TRUTH ABOUT GLOWFORGE - A User's Honest Review

[@dreabia4759]

Perfect review. Thanks for not talking for an hour before jumping into the review. Very concise and clear.

[@thetraveler5334]

L😄 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@fisherchi]

Thank you for that honest and well done review. I'm a software developer by trade and having it only web based doesn't bode well with me. Servers and internet always going down. That's why I'm still employed! :) Plus the noise it generates. I'd have to wear ear plugs.

[@visualthinking]

BLESS YOU for how you demoed the noise levels. Super useful!

[@JustMe-cl4qc]

Definitely not to be used in an apartment

[@polo94700]

The ink tank system appears to be much better than the cartridge system kzbin.infoUgkxciSwynMJ7PnUvvx11rewiu-yFBkZTl53 and a lot cheaper to run. The machine was easy to set up. A small point but I thought they'd be a USB cable included to help with the set up but there was none. I've been using it now for a few weeks and it seems like a good product and superior to my previous printers which were all troublesome HP machines.

[@goofayoo]

Great info! Thank you! The fact that it cannot work without being connected to the internet is a deal killer for me.

[@gregference1714]

Thanks for review. I will be looking for something else. I do not like being dependent on the Internet, the noise, nor the price tag. Expecting more for my money.

[@michaeltyborski4802]

Thank you for showing us product reality. Thankfully, Glowforge and similar laser engravers/cutters, are a worthwhile investment. And more important, they're fun to use!

[@willcollins9470]

great review. I like your style. all facts, no wasted time or bad music.

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

Thanks man

[@macrumpton]

I got mine 2 years ago and it is the best tool I have ever owned. I am constantly finding new stuff it can do. It was worth every penny. Just the ease of use alone is worth the price. You could train a monkey to use it. That being said, there are a few downsides: The proofgrade materials are no bargain. Draftboard for $4 each? You can get nice ⅛" baltic birch plywood for that price. Amazon has much better deals. You are right about the noise, it sounds like a small jet engine. I will have to try the blanket trick. One downside is cleaning the inside. Everything is in one compartment which means that the burnt resins from the wood get on everything, and while it is pretty easy to clean the lens of the camera, cutting lens and the laser mirrors there is lots of stuff inside that is impossible to get to without taking it apart. The good news is the lenses and mirrors are the most necessary to clean. I use packing tape to cover things like the door on the front so when it gets lots of buildup I just peel the tape off. As far as using a flash drive to move files, since it does all the processing in the cloud it seems unlikely that will be possible, although once a cut has started it does not need a connection.

[@laurence1676]

can you cut on acrylic cylinders? or does it have to be flat?

[@daciasdiy1861]

Forza Golf good question

[@maricellagarcia4408]

Forza Golf usuallly for cylinders you need an additional mechanism that turns the cylinder as the laser moves left to right across it. Have not seen that for glowforge but instead for much more expensive professional lasers

[@albetaylormade7400]

Thank you. Jus got mines today. Can't wait get home. Be blessed. Great Vid

[@bparker86]

Great review. Thank for Saving me from my impulsive shopping

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

That’s what I’m here for :)

[@jessicabeason7381]

Please don't tape the gap between the lid and front door. It negates the ability for a negative pressure atmosphere inside the bay. In order for it to pull air out of the GF, there has to be a way for air to come in, or it will create a vacuum and nothing can be sucked out.

[@SkonkBot]

The way you demo'd the noise level was pretty spectacular :)

[@gabrielcoleman3519]

Is it you need the internet and actually have to connect to their server, or is it you need a wifi network to wirelessly connect to it from your device?

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

It needs to connect to their servers. This was a turn off to me at first but a year and a half in and never had a single connection issue. Still would love the USB option, but even if I did I'd still run it via internet 99% of the time.

[@nathanieltagles9245]

If I want to engrave tumblers and stainless steel will the 2nd top one work or what do I need ?

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

For tumblers I would look into a fiber laser with a rotary (4th) axis. The Glowforge really isn't setup well for tumblers.

[@flightsimulation6548]

The latest Pro version with air filter system is $8290? 45 Watt laser vs. the basic 40 watt ... curious to see if the Pro version is any different especially around noise?

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

All the units have the same level of noise. In my opinion the Pro is only needed if you plan on doing very large projects like signs or you plan on running your machine 8hrs a day because it has an extra cooling unit for all day use.

[@Publiclighthouse]

I can’t believe this company charges an extra $21 to have an extension pipe on the exhaust port so the hose fits properly. I wonder if Home Depot has a similar fitting that would be cheaper.

[@beehr4468]

Yes Home Depot has PVC you can buy for a lot cheaper

[@stcroixlover1]

Thanks a million for your honest and in depth review.

