking at a lot of sales to cover that startup cost... I love your honesty though and please keep um coming.

[@ausfoodgarden]

Hi, here in Melbourne Australia people seem to expect bamboo and plain timber stuff to be very cheap. I've done a few platters using tree wood/log slices and people are willing to pay way more for the "rustic" look. The slate items look really nice to me. I might see if I can get something similar locally. I'm just hoping to make enough to recover the engraver cost price so I can buy a bigger/better one 😊

[@JamesManCave]

Hi, sorry I missed your comment. I would agree with you about bamboo as being seen as a cheap item, I purchased them as a spur of the moment thing, so I thought they are cheap enough I'll give it ago. Someone else suggested to me about making personalised mirrors which they sell on their Etsy store in the US. I thought that a good idea

[@DoctorSib]

I feel like that price is WAY too low for the coasters, especially if you're engraving on the back too! You're accounting for the cost of the materials, but are you accounting for how much time you're spending finishing these products? Have you calculated what your hourly rate might be per product?

[@JamesManCave]

I only engrave the coasters on one side. Once the coasters have finished engraving, I can finish about 15 an hour, so that gives an hourly rate of £45

[@CaptScott-ff6mf]

Nice to see all the effort going into this little side hustle. So, how many hours of labor has gone into all this work? Profit divided by hours worked gives you an hourly wage of?

[@JamesManCave]

All will be revealed in the last video some time next month. If you watched the first video I said I would do a 3 month trial, so next video on this series will be the end of the trial

[@mooshymooshmoosh]

Hi im 16 from the UK, im thinking of starting a small business in this selling locally. Only managed to make things on slate so far. Can i ask what settings you use for engraving on wood and cutting on xtool creative space. Im new to this and struggling on finding settings to use. Also scared ill set fire to something 😂

[@JamesManCave]

Hi, it all depends on what type of wood you are using, and if your trying to engrave the wood or cut a shape out on it. Plus, the machine you are using will cause some differences in the final piece as well. But thing I can suggest is to make a test file, engraving/cutting at different speeds and power

[@kombatkiller317]

Excellent video! Looking to start laser engraving myself so this video is excellent inspiration! I had one question though. What does the wax and mineral oil do for wood? Thanks in advance!

[@JamesManCave]

@@kombatkiller317 the wood oil and wax protect the board from drying out after washing. It also serves as a barrier to help stop mold growing on the board

[@lambd5578]

Hope you have a great 2024 James. 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@JamesManCave]

Hi David, sorry I somehow missed this message. A very happy belated New year's to you as well 🍻🍻🍻

[@simonstephanie7]

Hi. We are Dorset Laser Crafts, we have been going for about 6 months now, as like you I started with a D1 pro and fancied starting our own little business. It’s great to actually see someone in the uk doing the same. Love your vids, we are thinking of doing some KZbin to try to get out there a little more. Etsy we have tried and same it’s a no go lol. How easy is it to start on KZbin? Do you need good cameras and tec? Many thanks if this gets to you.

[@JamesManCave]

Hi, thanks for the comment. KZbin is easy to get started, but I think everyone will tell you the same thing, audio is the main thing to get right. People will watch a video even if the video quality isn't 4k, but if the audio is terrible, people will soon turn off. Keep the content original and true to you, and your views will grow. Hope this helps, and good luck with your business

[@tmlhkyfn]

a couple of quick questions for you; does the machine need a lot of cleaning if you are just engraving? I expect it to need more frequent cleaning if used for cutting. Second question is the fumes; do you vent to the outside? pick up their air purifier? I can't remember if you purchased the 10w or 20w model Thanks for your time

[@JamesManCave]

Actually, the engraving probably causes more residue around the laser head than cutting does. It all depends how much you used it, but I could make deep engraved cutting boards before cleaning the laser, and it's literally a cotton bud in a cleaning solution and it's clean. As regards the fumes, I have a fan next to the machine when I'm engraving in the garage so it can blow everything outside, but now I have a fume extractor. I have the 20w model in this video, but I've since got the 40w laser head

[@tmlhkyfn]

It's the residue on the mat underneath the items being engraved/cut that I was wondering about. Saw a comparison with the new carbon lasers (way out of my price range) and her old D1 Pro & cleaning the honeycomb was apparently a PITA I'm looking at the D1 Pro 20w or the S1 20w as I don't expect to be cutting, but am interested in engraving

[@JamesManCave]

@@tmlhkyfn Ahh I see. Well on the D1 pro, the honey comb didn't get as bad as it did on the S1 I have. That is because the S1 I have is a 40w, and it's the cutting that leaves the residue behind on the honeycomb. So if you were to use it for engraving only, then you shouldn't ever have to clean the honeycomb. Cleaning the honey comb isn't a 2 mind job, I take mine out, lean it against a wall and covering it in oven cleaning fluid, leave it about 10/15min to soak in and then clean it off with a jet washer. Not a massively intensive job, but not a quick one either P.S if you are wanting my opinion, the S1 is probably the best laser out there for beginners/entry level people. It's a little bit easier to align then the D1, and being enclosed is obviously much better. The only down side though is that it does take up more room

[@tmlhkyfn]

@@JamesManCave thanks for your replies; The D1Pro now comes with an enclosure too; Choices, choices, choices

[@jigsey.]

