Laser Engrave Everything with a Glowforge!

[@JohnKuiphoff]

Ready to buy a Glowforge? Use my referral link to save up to $500: glowforge.us/r/yNqbNs - I'm also creating an entire Glowforge course: glowforgeforbeginners.com

[@JustMightDIY]

Wow - had no idea the Glowforge was this versatile. Great overview of the engraving capabilities.

[@MarcusRitland]

Thank you John! I learned about some new materials too - cork fabric!?!

[@JohnKuiphoff]

Thanks! Yeah, cork fabric is really fun to work with. I'm trying to figure out how to better integrate it into things. It seems really durable as well...

[@dalebond2995]

Have not got one yet, but witching you I need to get one soon, all i need is help getting started.

[@JohnKuiphoff]

Hi, Dale! I've done so much more with the Glowforge since recording this video. ha! It's an awesome machine. I'm happy to do a quick Zoom or phone call with you to help you get started if you're interested. Just shoot me an email at [e-mail] and we'll set something up. I'm around most of the day tomorrow and pretty much all weekend. It's pretty easy to make your money back on the machine while you're learning how to use it. Thanks for watching and we'll talk soon!

[@dalebond2995]

How do I get your sitting, having a hard time getting the power and the speed, still trying. My $500.00 didn't get taken off my price. Is there a way to help me. Thanks, love your editorial. Need more thanks

[@dalebond2995]

I haven't watched you for awhile, getting my Glowforge Pro, setup, got it back in Feb, I'm ready to get down to work. If you have time I would really like a class. Thanks 😊

[@JohnKuiphoff]

@@dalebond2995 Hi, Dale! I should be around on Wednesday or Thursday. Feel free to email me some times that you’re available and we can chat! Thanks!

[@dalebond2995]

@@JohnKuiphoff any time you have time I will be home all day, Wednesday or Thursday, thanks

[@Glowforge]

You did a fantastic job on this John! The whole team here at Glowforge has been anxiously waiting for your video. Thanks for sharing! -Ellen

[@JohnKuiphoff]

Thank you very much, Ellen! I'm thrilled that the team enjoyed the video! It was a lot of fun to research all of these materials. I plan to release videos more frequently now - I think that you'll like the video that I'm working on next. It's got a healthy mix of creative coding, data visualization, science, Arduino, CNC, and laser cutting/engraving.

[@chasityshull7276]

Can you engrave tumbler cups?

[@ThatSocratesguy]

Wait let me get this right, you can't engrave metals like stainless steel, silver or gold with the glowforce (without the workarounds you mentioned like the spray or powder coating)?? That's a bummer. 😓 So that means the glowforce basically isn't really meant for engraving jewelry like stainless steel or silver bracelets /pendants etc?

[@macrumpton]

@@ThatSocratesguy To really engrave metals directly like you mention you would need a much more powerful laser. The workaround is that you can coat the metal piece with some kind of paint and then use the laser to burn through the areas that you want engraved, and then put the metal into an acid bath that eats away at the metal where it is not covered by the paint.

[@MrRenoracerx]

@@ThatSocratesguy sounds like there is a fix... the spray looks like a great workaround.. think of reflection.. want to engrave your surroundings?

[@reny...2080]

U explained everything.. literally everything.👌👍♥️

[@csherwoodb]

Your data sheet is amazing! Thank you! Hope you have plans for more videos soon!

[@cheecho2001]

Great video John! Very informational and well put together.

[@beverlylee6357]

how do you have so few subscribers! This is fantastic

[@houseofmimi656]

Such a great video! Wow --- definitely subscribing!

[@JohnKuiphoff]

Thank you!

[@BrentGe0rge]

Amazing video, full of great content! Great production value as well. If I may make a small piece of constructive criticism for future videos. Try to not let the music over power your dialogue. There are a few moments in your video where you get pretty drowned out by that music track! I''m looking forward to seeing more content on this channel!

[@JohnKuiphoff]

Brent George Hi, Brent! Thanks so much for the kind words! Absolutely, I’ll keep the music volume in mind. I’m learning a lot with each new video - I’m in the middle of filming and editing a laser cut router template video now and already see things I’d like to improve for the next one. It’s funny... it took years to get good at woodworking - I’m not sure why i expected to be good at video stuff immediately. Ha! I do appreciate any honest feedback as it will make future content better.