[@Nikad1977]

This is a great video, I've been going back and forth rather I wanted to buy one and this video really helps.

[@lcarucci0007]

I will not jeopardize my health breathing toxic fumes and for the money issues like noise, etc should be totally worked out

[@justkiddin1980]

Just buy a chinese k40 and upgrade it if you want to

[@albetaylormade7400]

Buy one. Great investment

[@Zootalaws]

I see a lot of these reviews saying what a great machine these are - always from people that have never used a laser before. If you’re not technically adept, it’s going to insulate you from the tech, at a cost. And when it breaks, you’ll need to pay someone to sort it out. What you get is a $500 40W laser for $4K. It’s not even a particularly good 40W laser, but it’s simple to use for those that don’t want to put in the time to learn. For $4K you could get a machine that’s almost at industrial grade. Not for everyone, but if you want an appliance with a moderately high maintenance schedule (which 90% of glowforge owners are never going to do) and don’t mind dropping $4K to tool around, then sure - cool toy.

[@marcin97]

So what do you recommend instead?

[@Zootalaws]

@@marcin97 any Ruida-controlled 60-80W CO2 from a reputable Chinese manufacturer will outperform this significantly, at a much reduced cost. Not an eBay or amazon machine. Not a K40 (although they perform about the same at $500)

[@kylepayne2820]

@@Zootalaws Can you give an actual recommendation for a specific laser or a "reputable chinese manufacturer"?

[@johnnythefilmmaker]

@@kylepayne2820 yes please share

[@keekeedavis3521]

Mike, can you give a name of one of these with the 60-80W co2 Chinese produced $500ish machines Please?

[@after.moonrise]

Now I'm a little wary of getting one. I can't afford it anyway, but wanted a machine that could cut suede leather. But how easy would it be to cut suede? Could I use colorful dyed suede? If not, then this machine wouldn't be much help to me...

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

That's a great question. I've never done suede myself but I've done leather and it works very well. I've seen many people in the Glowforge community cutting all kinds of fabrics. If suede can be laser cut cleanly and safely (no toxic fumes) on any other laser then it would cut just fine on the Glowforge. Hope that helps and best of luck to you on your making journey.

[@susanpearson2467]

I'm looking to personalize tumblers and stainless steel cups. Can it handle that?

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

It can't. I'd look into the MakeBlock or Muse

[@WestCoastCanuck]

Noise makes this a no for me. :-( Great review and I appreciate the time you took to do this.

[@billandpeppa314]

I saw a short ad for this and I wanted to see what it was and when I heard him say it was 4K I was blown away😮😮🥵

[@marixuchocano9422]

hi ! thanks for the review! 2 questions please: would it fit in travel luggage? maybe in 2? would it work with mac? thanks!

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

It's much too big to fit in travel luggage and it will work just fine with a Mac.

[@ruizd14]

Thanks for your review. the noise is not a deal breaker for me as it would go in my garage or the exhaust duct as I have rubber/PVC 4" fittings and adapters all day long since I am mostly into woodworking but recently got into laser engraving with a Sculpfun S9 but looking to expand. The dealbreaker for me right now is the price for the basic model is at around $3,600.00 where a couple years back it was $2,495. After shipping and sales tax I would be looking at over $4,000 out the door. for that I may also shop for and consider a CO2 laser if I am going to make that much of an investment. Trying to keep in under $2,500 so the GF may not be for me. I am not a business just doing it as a hobby and to make stuff for friends and family. Thanks.

[@rachelforero1555]

By far the best informational review. Thank you for taking the time.

[@TheSavageThoughts]

Thank you! I used your code today to purchase the GF for the bookstore I run. I want to be able customize gift items for our customers.

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

Hey, what a cool idea, and congrats!

[@WispYart]

Thanks for the review! Very helpful!

[@markk3453]

thank you. great review

[@BeccaGriffith]

This was SO HELPFUL! Thank you for your authenticity. I really like the concept of Glowforge and have been watching a lot of their tutorial videos and livestreams...so I may still go for it or wait a little longer with the hopes that they work on some improvements!

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

Glad you found it helpful Becca! What improvements would you like to see?

[@BeccaGriffith]

@@MartinsonManufacturing Thanks for even asking! After perusing features of other laser printers (& even one that I SWEAR must be a knock-off of glowforge), these are a few improvements that come to mind: 1. A functional exhaust connector 2. Software that run OFFline (this is a make or break for me). 3. Air purifier actually included with the system since it's a necessary component for the fumes no matter what for the same price. 4. It'd be wonderful to see the weight of it be light enough for one person to maneuver w/o breaking the back. ;-)

[@keekeedavis3521]

Becca Griffith - I completely agree. Only online is a huge NO for me and the cost for the very necessary air purifier is greed in my opinion

[@GoGetIt411]

Great video! Which system should I purchase to work with the Glowforge? Adobe, Cricut or silhouette?