Great to see you back on the tube fella, have you a link to the materials please

[@JamesManCave]

Hi Jigsey buddy! All the links are in the description box of the video. Hope your doing good? 👍

[@jigsey.]

@@JamesManCave cheerz bro, I found them right after I posted it 😁.. all good bro, I needed inspiration and this video gave me 😊

[@JamesManCave]

@@jigsey. Excellent, hope you make some super cool stuff 🍻👍

[@buddysmith7080]

These are great, but shouldn't it say Rules (plural)?

[@JamesManCave]

Kitchen is singular though. Perhaps there is only 1 rule, the person who owns the chopping board makes the rules

[@Pete.Ty1]

👍👍👍.Thank you

[@mickhack749]

Sorry if already mentioned but what engraving laser do you use ?

[@JamesManCave]

Hi, it's the Xtool D1 pro 20W 👍

[@easymac79]

14:26 Sorry to spam the comments... Does this bother anyone else? My kitchen, my 'rule' not "rules"? I know you mentioned the typo in the last video about "starave", I thought you would address this one too. But other people like it as is? I just don't get it.... Plus the rolling pin is absurdedly short in proportion. To have it be longer and say "rules" would just look so much better, no? Sorry, it's triggering me. LOL.

[@JamesManCave]

What bothers me, is people not taking the time to read others peoples comments and the replys

[@Jane_Harlie]

Very curious to see how the laser behaves as it gets cooler outside. I'm in Canada and thinking about getting one....however our winters are very cold and I don't have a properly ventilated space indoors.

[@JamesManCave]

Hi, yes i bet your winters are much colder then here in the UK. In the future I would like to enclose this engraver, but that's much further down the line

[@easymac79]

Try this again: 13:36 Great tips! [laaaaaaaaame!!!!!] I'd like to share why I think these tips are good, and relevant, and how we can all benefit from them. But noooooo. Cant do that!

[@JamesManCave]

why can't you do that? maybe you can share why you feel you have all the info and no one else does

[@easymac79]

Dude, we need to set the record straight I think or I'll just let it be and move on.@@JamesManCave I was worried, the way I said [laaame!!] that you might think I was being critical of you. NO. I was summarizing the long comment I wrote with what I detailed in a reply a few hours ago. The summary was "great tips" compared to a complete breakdown of every tip that you mentioned, why I thought it was in fact, great information. Saying "great tips" versus pointed reasons WHY I agree and think those tips are in fact very good and relevant to people starting a new business in this area; was what I thought was lame. Again, this goes back to the comment I posted first that disappeared. For the record, you spoke about struggles with Etsy. So I compared that to my difficulty in starting on the platform and an "error" they claim that caused delays in launching any products. You spoke about how you've received tips that being sporadic with listing new items might hurt you, the way the algorithm works. I agreed and gave a suggestion that if you only have a couple items to list, save them up and do so once daily. That might be better than sporadic posts of new listings. I am emphatically agreeing with you and trying to be helpful, productive, and light humored, but all of your replies have just not gotten my point. I'm sorry that my original message was lost to the ether. I'm upset about that. There would be a whole lot more context here if that didn't happen. And I didn't post it on the wrong channel like you suggested. Please understand I'm not offended by "tech is confusing for some people". Not relevant. I took it as a joke.

[@easymac79]

Literally though. I proofread that again and I cant help but wonder about the "tech is confusing" bit.. Bruh, this is a community of nerds. I just assembled my new laser engraver to add to my collection of maker tools. I hope it was a joke; that I can't figure out how to comment on a KZbin video but somehow manage to operate a number of CNC machines as a hobby. I hope your inner Karen calms down and we can continue, I like your channel, but if it's going to be hostile, then whatever. Peace.

[@JTELES100]

Dragon????? I bet your friend did not enjoy that... First because it's a lion and second dragon is the rival's logo 😁😁😁😁

[@JamesManCave]

Ok, I'll go as far as saying it's a big cat

[@fylith6378]

I would love to buy your template files :)

[@JamesManCave]

Thank you. Won't be long, had to make a few tweaks to them. Should be up for sale soo. 👍

[@alanhill6974]

Great videos, great to see some more local (UK) content as opposed to an American slant on it. I have a laser and I'm interested in how you're marketing your services?