[@olivedrabdesigns5715]

Awesome clip! I’ve got around 5 yards of moss green ultrasuede I’d love to engrave on any idea what setting I should use on the Glowforge Pro?

[@jackiekelley]

Thank you so much for sharing!

[@brilove3600]

Thank you!

[@melissasonntag347]

What about tempered hard board? What settings would you recommend for cutting and engraving? I am planning g a craft that I would paint, so I am thinking I would need to have the rough side be the front of the finished product. Can a piece be cut and engraved at the same time, or would you cut it out and then engrave it?

[@mckaylundtuttle7962]

question? why do you prefer your engraves to have such slow speeds and low powers? instead of going a little quicker to save time?

[@JohnKuiphoff]

Generally, the slower engraves just look a lot nicer. Even when using a faster machine like an Epilog, slowing it way down gives it time to burn darker and evenly. You’ll see this when cutting, too. For example, if you cut fast with high power, you’ll scorch the corners a bit when the laser makes a turn. Keeping things a bit slower makes the engraving or cutting more even. With that said, I’d I’m creating a jig or a prototype, I’ll engrave the piece quickly just to get it done.

[@mckaylundtuttle7962]

@@JohnKuiphoff ya I tried your settings compared to other recommendations and your settings look way better! Thanks!

[@richardsanchez8005]

very informative video!

[@marek_vanco]

Thanks you very much John for a nice demonstration. What about epoxy resin ? Can engrave it also? It's engraved on surface or we can engrave also into material by focusing on low layer (into transparent resin ?). Thanks you very much for response!

[@JohnKuiphoff]

Marek Vančo thank you! Unfortunately, it’s not safe to engrave resin (something like total boat) as far as I know. I believe that it might release some pretty toxic gases. With that said, you can use a CNC machine to cut into resin - I do that often. You might even fill that with colored epoxy to make it look engraved. Hope that helps. Thanks again for watching!

[@cruzjams2595]

Witch glowforge is this ? Is it the basic?

[@MrRenoracerx]

Hey John, do you have a list of settings to accomodate the power of a pro model? or a general adjustment to work with?

[@JohnKuiphoff]

I actually upgraded to the pro and I found that the same settings work for both the basic and the pro. The pro is slightly faster (because of the laser tube wattage increase) with the same settings. I can run some side-by-side tests just to verify it though... thansk!

[@johnstone2255]

I don't know if you will get this message, it's been almost a year since the video was posted. The list of materials you have a link to was to include banned materials, but I didn't see them mentioned on the list. What materials would you stay away from? Thanks.

[@JohnKuiphoff]

H John, the most important materials to avoid (as they are common materials) are PVC and vinyl. Other materials on the banned list include pleather, HDPE, PolyStyrene Foam, PolyPropylene Foam, Epoxy, Fiberglass, Carbon Fiber, PTFE, Beryllium oxide. Hope this helps!

[@johnstone2255]

@@JohnKuiphoff Extremely useful, thank you John. I had to look some of those nasties up on the internet, but at least I now know what to stay clear of. I was wondering about polystyrene. Have subscribed to your channel and look forward to learning more :)

[@LonghornWorkshop]

Interesting stuff

[@k-poplove7643]

So if I used the spray you mentioned would I be able to engrave deep enough to make those brass wax stamps or would I have to maybe use it on each layer?

[@JohnKuiphoff]

Unfortunately, that spray is only designed to mark the material. To engrave brass, you'd need to use a CNC machine instead. Bantam Tools would work well for what you're trying to do: www.bantamtools.com/

[@JohnKuiphoff]

I own a Shopbot Desktop Max and really love the machine. That would work, too. It’s bigger and more expensive - but you can also cut wood, plastic, foam, etc with it.

[@gwencarol731]

Where is the link to the spread sheet that shows all the different settings?

[@JohnKuiphoff]

Hi Gwen! Hope this helps: bit.ly/39LSmkK

[@jethrokwan]

what model of glowforge did you buy? :o and why?