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

Boy, it’s really just user preference. I’ve been using AutoCAD but am going to be transitioning over to Adobe Illustrator. It’s an industry standard and a good program to have under your belt.

[@GoGetIt411]

@@MartinsonManufacturing thank you!!

[@janhavel8208]

Four 3D printers and you bought the exhaust? ;) I really liked the demonstration of how loud it is.

[@TheJacklwilliams]

He is the MFG of the exhaust plenum... LOL, that wasn't stated in this video. He prints them and sells them.

[@bb9470]

Do you need an opening for an exhaust like a dryer has?

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

Most of us exhaust through an open window

[@theresafessler2343]

thanks for sharing information on the glowforge. In your opinion regarding ventilation, I would be placing it in my craft area in my basement. I have an old unused dryer vent just above where i would place it. From the exhaust port on the glowforge to where the dryer vent hook up is about 5 feet directly above and then there is a run of venting through the ceiling tiles about 14.5 feet across to outdoors. (thus why i moved the dryer vent - too long and was getting clogged). Would this be acceptable for venting the glow forge or would i need some kind of additional fan or something to vent this out? thoughts?

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

Theresa, that's a very good question. I suppose you can always try it and see how it works. The exhaust fan in the Glowforge is a very powerful high velocity fan and could probably blow through that much ducting no problem. I would guess that you could still feel a good amount of airflow coming out the other end. The nice thing is you should never have to worry about the duct getting clogged because it's just fumes. Hopefully some of those thoughts are helpful.

[@MysticMary-g9s]

What about taping the dryer duct? I can't believe they charge so much for their add on duct.

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

You'd definitely need to clamp it, not sure tape would work well. The add on part is something I 3d print and sell.

[@advocacyrl8017]

It would be fantastic if you could connect the glowforge directly to your laptop via usb or CATV

[@martinedwards929]

Clear, concise review. Although I am surprised that after saying that you have 4 3D printers you didn’t have the wherewithal to design and print your own exhaust duct adapter. It certainly wouldn’t have cost you $22!!!

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

Maybe I did :)

[@thepetersenfamily5]

I currently have a K40 laser and was considering an upgrade. With the noise and smell, and with the camera function being not as good as advertised, is the upgrade worth it?

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

Definitely worth it in my opinion. You can buy a super quiet external exhaust fan for $100 and shut the noisy internal one off. As long as your exhaust hose connections are solid smell won’t be an issue (it hasn’t been an issue for me anymore). But I guess it depends on what you’re using it for. If you’re just tinkering around for fun probably stay with the K40. If you’re wanting to make a business out of it and kick out parts over and over I think it’s worth it. Time is money and the setup time is basically zero.

[@fomckee]

Thank you very much for your views on the machine!

[@LaserRanger15]

Good video and a fair review. I've been in this business (more production machines as opposed to a hobby model) for many years. Looks slick. I visited their site. The only comments I would make is; give it offline processing capability (i.e. not just internet driven) and I wish they would not use the term "3D printing". That's a different technology all together and misleading. This is just a flatbed gantry, just like several other manufacturers. Looks like a good little machine for home use but there are others in the same vein, so shop around.

[@justice_rizzo]

Hi hru? Do you have any recommendations? I really want to get one of these but it's extremely expensive. Thank you.

[@bparker86]

Man great reply.

[@bradymiguel]

Could you swap the louder fans out with quieter high flow pc fans? I did that on a wine fridge I built into my kitchen cabinets.

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

Hmm, I haven't heard anyone in the community try swapping out the fans so I wouldn't know on that one. Most people pick up an external inline fan (such as this one: amzn.to/33zTNmP) and then shut the internal fan off in the settings. The result is a super quiet machine.

[@rogerp5517]

This was a very thorough review. One thing I wonder about is, is there a temperature limit (hot or cold) so if I was to use this in the garage?

[@yubidubi]

If yoiir garage is not temp. controlled I would not recommend.

[@lucasward2648]

It doesn't operate below 40 degrees or above 75.

[@MrThomApplegate]

Thank you for the good review. I just put one on my list. With a creative mind, this can be a real elevator for inspiration.

[@dthk]

this was a great and honest review. that sound test was hilarious.

[@curtgroen2712]

It would appear to me that if everything goes through Glowforge via the internet, they have access to what files you are burning. BOOM! Everything just became Glowforge property! Thank you for the review.

[@annweber9880]

Actually, the GlowForge has two cameras- one is on the edge and one is in the center (the one that you showed). The center camera is a wide-angle lens, so it sees more of the edge than you implied.