[@JamesManCave]

Thanks! At the moment my marketing stretches as far as having an Etsy site. I've made nearly 100 wooden coasters for people on a forum I'm a member of, and the rest have been through word of mouth from friends and family. At the moment I'm keeping it small scale, 1 because I'm still learning and trying out different things, and 2 because I'm not in a real position yet to ramp up production

[@alanhill6974]

@@JamesManCave thanks for the reply, I'm in much the same boat - Etsy, my own site and a few local crafting FB groups. I also built an enclosure for my Atomstack laser to vent fumes and stop others walking past "seeing" the laser at work. One off jobs (coasters etc) take so much time compared to what you can charge, and while I've done a few bulk engravings, that's where I need to concentrate I reckon, commercial, hospitality etc. Great videos though as I say,I'll be keeping tabs on your progress.

[@JamesManCave]

@@alanhill6974 thanks Alan for your comment. That's great you've managed to get some large jobs, and your right, the coasters do take a while. But I prefer doing the slate coasters, seem to get on with them much better. I was thinking local farm shops, and independent stores

[@anthonymoraes3251]

Your friend has great taste in soccer teams!

[@CTMMOYT]

brilliant video, loved part 1 and part 2 :)) Never stop trying new things and ideas! Has anyone told you that you look like Tyson Fury? haha

[@JamesManCave]

No, they haven't. But I have been told that Tyson Fury gets told he looks a lot like me though

[@CTMMOYT]

@@JamesManCave Haha!! love that :))

[@OutsideGroove]

Do you worry about copyright violations? I think I would be scared to sell something with any logo or branded thing.

[@JamesManCave]

Well everything I've found online I always check to see what the reuse rules are. Some you can only use for personal use, some ask to be mentioned on the website you sell items. As for the coins, it's my own images, and as long as they are not fake coins, and your not trying to reproduce them, then it seems from my research it's ok to use a coin image

[@BlazedReefer]

So can this thing engrave colour onto plastic?

[@JamesManCave]

No it can't, I've not seen a diode laser that can do that

[@lambd5578]

Hiya James yet another great upload. Had been hoping to see more content from you but guess you’re busy with lots of other things eh. Absolutely love your projects and hope that you’re feeling in the mood for more Utubing soon. I hope you have a great Christmas buddy and a very prosperous 2024 👍🇬🇧👍🇬🇧👍

[@JamesManCave]

Hi David, As ever thanks for the great comment. I have been busy working on the workshop and videos. I will have the 3rd and final update from this series uploaded soon, and I also have a video to upload over Christmas. Next year I will be back at it hard. Until then, have yourself a very merry Christmas, and a fantastic new year! 🎉🍻🍻🍻

[@stevecauson8703]

Hi James can I ask how the side hustle is coming along?

[@JamesManCave]

Hi Steve, update 3 will be out this coming week sometime, main hold up was I had an issue with a tool I wanted to use in the video. All will be explained

[@CCCOILS]

Questions 1. do you have a Facebook, Instagram pages marketing is the key to getting your product out there in the world. I've watching both vids so far taking shorts and posting them on said FB, Insta pages will give you a lot more traction coz people like to see how things are made. I too have a make it side gig and its worth having some inventory read to go both posting up any pics because if things pic up and believe me when they pic up trying to play catch up is harder than being ready to custom build. ( im not saying blow a load of cash by any mains but have a few of each made up and ready to go. ) 2. Do you have a great little bit of kit there do you have a plan just in case the laser fails? ( as time down will happen and more than likely when you are in the middle of a project) I'd also price any custom work to include any time spent in the planning and R&D for the small amounts that you are producing and the price point your selling them at you need to consider your time into the maths of profits even in the early stages of any business venture no matter how small because lets say your 12mths down the line and the sales go up to say £1k a month coming in from sales and your investment is £600 but the time to produce said items keeps going up but the price stays the same would you still cast that as a profitable venture? you have to remember to charge the right amount not only for your time but the knowledge you are putting into each product you are making I'm 8yrs into my hobby business and as long as it pays for itself i will continue to keep doing it and im in the same boat there are so many people out there doing what i do and undercutting each other to a point that if you got into that kind of a war to make money it would just end up eating itself and all the fun of why you started this in the first place gone. i know this will also make good content for KZbin as well so win win. great content my friend and keep it up

[@JamesManCave]

Wow! What a comment that is! 👍 So, yes I do have Instagram, but I haven't used in ages, not a Facebook person, but I know people do have luck on that. I'm glad you mentioned making shorts, as this is something I was thinking of doing. Over Christmas I plan to spend a couple of days knocking out some items I think will sell well and keep some inventory as you mention. The next video video in this series will have a few new products that I've come up with, and I think these will sell better then the other items I have made. At the moment it's trial and error, and I have definitely come up with different working methods to reduce time in finishing those products. So hopefully the time invest will be decreased as I get better with it. This would be my long term goal, to have the same type of hobby business turning over a small but reasonable profit. I'll pin this comment, it's very informative. Best of luck with your venture 👍💪

[@ryanlewis4953]

Good luck with the Christmas Sales! Can I ask what is your air flow rate?

