Making custom toolboxes using a laser engraver

In this video I design and build custom toolboxes using the Ortur Laser Master 3 laser cutter and engraver. The cut files are available from my Patreon and there is a link to the machine below;
Ortur Laser Cutter and Engraver (Discount code is "LG50" to get $50 OFF)
s.zbanx.com/r/...
3D Box generator;
www.festi.info...
Support the channel and download the cut files for toolboxes;
/ joneseymakes
Buy project plans, 3D printable items and merch!
www.joneseymak...
Check me out on instagram;
/ joneseymakes
Timestamps
0:00 Introduction
0:32 Unboxing/Build
01:15 Box Design
02:33 Lightburn
05:13 Laser cutting
06:32 Assembly
08:26 Making foam inserts
10:14 Completed toolbox

[@NewManDIY]

Nice job, the engraved logo on eva is amazing!

[@joneseymakes]

Thanks!

[@dariushmilani6760]

They are great boxes to protect your tools. Once thing I would suggest is to make them in sizes that are multiple of the original size so that when stacking them up they don't look out of place.👍. Hope I conveyed my message correctly.🤣🤞

[@joneseymakes]

Great idea, I'll do that with the rest of them. Thanks.

[@andrewdolinskiatcarpathian]

Beautifully designed and executed. Very inspiring 👏👏👍😀

[@marktaylor4427]

Great video, the boxes look very professional. A workshop tour video would be very interesting to see. 👍🏼

[@joneseymakes]

Thanks very much! I’ll get onto the workshop tour at some point soon.

[@ec18c]

One important thing is kerf, or correction for laser thickness. The web sets 0,1mm correction by default, but you have to check if you have already set lightburn to account for that correction or you might correct twice, or cancel one correction with the other. You would end up wit pieces that don’t fit or that have too much play…

[@joneseymakes]

Thanks, I'll check that setting in Lightburn.

[@kennethstaszak9990]

The QR code is a very nice touch.

[@joneseymakes]

Thanks, much appreciated

[@TheUncleRuckus]

I would suggest some little 10mm glue blocks in the corners just for reinforcement sake and to either seal the inside of the boxes with the same danish oil or add a few cheap desiccant packs during storage bc the wood will absorb moisture and could cause flash rusting. 👍👍

[@grippgoat]

The QR code might seem silly now, but they might make for a nice bit of history for a new owner of the tool in 50 years.

[@joneseymakes]

That’s true! Thanks

[@johncoops6897]

If KZbin actually survives that long 😂

[@BitSmythe]

4:29 See the trouble selecting just the logo? If you click and drag from top left, you must totally surround the selection. If you click and drag from bottom, right, everything the cursor touches will be selected. A very handy user interface!

[@joneseymakes]

Great tip, thanks!

[@barrett5229]

Lightburn has great features like that one. I wish it supported my P2 laser. Super frustrating. Technically it is supported but none of the features that make the P2 interesting are 😂

[@GaryJimenez]

To save time on the cut while in Lightburn you can interlock the finger joints then change the setting to remove overlapping lines. Nice video the foam engraving looks great.

[@joneseymakes]

That’s a good tip, didn’t know you could do that. Thanks.

[@uther10]

These tools are freaking great

[@joneseymakes]

Thanks!

[@GrumpysWorkshop4]

Those are sweet mate I love how they look

[@joneseymakes]

Cheers!

[@canalboating]

Brilliant I am falling into the rabbit hole of buying a laser cutter and I think you have just convinced me

[@joneseymakes]

Certainly a very useful tool!

[@canalboating]

@@joneseymakes thanks pulled the trigger and just waiting on delivery

[@MicksWorkshop]

Very cool! Another great use for the laser cutter/engraver in the metal shop. I'll definitely be making some boxes in the future.

[@joneseymakes]

Thanks!

[@wizrom3046]

I always love your content and your beautiful photography. 👍 Here are a couple of suggestions; try an aquarium pump for your laser "compressed air" feed. Aquarium pumps are very small quiet and can run continuously, and the larger/better ones will pump a surprising amount of air. And instead of drilling those tiny holes by hand, I put the pinvice in my electric screwdriver. It is very convenient in the hand and the low 2 revs per second speed is perfect for drilling soft materials like wood and plastic. It is so convenient I have it in arms reach of my bench and even use it as a replacement for a centre punch sometimes, just "drill" a little divot a couple mm deep. I find that quieter, more comfortable and more accurate than using a hammer and centre punch.

[@joneseymakes]

Thanks! Great tips, I’ll be sure to try the pump and pin vice ideas.

[@PowerRepublic]

thanks, that's awsome

[@AmateurRedneckWorkshop]

Thanks for the video keep on keeping on.