[@mm0901]

Sooo helpful! Thank you!!

[@tsinoisullieht]

Thank you for the referral code! I just ordered the Plus-- really nervous about the noise, but I'll try the insulated dryer duct tip.

[@joemartinson1826]

Awesome! I recently saw on my account that you used the referral code to order one! You'll love it! You should join the "Glowforge User Group" on Facebook. Lots of great info and ideas on there. As far as the noise, many people have been buying a quiet external fan such as this one and using that instead. www.amazon.com/AC-Infinity-CLOUDLINE-S6-Controller/dp/B07FPFVZTZ/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2UADE7FJ2JO33&keywords=ac+infinity+cloudline+t6&qid=1576565424&sprefix=ac+infinity%2Caps%2C233&sr=8-3 There's an option in the GF app to basically turn off the internal fans and just use an external one instead. It quiets your machine tremendously. I'll be picking one up and doing a review on it next month. Please reach out if you have any questions when you get your Glowforge!

[@cplcabs]

The thing you should be nervous about is the reliance of the internet. I note already they have a premium service. The more people that buy this and join the premium service the slower the free service will go because premium users have priority in the processed queue.

[@nancybooher6516]

Now that you have had for awhile what others issues have you come across? I am looking to buy one for my business. What other Laser printer who you recommend? Looking forward to see what you have to say !!

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

Great question Nancy. Well, I still absolutely love the machine. I'm currently selling my Plus to a friend and will be putting that money towards the Pro model. I want the capacity to make bigger projects and it has an upgraded cooling system so it can run longer. My craft room here in AZ gets really hot and occasionally my printer needs time to cool down before the next cut. That's really the only issue i've had. (If you're able to keep the room it's in at 75 degrees or cooler you shouldn't have that problem.) Dremel has a comparable machine, but I chose this one because it's cheaper. I've seen a lot of people getting the K40 laser cutter for $400. It has good cutting results. My friend has one and likes it, but you also get what you pay for. Other than that I haven't had much experience with the other lasers out there. I know Epilog is another popular one out there too. Hope that helps :)

[@nancybooher6516]

Thank you, I will Keep looking I am needing to start with a small printer that I don’t need to have vent since I will be working in a small area.

[@applesntreesshop8690]

Thousands of dollars but you still have to buy an extra part for the exhaust port to fit correctly and won't operate unless it has internet? ...It also needs it's own room (welp, sorry kids I guess you're sleeping with us) and happens to sound like a jet engine. Ugh. Anyone happen to know of a similar machine with better features?

[@Dab__Bod]

"I wont buy this cause it needs the internet." - Quote FROM the internet...

[@nomsterdude]

Sorry to say this but it's a laser cutter, it's a warehouse/shop machine

[@FleshGolem420]

@@Dab__Bod More to the point if the company goes out of business and the servers aren't being maintained you're screwed.

[@bennettpisek5566]

Thanks for your review, and detailed time slots for specific Glowforge reviews. The “ exhaust extension “ can be made from PVC pipe, and cut at places like Home Depot, Lowe’s, and other hardware stores. The cost is less than $20.00.

[@eddiejohnson3458]

on the dryer vent your suppose too put clamp behind the first or second metal rings in the hose this way the clamp has something too make sure it does not slip just on papper

[@phototec]

Thanks for the review, what is PROOF GRADE MATERIAL? What is the difference over regular Acrylic sheets from a plastic sheet retailer?

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

Great question Jon! Proof Grade Material is basically material that Glowforge has deemed to be safe, and then they put a QR code on it so the Glowforge calibrates itself automatically to cut that material perfectly. I buy my acrylic from an acrylic sheet supplier down the road from me called Port Plastics. I use Glowforge's proofgrade acrylic settings and it cuts my acrylic perfectly. I think Glowforge is just focused on safety. There may be an acrylic supplier out there that puts chemicals in their acrylic that when cut produce harmful vapors, so Glowforge basically puts their stamp of approval on their material saying that their stuff is safe to use in the Glowforge. Most of us start out with the Proof Grade stuff and then quickly move out to material we source elsewhere. Does that help?

[@phototec]

@@MartinsonManufacturing Thanks for the explanation, which makes sense. I was thinking it was about the finish of the materials, kind of like the PROOF GRADE used in coin collecting. I am pretty sure Glowforge does NOT manufacture Arroylic plastic, they source it just like I would, they may purchase large 4' 8' sheets and then cut it down to a size that fits their machine, and mark it up. Here in Central Texas, there are several wholesale plastic sheet supplies and as long as you purchase name brand off the shelf Acrylic sheets, I would bet the material would be just fine to use. Purchasing in bulk always saves money, so purchase large sheets and then cutting them to size to fit your laser using a table same (with the correct blade), will save a lot of money. One of my plastic suppliers offers free shipping with a $100 purchase, they are located 60 miles from me, so that is a great bargain. Do you know if the Glowforge will cut 1/4" Acrylic with a clean edge? How do you keep from getting the burnt edge I have seen in some Gloeforge examples?