[@JamesManCave]

Thanks. On the slate and deep engravings I don't have any air flow. Anything else it's full power air flow as the pump isn't adjust able

[@ryanlewis4953]

@@JamesManCave Can I ask why no airflow on the slate? Wouldn't that make for messier engravings?

[@JamesManCave]

Because I've found using it doesn't really make any difference. I've tried it with it and without it and get the same results

[@ryanlewis4953]

@@JamesManCave Thanks for the reply and the info! Appreciate it...

[@NyZFighters]

How long the Etsy shop open for? 0sales😢

[@JamesManCave]

Since the 1st of October. I've made a sell through Etsy messages, but not on my listed products

[@easymac79]

HAHAHA! I love big tech! My first comment dissapeared, just as I predicted. I'm sure, James, you will see it on your interface. I thought it was relevant and on topic but -.-.... Just.... -.- Find my comment in your filter there. Read it please, and see what just happened. Crikey!

[@easymac79]

It's really irritating because the words I spent time to write, proofread, look up information, etc. Are just gone. Lost to the ether. There is no history I can look at if I wanted to reconsider anything. Just gone.

[@JamesManCave]

Absolutely no record of you replying with any other comments apart from the ones I've already replied to. Nothing held in the spam folder on the comment section. So you have either not sent the comment, or commented on a different channel. I publish all comments good or bad, as you can quite clearly see

[@JamesManCave]

Tech can be confusing for some people

[@easymac79]

@@JamesManCave tech is not that confusing to me. The only possible thing would be that the comment field timed out because I was already half way through the video. I suspected it would auto delete as similar topics have in the past. What I wrote was about how I got immediately banned from Etsy when I listed my first product. No email as to why. Appealed, approved, with no email again. So I inquired. They gave a response, I copied it over, no personal information was there, but it seemed better than paraphrasing. I also shared how I think one could sort of save up a bunch of new products and release them one per day at the same time rather than being more sporadic. And then some comments about tags. Apologies for this not being proofread properly, I'm replying on my phone.

[@easymac79]

The only reason I mention comment field time-out is to show I have a rudimentary understanding of web forms, PHP, and SQL. It is highly unlikely this was the cause of the lost message. Also I chose not to edit the formatting fail which was meant to be a blank stare, followed by a bunch of periods, and another blank stare. The formatting turned that into a cross-through, but I didn't think it was important enough to cause an "edit" flag over some bad emojis. The context of the message was whole. This will be my last response today, I think we covered everything. Let me know if we're still on opposite pages, I'll give it one more try.

[@jimbauer6822]

What software are you using

[@JamesManCave]

It's the xtool creative software

[@Ross_Eddy]

*hustle

[@JamesManCave]

Ah, well pointed out. Spelt it right on the first video

[@Ross_Eddy]

*spelled

[@JamesManCave]

@@Ross_Eddy *grammar

[@unknownname6519]

Bro making so much €€€ he doesnt even upload anymore

[@JamesManCave]

Patience is a virtue! 👍

[@Everythings_Adjustable]

Interesting stuff Mate, How about some less subtle designs... Stop snacking you salad dodger, Leave my Jaffa cakes alone! ...... magnetic signs for the fridge, Get your fat ass down the gym! (I have put on a stone or two in the past year) Good luck with it all James, 🍺 👍 😊 Tony

[@JamesManCave]

Haha, Tony that's a great idea! I like those sayings! 😂😂 I will definitely see what I can come up with and include them in the next video. Brilliant idea! 🍻🍻😃

[@Everythings_Adjustable]

The ruder the better I reckon mate, You can buy sheets/rolls of fridge magnet material, I don't know if your laser can cut or engrave it?

[@JamesManCave]

@@Everythings_Adjustable it would definitely be able to engrave it, but wouldn't be able to cut it. I'm also thinking of perspex or sprayed mdf

[@Everythings_Adjustable]

I have some somewhere I made magnetic stickers, it cuts easily with a knife, feels like cutting vinyl flooring, looking forward to see what you come up with..... Just had a thought if you use perspex you could make a 3D sign that slots together and sits inside a fridge (with more rude sayings)

[@JamesManCave]

@@Everythings_Adjustable 😂😂😂 another great idea. I'll have a look at the magnet paper. I have seen it before, but never bought it