[@joneseymakes]

Thanks!

[@JJB123NC]

Great video! a few questions. What watt laser diode are you using? (10w or 20w) What thickness EVA foam have you cut? What are the preferred power and speed setting that you use for the various thicknesses? Thanks for the help!!

[@joneseymakes]

Thanks! It's a 10W diode. 6mm EVA foam. That's the only one I've tried. I forget the exact numbers, I think for engraving the foam I used 5000mm/min at 60% power. To cut it I think I used 2000mm/min

[@evilpenguin219]

EVA foam is fine to cut on lasers, just avoid anything with chlorine such as pvc etc, even with great air extraction as it makes chlorine gas which is not fun

[@reinniesing6289]

Thank you, that really helps!

[@joneseymakes]

You're welcome!

[@rodbutler9864]

Outstanding…..a small sachet of silicon will assist in rust prevention.

[@joneseymakes]

Thanks! Good advice.

[@GokouZWAR]

Not sure the validity of this, but all the other videos I’ve watched have said not to use your laser at 100% as much as possible, you really should do engraves at some level below 100% but maybe a slower move speed so it gets the same level of darkness you want but doesn’t wear out the laser faster.

[@joneseymakes]

That is a good point. I need to do some more experimenting

[@AudreyRobinel]

I have read the contrary : that being below 100% laser power stresses something in the laser chain (the driver?) anyhow, i doubt that it applies to a diode laser anyway.

[@patrickbeaumier8616]

Nice job 👍

[@joneseymakes]

Thanks!

[@ChuckThree]

Constructive Critique: on your voice over, every once in a while the mic picks up the “plosives” (ex. ~ 0:14) which are those harsh P, T, K sounds that kinda blowout the audio. Otherwise your voiceovers are incredibly clear and high quality! And the video shots and lightning are top notch. Just found the channel and have watched most of the videos by now. You’re making great content! Keep it up!

[@joneseymakes]

Thanks for the feedback Charlie. I’ve picked up on this myself and just bought a pop shield for the mic. Hopefully this will sort it

[@BitSmythe]

3:40. I see a lot of burn marks (scorching). Looks like you should use *AIR ASSIST* It is one of the most critical tools for cleaner burns and keeping your laser lens clean too.

[@joneseymakes]

Thanks, yes I need to do that. Don’t have an air pump though.

[@jamjamamam4139]

Some silica gel satchels in boxes would not hurt to prevent extra moisture and rust

[@joneseymakes]

Thanks, I'll do that.

[@RustyInventions-wz6ir]

Very cool

[@joneseymakes]

Thanks!

[@barrett5229]

This is really cool! I’ve got a nice laser engraver but struggle to really use it for something practical like this project. Did you just calculate the sizes for the foam inserts on your own?

[@joneseymakes]

Yes, i measured the internal dimensions of the box, then worked out the shape of the tool for the cut out

[@taranson3057]

Awesome to see you create these boxes. If the laser cutter/engraving machine wasn’t so expensive, I would definitely buy one because I could really use a machine like this for some of my woodworking projects.

[@joneseymakes]

They are a great tool I think

[@nerddub]

do yourself a favor, get a Zbaitu 800x400mm "20W" laser machine. Play with/ Test/ save up a little and then scrap the laser, get a Comgrow actual 20W laser module kit, and still save roughly 400 from the xTool at roughly twice the cutting footprint. Bit of a learning curve, but in the end I have a reliable machine with huge cutting area at a decent price point.Although these Orturs are still a good value and it's basically turnkey

[@ob1coyote]

I'm trying to figure our where/how you placed the magnets in the box. I can hear it snap shut, but I don't see where they are.

[@joneseymakes]

They were 10mmx1mm flat magnets and glued in between the foam and the wood side on in both lid and base.

[@paulchenmondmann839]

chuck one of these little silica baggie´s in there... that you sometimes get in electronic goods or shoes packiging. They absorb the moisture or ?

[@joneseymakes]

Good idea, I will do that.

[@johncoops6897]

Excellent suggestion, and it works well. You need quite large bags to be effective in a humid climate. You can make them yourself with "Closet Camel" crystals and sewing a fabric (eg muslin) bag. You also need to recharge the crystals periodically by cooking them in the oven.

[@pangrac1]

Excelent.

[@joneseymakes]

Thanks!

[@Doodlebud]

I liked the use of the hinges for the box top. I guess if you're feeling precise you could laser in the mounting holes. I have a box I'm making so will give it a try. I like the idea of using the foam :) Where did you pickup the latches for the front?

[@joneseymakes]

Laser cutting the holes is a good idea. I got the latches on Amazon, I forget exactly where. Just search for jewellery box latches.