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

​@@phototec Sounds like you found a great acrylic supplier! With free shipping even, that's definitely the way to go. I'm moving to Wisconsin next month and i'm hoping I can find a good supplier myself. The Glowforge cuts 1/4" acrylic really well. I just went and looked at my spice rack that I made for out of 1/4" acrylic. The cut edge is pretty clean. It isn't as smooth as glass, but it's pretty clean. The Glowforge will do it in one pass. As far as preventing the burnt edge, masking your materials is the solution. Your acrylic sheets should come pre-masked. However, if you're getting a little more technical (which may have been your previous question) even if you mask your acrylic, the edges will look like they've encountered heat (looking top down on your cut piece, you'll see a faint perimeter - which the average person won't notice. My previous response I was referring to looking at the edge from the side.) To fix these non clean edges (looking at your piece top down) There's something i've started doing which helps. As the laser moves around and hits the metal walls of the honeycomb crumb tray underneath, the laser will flare up causing the edge of the acrylic to degrade and not look like glass anymore (even when it's masked). What you can do is put something underneath the acrylic sheet to raise it up off the crumb tray a little bit and those flares won't hurt it. Hope that helps. Feel free to email me [e-mail] if you'd like to chat more. I can send some pics of 1/4" acrylic I cut if you'd like.

[@gfortiz5544]

Ditto on the internet thing, plus for 4 grand you would think they would throw in that hose extension or do something different. I was thinking about one, not now. I expect them to be somewhat noisy but that sounded like real cheap motors. Thank you very much.

[@tomee4453]

Why didn't he 3d print that exhaust part

[@aidanvillacampa4745]

I thought the same thing, 20 bucks.... yeesh!

[@franstylz08]

Dag! I thought the same exact thing. Somebody figured that out and may be rich now!!

[@glennd.3124]

You would need a 3D printer for that, the Glowforge is a laser cutter and burner

[@tomee4453]

@@glennd.3124 he owns one

[@carlab30]

Lol I thought the same thing

[@sgtawb6904]

wow thanks for posting this. I don't remember seeing anything on the website saying that the machine (and therefore your means of production) is completely dependant on if the internet of things is working that day. Going to have to give this a lot more thought.

[@draco_2727]

Close system with no way to upload the file directly into the machine? screw that, they could have easily added a USB module and a screen to select the files. The latest Raspberry Pi for about US$ 35 can get you all that functionality even with WIFI module, so that wasn't taken out due to cost but to lock the customers.

[@phenomenal_woman]

Good review. Your background wall, is that real wood? I love the wall treatment.

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

Thanks Evelyn. Nope, it's a laminated sheet I found at Home Depot :)

[@Batuhan1988]

Does that fumes escape from the joints trigger smoke detector?

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

I've never had an issue with it

[@m2enjoyingthenow258]

Your link to credit isn't working

[@marcuskarena4938]

Can you cut thick fabric with this machine

[@macrumpton]

Easily

[@goalmind8753]

@@macrumpton by thick fabric what do you mean?

[@KitchenTumblers]

A lot of great information. This definitely helps guide me toward making a decision to purchase! Also, very good to the point information. New Sub!

[@sexualbutterfly]

Kitchen Tumblers Hey girl, what are you doing over here...probably the same as me! 😆~your Subbie

[@fathersondiecast6521]

thanks for the video. While it looks like a very slick product, it seems a bit too proprietary with materials (sounds like HP) and internet only?? wow deal breaker for me.

[@TheTahoeJohn]

Just found your review... two thumbs up, you totally talked me out of buying one of these pieces of junk. Thank you sincerely.

[@dalepistilli4995]

Awesome, unbiased review. Thanks!!

[@MrKiet76]

So it doesn’t come with a USB cable to plug into your pc?

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

Nope.

[@donnap.leonard5374]

JDM.... What about Leather and Suede?? How Thick or how thin?? Would love to make jewlery.❤ Thk U.

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

One of my favorite projects was a leather bracelet that I made on the Glowforge. Leather and suede are not a problem. Mine was probably a medium thickness but I've been to the stores and see all the hides that are sold and the GF would be able to cut just fine through the thickest of them. You just want to get veg tanned leather instead of chrome tanned because some of those tanning chemicals cut be harmful if you're breathing them in all day.

[@stevercleever]

It’s a really nice machine until you have low WiFi ... my machine overheated all the time until I elevated it and put a fan on the bottom to cool it off... I sold it and bought the dremel version of it ... this reminds me of the Xcarve with free software then after awhile you have pay a monthly service to use it unless you have the aspire software..