[@JohnKuiphoff]

Hi Jethro, I started out with the basic when it was first launched and have been running it pretty hard everyday for a few years without any issues. I do recognize that it's an entry level laser and probably on borrowed time at this point. I recently upgraded to a Pro as I was making more than enough money with the basic to easily justify the purchase. The Glowforge Pro is a nicer machine and has a passthrough (which I actually haven't used quite yet). With that said, if I was just starting out and planned on using the Glowforge a lot, I would probably consider the Plus because of the extended warranty and slightly better hardware than the basic. If you're only going to use the machine occasionally, the basic would serve you well. Honestly, at the end of the day, all three models output the same thing. ha! I'd just go with the model that you can afford. Also, I recently started filming a course if you're interested: gfcourse.com/

[@JohnWilliams-rl3rl]

Where do you order your Deleon? TIA

[@JohnKuiphoff]

Hi John, for this video I just ordered some from Amazon: amzn.to/3b0xWVV - a few sheets go a long way. Also, I added my all of sources to the settings spreadsheet in the description. Thanks!

[@socialpunx]

Why is it that you were engraving a lot of stuff without using a glowforge?I thought this was about glowforge 🤔

[@socialpunx]

I was honestly kinda confused on what exactly was done using a glowforge since I saw a lot of other stuff being used

[@MakerCuisine]

Wow, I had no idea you could engrave half of those materials, I didn't even know some of those existed. Awesome 👍

[@chrisadkinswork5016]

You had me at TOAST! I can engrave messages on my kids breakfast.

[@dwburger]

This is probably the most useful video I've ever seen on KZbin. It took a lot of time and effort to put all this data together and I really appreciate it! A huge service to the Glowforge community!

[@JohnKuiphoff]

David Burger Wow, thank you very much! You made my day! I really appreciate it. I’m glad that you found it helpful.

[@dwburger]

@@JohnKuiphoff I am sure I will use the spreadsheets you shared in future projects. I often start a project by searching the web for settings. Won't have to do that at all or, at least, less often with the data you've shared in the spreadsheets. This really is the best thing since sliced bread! 8-)

[@mrbrent62]

You remind me of Dwight from The Office without glasses... Cool Machine.

[@BearMaked]

Yaaasss! So many ideas from this video. Thanks for putting in so much work, John!

[@MarryPopp]

Its Amazing But i prefir that we onely use organic material no more plástico no more wood and no More Iron o other Metall so we really do activity for keeping our Earth clean and protecting our Planet 🌍 Which is our responsability of all humans in the Earth 🙏💪for a new better world for all of us 🙏🌍💝✨✨😁😁

[@DennisNestor]

What a great resource on laser engraving. Well done John.

[@christopherriveracafe]

Thank you for this video. For the Ultrasuede, the link from your spreadsheet seems to be old. I'm trying to find the right material to use to engrave. Any update on the link?

[@kevanpokemon515]

That was super well put together and filled with extremely useful information! Great job!

[@billperez8657]

Thank you for taking the time to do and make the settings available. This video was helpful.

[@diamondnynic]

How will it work with sea shells? Flat or rounded surfaces, looking for best way to etch for sea shells in general. Ty

[@erikschannel]

Wow they're so much useful information is video and has inspired me to try new things thank you

[@DelaneyFarmer]

Any particular handheld sander you recommend? Great video!

[@nicolesnellgrove5018]

I bought my gf 3 years ago. I downloaded Mr Kuiphoff's spreadsheet and have used it on a regular basis! My computer crashed and I lost the spreadsheet. I didn't realize how much I used it until I didn't have it! If you have a gf download this spreadsheet! Mr Kuiphoff has put in so much work, time and energy and it is absolutely the most valuable tool I have!!!! Thank You so much!!!!

[@JohnKuiphoff]

Thank you so much!!!! I really appreciate it!

[@3DJapan]

A couple of these items you didn't show engraving on, like the agat. You showed them cutting it, then moved on.

[@skylarexplores1950]

Thanks for the great video! Just used your referral code and ordered a glowforge plus! Cannot wait to get started!!!

[@KAYSHAFOX]

Could you do fabrics like neoprene and lycra??

[@TroytheMaker]

This is so dope! 👍🏾

[@legoturtle92]

Thanks John, this is perfect. I plan on showing this to my supervisor so we can try to order one. This will help justify it even more and I'll try to use your code.