[@proudcanadianeh4663]

That foam look amazing, it is any special foam just just "eva foam"? what thickness is that? Thank you!

[@proudcanadianeh4663]

you did not have to glue the foam inserts?

[@joneseymakes]

Just 'EVA Foam' I bought it from Amazon or Ebay, one of the two. It's 6mm.

[@joneseymakes]

Yes, I cut them in layers and just used a hot glue gun to stick together.

[@jm892]

Do you think this machine can cut expanded polystyrene? And if so, up to what thickness... Thank you in advance for your answer.

[@joneseymakes]

I'm sure it could yes. As for thickness I would just be guessing, you'd need to do some experiments. The problem you have with thickness is the focal point of the laser, when cutting thicker items you adjust the focal point in the centre of the object but this has limits. I would suggest 10-15mm would be possible, but like I say you'd have to experiment. I'm sure others on KZbin will have already done this some probably worth searching it up.

[@jm892]

@@joneseymakes Thanks for your input. In fact most of the people seem to say that the big issue is the... fire ! I asked xTool support, since their M1 machine will fulfill my needs, but their answer isn't clear about this precise question... I don't never cut more that 2 cm of styrofoam (EPS)...

[@joneseymakes]

@@jm892 Ok wow! Ignore me then! I hadn't thought of the fire risk.

[@bobuk5722]

Hi Nick. I'm binging on your Hemingway videos as I try to get back into the hobby after illness. I wonder if you could give some more details about things like inserts you use and specialised milling tools? I'm particularly interested in ones for non-ferrous applications. I have a large stockpile of Hemingway kits bought years ago during a sale....... Have Hemingway revamped the plans to move towards metric sizing? I do very much appreciate your reference of both dimensional systems - my set up is largely metric. Thanks.

[@joneseymakes]

Hi Bob, for non ferrous I use these highly polished inserts with leave a really nice finish; www.cutwel.co.uk/lathe-tools/iso-turning-inserts-tool-holders-boring-bars/carbide-turning-inserts/cc-style-turning-inserts/ccgt-al-carbide-turning-inserts-ground-and-polished-chipbreaker-for-non-ferrous-yg-1-new-cutwel-ltd-23

[@joneseymakes]

Some of the newer kits are in metric, but most of the kits are still imperial as far as I can tell.

[@46B3x2you]

Great Video. I'm really interested in the foam padding that you used and I couldn't hear if you said PB or PD ? Would you help me with this? Again I thank you for this valuable information. It's provided me with yet another way to use my laser. Very nice work.

[@joneseymakes]

Thanks Jim. What is it you’re after? The type of foam? It’s EVA foam if that’s helpful.

[@46B3x2you]

It was what ever you used to engrave the logos on the foam. Thanks for your reply. So it's EVA Foam. Thanks.

[@joneseymakes]

@@46B3x2you Yes that's right, and just reduce the power settings to engrave the logo

[@big_whopper]

Ha! I added that QR code feature to the software (well I did it, and then Florian fixed it ). I wondered if anybody would find it useful.

[@big_whopper]

Haha, I hadn’t watched until the end. Now there’s a QR code in the software that links to regenerate the box.

[@joneseymakes]

Great feature!

[@AlexanderGibbonsAudio]

What total thickness of EVA can it cut?

[@joneseymakes]

I’ve not tested it, but I cut 6mm no problem. Any more than about 15mm I think you’d run into problems focusing the laser

[@cleandetailingbua6970]

Come mai raffreddano i motori?

[@Bobs1Models]

Do you have a link for the box latch you used please

[@joneseymakes]

www.amazon.co.uk/BELLE-VOUS-Bronze-Antique-Right/dp/B0B6V6HTVM/ref=mp_s_a_1_19?crid=1JTOBB9TVQ5EW&keywords=jewelry+box+latches&qid=1683406362&sprefix=jewelry+box+latches%2Caps%2C73&sr=8-19

[@djshineboy]

That looks really nice ! Which thickness eva foam did you use ?

[@joneseymakes]

Thanks! 6mm foam

[@djshineboy]

@@joneseymakes Nice ! And the cut settings like i see in the video ?

[@joneseymakes]

@@djshineboy I think it was 5000mm a minute and 60% power

[@gt-lab]

Where you bought foam ?)

[@joneseymakes]

Amazon I think from memory

[@johnbuffinton7324]

Discount code isnt valid

[@joneseymakes]

Sorry about that, I’ll see if I can get a new one.

[@ACE-gk5gi]

Just bolting the fram together n knowing everything els...lol..NOT ME...😂..I still only know the utube button...nice boxes lol ya goofy m8te from Australia 😂