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

How do you like the Dremel model? Is their software something you can just download so you're not dependent on wifi?

[@jimmieeasterday6755]

Mine over heats all the time and stalls take 2 hr to cut something that should cut 45 min.. how did you attach a additional fan

[@lucasward2648]

@@jimmieeasterday6755 The problem is your room is too hot. The machine can't operate at over 75-80 degrees ambient temperatures. Either put it in a A/C controlled room, or install it in front of a window and add a Window Unit.

[@jimmieeasterday6755]

Lucas it is in my home and with ac we keep our home at 69 degrees

[@lucasward2648]

@@jimmieeasterday6755 I would recommend using an infrared thermometer and checking the area around your laser. By keeping your thermostat at 69, that tells me your overall cooling in your house is not that great. For example, my old HVAC I kept the thermostat at 68 because it seemed it was the only thing that would cool the house. New HVAC, I keep at 72, and the whole family is freezing. I keep my laser in a metal shed, in Florida heat, with just a tiny Window unit in front of it, and it has never stalled. The only time my unit has stalled is when I used it outside the day it arrived! It was 90 degrees outside, and I wasn't aware it needed to be cooled down.

[@crazyaquariusgurl]

Excellent review! Had no idea about the exhaust and noise! And the material things!

[@Scott300300300]

$4,000 this needs to more than a hobby for that price

[@TARAJOSU]

Exactly! That's a full on business purchase

[@Gorgeousbronze1]

No one buys any cutting machine for hobbies. Every one Etsy uses a cutter.

[@TARAJOSU]

Gorgeousbronze -Madison- I don’t know 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@chrisisnowliftingstuff3248]

They have one that's about half that price. Glow forge makes 3. I think this is the top of the line model.

[@bhutch216]

@@TARAJOSU a full on business machine is $35,000. This is the hobby version.

[@In2MsChief]

I would like more information on laser and how long they are expected to last and cost to replace them. But, this video did cover some interesting points that need to be considered before purchasing.

[@skylermaddox8278]

They are expected to last 2000 hours working time before maintenance and Glowforge does not take responsibility for injury caused by their lasers, even if they were otherwise warned about a machine being faulty. After the short 6 month crappy warranty they then charge the user shipping and repair fees if there is an issue and will not sell you spare parts directly or help you work on your machine. They also take weeks if not longer to reply to emails and when they do they barely read what you say. Many users are having issues where Glowforge will not help them or will flat rate invoice $749 for you to send your machine to their repair facility for 6 WEEKS or give you the option of paying the $749 and getting a refurb one sent right out. So, basically you buy the damn thing for top dollar and could be paying them $749 yearly and not even for the machine you originally purchased.

[@electronron1]

Requires internet connection, sorry I'll pass. If it was supported by octoprint like GRBL based Laser Engravers and CNC routers maybe.

[@PWingert1966]

You could try a white, brown or pink noise generator audio clip to counter the sound and provide anti-sound as noise-cancelling speakers do! Find an audio engineer to help you model the correct sound and create a noise-cancelling audio track for it! That might be an interesting video and educational too!

[@StefanoRizzotti]

Thanks for the review. Now i have one more reason to purchase a gweike big bad ass Chinese laser for the same price. Unbelievable that you have to stick with the cloud and their material!

[@fluffygirldesigns8779]

Can you engraved power coated tumblers with the machine?

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

I haven't specifically engraved on powder coated metal, but I imagine it would do just fine.

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

Actually, a tumbler probably wouldn't be able to fit underneath the laser. It can't engrave objects thicker than 2" so keep that in mind.

[@RickSwartwood]

Excellent Review! Thank You! I purchased already but nervous about internet only...

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

Nothing to be nervous about. Our whole lives our internet dependent and we never think about it. I was a little nervous at first too, but over a year later, not a single issue and I love how seamless the experience is with the internet.

[@cplcabs]

As you should be. There is everything to be nervous about. If they go bust you can’t use you machine. They will add additional costs in the future for using their servers. They already have a premium service giving premium members priority on the job queue, so if you are not a premium member and you upload your job at the same time a load of premium members, you will be waiting a while. Then there is the security/privacy part. All your jobs are on their servers as is your information, so it is theirs to do with as they please and if they get hacked, it’s going to be all out there.

[@MrBLEENNOP]

What was the time frame from purchase to delivery?

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

MrBLEENNOP I think mine took 1 week. I'm in Phx.