[@JohnKuiphoff]

Thanks, Jared! It's great to hear from you. How's remote teaching going? Yeah, I'd definitely recommend a Glowforge for a school setting. They're great machines and there's literally no learning curve - you can focus more on ideas, design, etc.

[@royalmaster203]

Thank you for boat load of info, I appreciate your time.

[@tvdeavers]

Great place to find all need information. You have put together a wonderful video. Thank you.

[@TheGrantAlexander]

Love that mug! Really cool to see all the different things!

[@8-wolves]

The settings list is really helpful to have! this video came out really well and i'm excited to play around with new materials.

[@godfatherfeederfather6350]

This may sound silly but I was about to throw in the towel with my glowforge, this has given me hope! Thank you so much for your video

[@JohnKuiphoff]

Thanks so much! It'll get easier with some practice and a little swearing. ha! I've actually started to film a full Glowforge course. It should be released in March or April. If you'd like early access to it, feel free to email me at kuiphoff[at]gmail.com - I'd love to have a few Glowforgers try it out before I release it. It's designed to be the course I wish I had when I started. It covers everything from setup, materials, design software, maintenance, tips/tricks, interviews, etc. I only started filming two weeks ago... but now that I'm finding my rhythm, the videos will start getting uploaded up very quickly. My email is kuiphoff[at]gmail.com

[@Marc_Miller]

You got both size ice picks, nice! Great info, thank you.

[@JohnKuiphoff]

Marc Miller thanks! The big one got stolen so I bought the little guy. But then through a strange sequence of events, the large ice pick found its way home. Haha!

[@cherylmoors3455]

Thanks so much for this highly useful information.

[@missodessaTV]

I once met a guy who worked for Omax on an airplane had to have been in 2004/2006 and he gave me a butterfly he had cut with the machine and a softwear cd from omax. I wish I could remember his name because he was seriously really cool. This is the first time Ive ever seen someone post one of their machines in a video and it brought back the memory lol

[@LizzieWestBathandBody]

Ok first off as a former owner of a LMI ( Laser Machining Inc, Somerset Wisconsin) machine, Corian and any poured solid surface material should be sandblasted using a photo emulsion screen template. It's toxic and will give your shop help headaches, (Workman's comp waiting to happen! Includes cultured marble too unless well ventilated!) I would like to know if the 40 or 45 Pro can cut Melamine, do you have a test? Expanded Foam... the kind used to insulate a house with that Halloween Prop makers use for tombstones and other things. Thank you in advance and subscribed for new content!!!

[@luvofhislifex]

Hi John I’m very new to your channel. I’m Also from New Jersey where are a few good place to buy material from here in Nj such as Acrylic and plastics.

[@JohnKuiphoff]

Thank you! I order most of my acrylic online from Houston Acrylic, Maker Stock or Canal Plastics. Canal Plastics is a great place to go (it's on Canal Street in Manhattan) if you'd like to see everything in person..

[@3DJapan]

4:16 Or mustard apparently. Much cheaper than the spray.

[@omgitsamandabbyx]

I bought aluminum name plates, but i don't think their anodized aluminum. would this still work? can i just use cermark on it and engrave like usual?

[@JohnKuiphoff]

Yes, you should be able to use Cermark on raw aluminum. In my experience, raw aluminum has been more difficult to mark than other metals - I'm not sure why. Although, I haven't marked aluminum all that much. I do work with a lot of stainless steel and brass.

[@toquesha]

Question what's the size of the black tray?? Well guess it doesn't matter if I have the pro I can feed it through the passthrough but again I dont know the size

[@JohnKuiphoff]

It’s about 12 inches by 20 inches. I have the pro which helps if I need to cut something larger. Although, most of what I need to engrave or cut for clients tends to be smaller... so the Glowforge has worked out so far :)

[@lithgowlights7623]

Toast - hahaha

[@chrisk2061]

Definitely the most informative video related to the glowforge, I was on the fence about buying one...but, ordering today (glowforge pro) you pushed me over the top, will use your code. I have an x-carve that I love, this seems like it would be the perfect addition. Thanks again for the amazing resource you have provided.