[@koleyoung3116]

Ordered our glowforge on Monday Got it on Wednesday evening

[@oooooggmm]

Horrible. It took 6 weeks p For us to get it

[@mollymadedesigns]

Thank you for the honest review. I used your referral code. :)

[@MotoPLX]

Is there a temp range for the environment for the use of the Glowforge? ex: a garage in a cold climate such as Ohio

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

The user manual states to not go below 40 degrees or above 120. The Glowforge has coolant in it and if it were to freeze while in the laser tube that would be no bueno. Hope that helps!

[@janicegraves8706]

Thanks Joe, just bought the Basic with your link, now to start getting my referrals to help pay for My machine!! :)

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

Absolutely! Get it!!

[@mauifeatherlei]

great review i think i am choosing glowforge oever the silhoutte

[@caryandrae9952]

it is louder than my commercial machine. The camera is similar tech to camera used in laser tracking which are used in laser cutting fabric with continuous load. So the problem is the design which have too short focus distance which is why it cannot focus. You can cut 1in thick wood using a 40W tube with a short focus lens? Is that cut on a single pass or multiple pass? Cause technically a 40W with a short focus lens is physically not able to cut 1in wood as even a 100W laser cannot cut that thick with a 58.1mm lens on a single pass.

[@joemartinson1826]

Cary Andrae Thats crazy to hear that it’s louder than your commercial machine. I’d like to get an external fan eventually, I’ve heard from the community that they are much quieter. For the 1” wood I had to run multiple passes. (I wish I had clarified that in the video).

[@caryandrae9952]

@@joemartinson1826 the reason why it is so loud is cause the fan is enclosed inside a large hard plastic box which basically makes it louder. Considering it is a small laser machine, you can consider by disconnecting the internal fans and swapping with external inline fans instead. That will make it significantly quiet. For the exhaust you can use a 6in inline fan and attach with a tube size converter. As for the inlet, you can research on quiet high vol fans which you can probably retrofit a cowl on it to channel the air inside. As for the cutting, 58.1mm focal lens only effectively cuts to 9mm thick material. Any thicker is more efficient to switch to a 101.6mm (4in) lens. Always avoid multiple passes as it will char the edges badly. For the tube, if you max out the power constantly, then you will quickly shorten the lifespan of the tube significantly. These are the things to consider when cutting materials. I had backed a kickstarter glowforge before i bought my current machine. That was 3 years ago. After over 1 year of delay, cancelled and used the same money and purchase a commercial grade machine instead with 900mm x 600mm area and 100W laser. Sad to say, after using the commercial machines, then i realise glowforge was mainly alot of hype. But nonetheless, to each their own purpose. I am sure it would never have worked for me. But i suppose it works great for you. 👍

[@5foot10Stallion]

@@caryandrae9952 If you don't mind me asking, which machine did you go with?

[@caryandrae9952]

@@5foot10Stallion i just using a regular chinese commercial machine. 900 x 600mm cutting area. 100W reci tube, hiwin linear guide, trocen lite 708C controller. I have an external 750W centrifugal exhaust and a 1000W inline exhaust fan combined for lower and back exhaust. Comes with a cw5000 chiller for keeping the tube temp at 20C. All these coat less than a glowforge. And it runs locally. Do not need internet.

[@bishopsgyal]

This was GREAT!! Thank you for posting !

[@elalconcel3853]

The lid design. Lid on my Glowforge is already falling apart, it's either pay $200 to ship it back and they repair it or fix it myself. It's sad... Glowforge clearly has a flaw on there lid design, glass, plastic lid parts & hinge hardware are all poorly glued together. For a company that literally made $28 MILLION during there crowdfunding campaign, at least ship & repair the lid on my Gloglowforge for free. I've met someone locally that also has a Glowforge after the first month of continuous use, her lid separated from the adhesive/glue. She shipped it back for repairs and now the lid is falling apart again. Sorry, I'm just angry.

[@wyntermackenzie4952]

Why apologize? Anger is a logical and justifiable reaction to a manufacturer who cuts corners on a WAY expensive device. Sometimes anger is enough to propel us to action.

[@hankrodriguezhill7029]

Thanks for sharing dont plan on buying one these pretty expensive for little value

[@lucasward2648]

Crazy, I've had my Glowforge for a year now and it is perfectly fine. I have put at least 1,000 hours on it in the past year, the inside is almost completely wood gunk. Everything works like the day I got it.

[@pathfinderLXXIV]

@@lucasward2648 Filled with wood gunk as in you don't clean it after makering?

[@lucasward2648]

@@pathfinderLXXIV Since that comment, I've ran the glowforge another 100 hours, and honestly am only now thinking about setting time aside to clean it. Lol. It is going to be an arduous process to deep clean it. Not something worth doing but every few hundred hours probably.

[@GBGJEWELZ]

Can this machine engrave metal

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

Nope. But it can remove the paint coating on top revealing the metal underneath. But yeah not powerful enough to penetrate metal.