[@JohnKuiphoff]

Hi Chris! That's fantastic! Thanks for the kinds words. Yes, the X-carve and the Glowforge make a great pair. I made another video where I use both the CNC and the Glowforge (kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYDWh518q6xpnZo) - it's a technique I use a lot. A few years back, I upgraded to a Shopbot, however, I originally owned an X-Carve and loved it. The two machines working side-by-side can make almost anything. Good luck with the Glowforge!

[@RMwrapsllc]

Hello John Where else can you buy laser material? Glowforge shop is out of stock most of the time. I need clear acrylic and plywood material, bad. I have a big order coming.

[@JohnKuiphoff]

I've used makerstock.com (a local company for me) and estreetplastics.com for acrylic quite a bit. Although, I haven't found anything as nice as the Glowforge proofgrade plywood anywhere else. I've tried a few different sources and the Glowforge Proofgrade plywood is just so much nicer and always flat. With that said, I often use my drum sander to make thinner solid wood for projects that don't need the stability that plywood affords. This question comes up a lot on the Glowforge Users Group on Facebook.

[@GeeksWoodShop]

Thanks John, some really interesting ideas in here. Your data sheet is really helpful as well.

[@CharlieUSA]

Hey John, can you please give a brand/link for your masking paper? Thanks!

[@CharlieUSA]

Just saw the link, sorry and thanks for this awesome video!

[@JahrTurchan]

Awesome video, thanks so much for making this. What sort of paint were you using on the corian?

[@DannyKa-x8z]

This machine is expensive compared to a chinese K40 ... And no exhaust ? That can't be healthy

[@JohnKuiphoff]

I owned something like a K40 a few years ago, although I burned it up pretty quickly because I didn't know what I was doing. ha! Yes, the Glowforge is definitely more expensive... but the engraving quality is AMAZING and it's a pleasure to use. I just bought a second Glowforge which is a bit faster :) You can exhaust out the window, although I also have the Glowforge air filter if I need it. I rarely smell anything in the shop while it's running. The cheaper machines are a good way to get started, especially since they are only about $500 or so. My Glowforge is a big part of my business so it makes sense for me to invest in a higher quality machine.

[@ChesneyAdventures]

Love the video! Can you engrave text into wood that has been lightly painted, using the glowforge? Thank you.

[@JohnKuiphoff]

Chesney Adventures Thanks so much! Absolutely - although you might want to put some of that paper masking on it so that you don’t get soot on your paint (blue painters tape also works in a pinch as long as you don’t overlap it). But I’d you do get soot on your paint, a magic eraser or mild soap and water usually works. Also, it goes without saying... you’d want to avoid anything with old lead paint on it. Ha! Thanks for watching!

[@emmanuelfregene5650]

Awesome video! Do you know of a service that can cut colored anodized aluminum pieces into specific shapes?

[@robininaba4569]

Thank you John, did you use your GF to cut the Corian or just engrave it?

[@JohnKuiphoff]

I engraved the Corian with my Glowforge. However, it was cut using my CNC machine. You might be able to cut it with a laser, but it would probably take a few passes.

[@williamtolbert356]

hey so the paper masking it says it has vinyl in it and should not be used for laser engraving?? May want to edit that part out so people dont inhale nasty fumes

[@JohnKuiphoff]

Hi William - I believe that they started putting that that disclaimer on there as a CYA. The product was originally designed for vinyl transfer, but it is widely used for laser cutting. It should be perfectly safe. If you check out the comments for the product, you’ll find that the mass majority of people use this for laser masking. I also ran the paper through a vinyl test to double check that it was okay. I will link to another product though if I can find one that works as well. In fact, I’ll look around today for an alternative. Someone else also reached out to me recently with the same concern. I really appreciate you reaching out. Thanks!

[@rickmccaskill7888]

You need to cut the music down. Wipes your voice out. Thanks for sharing.

[@JohnKuiphoff]

For sure, I’m much better about that in my later videos. Thanks for watching!

[@julianalimones1627]

Awesome tutorial/info video John! Thank you :)

[@Nickporter17]

Been waiting for this drop! Thanks John!

[@emilylloyd4118]

Do you have any recommendations for a machine that will engrave on stainless steel and other metals?