[@romanticscents]

Thank you for the review! This was so helpful!

[@j03y__]

If it was not for the fact that it becomes a brick if glowforge goes under or there server crashed I would have clicked BUY IT NOW!

[@cassiditownsend3445]

Hello! I see that this video is over a year old. Is the internet situation still the same? Also, did anyone see if there was a comparable machine that does the same for the same price or less? I’m researching! TIA.

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

Yes, it is still internet driven but I've actually grown to love the wifi workflow. If it had an SD card option I would never use it, it would just be an insurance policy for piece of mind. I believe some of the cheaper options out there will still give you the same cut quality it's just going to come down to ease of use, setup time user friendliness etc.

[@missvickie1975]

Thank u sooooooo much for this honest review. I think others who live in my building would hate me if I bought such a noisy machine. Glad I now know how loud it is. You just saved me from getting evicted. Lol

[@fivevenomstyle6337]

Great review, so I'm curious, when you said it cut through a 1" piece of pine, did you mean that it engraved/carved into it easily, or it actually sliced right through no problem?

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

I should have clarified a little better on that. The Glowforge "cut" through 1" pine, but it took several passes.

[@fivevenomstyle6337]

@@MartinsonManufacturing Thanks for the quick response. That is still pretty impressive.

[@uprayup]

*Great Video!* _Thank you for you honesty_

[@sgwyrick]

It was a NO-GO for me when you stated it's Internet Based! $4000 Brick if you lose Internet or Company goes Bust!

[@lucasward2648]

No, their is already open source out there, and Glowforge has vowed if they ever were to stop internet support they would release their own stand alone server software.

[@maryrembold2748]

I don't have an internet connection where this would be located. They definitely should make it usable without an internet connection.

[@cplcabs]

@@lucasward2648 think about why they haven’t done that already. Do you honestly think a company that is going bust is going to spend time and money developing stand alone software?

[@UsernameBarbF]

I found your review to be very helpful. I've been wanting to get a laser printer/cutter and your review touched on points I wouldn't have even thought of. I live in a small town with slow Internet service and that service goes down fairly often. Because Glowforge is Internet dependent, I would NOT buy it. I don't mean to sound stupid, but with my pyrography I have to be careful to wear a mask, especially because some species of wood produce fumes that are highly toxic. Before burning I always look up the wood species to find out what the dangers are. Since you mentioned smoke escaping from the unit into the room, would this cautionary step be necessary when using the Glowforge?

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

I’ve personally never worn a mask when I cut, but I’ve also never cut anything toxic either. I changed my exhaust system a bit and currently have no fumes escaping from the unit.

[@UsernameBarbF]

@@MartinsonManufacturing Here's a link to a Sue Walters article (she's an AMAZING pyrographer) about MDF www.suewalters.com/Safety.html#:~:text=Don't%20leave%20them%20unsupervised,and%20other%20serious%20health%20problems. And here's one article related to MDF and laser cutting--it seems that the critical key to toxic fumes is extremely good ventilation, people who are just getting into laser cutting are, hopefully, researching the potential toxicity of what they intend to cut and then taking proper safety precautions and investing in really good ventilation systems. Thank you for listening and for replying! Here's that 2nd link: www.reddit.com/r/lasercutting/comments/adchkn/mdf_question_about_formaldehyde/

[@nessliz8208]

Very expensive, but would love to have one in the waaaay future lol thank you for the detailed review!! Much appreciated!

[@rolandhatton2668]

K40 laser is a great cheap option, does have some downfalls but can save a fortune and do a lot for the price

[@PWingert1966]

Hey here is an idea to deal with the noise. While you making you cut. Play Microsoft flight sim 2020 and pick a 747 or an A320 and fly a route that is the length of your cut! That way it will fit in perfectly with your sim just remember to mute the engine noises in the sim! LOL!!

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

That’s hilarious!

[@cinditurner1885]

YOU guys watch nova?

[@Phulosophy369]

If our files have to be sent thru GF server, shouldn’t we be worried about intellectual property issues?

[@MartinsonManufacturing]

I have never thought of that before, but I guess your'e right, if they wanted to they definitely could take people's designs. They could also take our credit cards and addresses etc. too. I guess that's just the age we live in now, there has to be lots of trust on our part that all these companies who have our information don't abuse it.

[@Phulosophy369]

JDM3D Used for fun and project, ok. For business that you’d want to trademark or patented, then I’d look at other option. Too risky to go through their server.

[@rgbcrafts]

Oh, I was hoping, cause I do my stuff by hand. But 4k is waay ahead my porch right now.

[@Acid_Ink]

RGB Crafts 4K is for the pro. There’s one for $2500 too