[@JohnKuiphoff]

Yes, a fiber laser is made specifically for engraving metals. Although, to be honest, I don't what brand is best (maybe OmTech?). A C02 laser like the Glowforge and others can only mark metals using something like Cermark. A fiber laser is a completely different technology designed for metals.

[@soyeonkim5228]

Would it only engrave in dark color? Can setting change it to white engraving?

[@JohnKuiphoff]

Some materials engrave dark (wood, leather, etc). Other materials engrave white (acrylic, slate, etc). While you can’t change it based on the setting, you can usually paint fill it with a different color after the engraving is finished.

[@bonnieweaver8072]

Love your ideas, thanks

[@amycgx]

Game changer, thank you!

[@kochykoo]

When you engraved that powder coat did it melt the powder on the edges??? How deep will that engraved on the metal???

[@carlalevintt2771]

You're THE best. THANKS for all the knowledge and the settings

[@arisguz]

Thank you very much. This is exactly what I was looking for.

[@emeryhope]

So informative!! Thank you!

[@angelmonge1333]

On the material...how think of a piece can you put on the Glowforge for engraving.

[@craftsquirrel3418]

Best video - thank you!

[@ACNailedIt]

Great video John! Man, you're putting out some fantastic work, and this one will be a reference for me in the future when I buy a laser 💪💪💪

[@JohnKuiphoff]

Thanks, Alan! They're really nice machines.

[@jaydoesstuff9807]

You should use that thing to give yourself a better haircut😂🤣

[@JohnKuiphoff]

Ha! It was a a month after quarantine started and my wife gave me that haircut. Anyways, burning hair with the laser would smell really terrible :)

[@annahenderson2171]

Hey John! This video was so incredibly helpful, thank you so much for all the detail! I'm wondering if the settings in your linked spreadsheet apply to all versions of the Glowforge or not? Are these settings only for Pro, or will they work with Basic/Plus?

[@JohnKuiphoff]

Anna Bokman thanks, Anna! These settings apply to a 40 Watt Basic/Plus. I bought my Glowforge before the Pro was introduced. I hope this helps and thanks for the kind words!

[@annahenderson2171]

@@JohnKuiphoff Thank you, this is very helpful! Can you tell me if you have any preferred vendors for your wood? I am looking for a baltic or birchwood that will cut and engrave using the settings in your spreadsheet.

[@KyleTO7]

Awesome video! I was really hoping you'd engrave the agates though :p

[@christopherbrush]

This video and your google sheet is probably going to singlehandedly save me thousands of hours of setup. I see you mentioned evo foam. I googled it and most of the results are for eva foam. Do you happen to know if a laser does eva foam? Because if so, that greatly helps with cosplay.

[@Chenoa1807]

What about polymer? Like for a gun grip or handle?

[@JohnKuiphoff]

Yes, I believe that you can engrave onto most polymers. I've worked with a lot of different types polymers in the past. Some work really well, while others make a TON of smoke or flare up. It sort of depends. If I was asked to engrave a gun grip, I might consider using a CNC machine instead as it would be more predictable (unless you have a small sample that you can test first).

[@Sasha-qv6jq]

Hi John, Have you tried Olive wood? I am having trouble with the settings

[@pejdpink]

I really like your videos!!!

[@bunnylou4993]

Any chance I could engrave a monogram or name on handmade cold process soap?

[@JohnKuiphoff]

I’ve never done this myself but just looked it up and it looks like you can! What a cool idea!!

[@cruzjams2595]

The glowforge that you used for this video is it the basic one ?

[@JohnKuiphoff]

Yes, the one used in the video is the basic. After using the basic nearly everyday for three years, I upgraded to the pro. You’ll see the pro my future videos. The engraving settings are the same.

[@suzyqcraft321]

Awesome video definitely using this for a reference video!

[@jessicaodett9376]

Well done. Very informative. Thank you.

[@richardwhite8794]

Great stuff Thank you

[@Moncriefs]

I appreciate your quality and effort put into this. You deserve millions of subscribers

[@deenawillis1597]

Hey, John thanks for the informative video. Can you do porcelain tile. What would the settings be. I didn’t see it on the list of materials. TIA.

[@toquesha]

What kind of mask is that??

[@Missprincessjaney]

Is there another transfer tape that you use? The one from your link is not available