The Ultimate Guide: Unbiased Review of the xTool M1

[@FirstDayofHome]

LEARN about the NEW xTool M1 Ultra here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJWskGuOf9KLaLc. SAVE $80 on your xTool M1 (U.S. store affiliate link) with the promo code FDOH80! Redeem here: shrsl.com/48hap. SIGN UP for xTool email tutorials here: firstdayofhome.myflodesk.com/lq60ehx5a1 Read my full xTool M1 review here: www.firstdayofhome.com/xtool-m1-review/ Read my full xTool M1 Ultra review here: www.firstdayofhome.com/xtool-m1-ultra-review/

[@hernz.gonz.2990]

Thank you very much, you have clarified many doubts for me. I already bought the machine, it has not arrived yet but you have clarified many doubts for me.. You have helped me understand several things about the machine, thank you very much. more videos of this type please thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@FirstDayofHome]

I’m so glad it was helpful! I’m working on some more xTool projects as we speak. I hope you enjoy using your machine! It’s fun to learn something new. 👏🏼

[@julieb.8204]

Your videos are always so informative, helpful, and FUN! Plus, your voice is so easy to listen to! I'm amazed that your learned so much in so little time with your xTool M1! Great samples of working with it. Love that cutting board!

[@FirstDayofHome]

Thanks SO much, Julie! You’re always such a great supporter. Once you get going with this machine, it becomes much less intimidating. I hope my mom likes the cutting board. Thanks for watching!

[@becomingdryork2919]

This is a great review, thanks! I have an M1 still in the box because I was a little intimidated about the laser part. You have motivated me to unbox today & start exploring. Thanks again

[@FirstDayofHome]

That’s great to hear! Honestly, come join some of the Facebook groups I linked in the description. I found a lot of answers to my questions in there. People share their settings and projects. Feel free to ask me questions too! Have fun!

[@becomingdryork2919]

Thanks so much@@FirstDayofHome

[@jcevans16]

I'm considering buying one, have you used it yet?

[@elizabethvallely4044]

WOW Looks Awesome machine, the cutting board looks great and a greaat gift for grandma!!! Thank you so much for showing how it works! Liz x

[@FirstDayofHome]

Thanks, Elizabeth! I love using this machine! There are so many possibilities to make great gifts and decor. My mom loved her cutting board. Thanks for watching. 💕

[@elizabethvallely4044]

@@FirstDayofHomeYou are very welcomel! 😊💕

[@Sustainmycrafthabit]

Love your video!!! So many fun ideas you shared. We've been using ours quite a bit lately - am keen to try it on glass though. -Jane

[@FirstDayofHome]

Thanks, Jane! I was very impressed with the results on glass. I’m amazed at everything this machine can do.

[@kippiathome7885]

What a fun crafting tool. I want one!!!😘

[@FirstDayofHome]

You would love it, Kippi! So many fun craft projects you can do. 🥰

[@joeast8223]

This looks amazing. I’m so ready to get one of these. I currently do a lot of card crafting using Dreaming Tree SVGs. Is it easy to cut out that type of thing on this machine?

[@FirstDayofHome]

If it’s an SVG file, then you should have no problem. I use a lot of Creative Fabrica SVG files with the M1 and haven’t had a problem. Have you heard about the new M1 Ultra? I just shared some highlights here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJWskGuOf9KLaLc. It has even more capabilities, especially for card making!

[@joeast8223]

@@FirstDayofHome yes I have heard of the ultra but unfortunately out of my price range 😔

[@FirstDayofHome]

I completely understand. Now that the Ultra is on the market, maybe that will make the original model a little more affordable. Best of luck to you! Let me know if you have any more questions.

[@joeast8223]

@@FirstDayofHome the M1 is half price at the moment so very tempted

[@FirstDayofHome]

@joeast8223 If you’re willing to wait, you might find an even better deal for Black Friday. Last year, they had the M1 for $500 off and you could use my code for an additional $80 off here in the U.S. I’m not sure what the promos will be this year but will mention it on my channel.

[@KerryScottStudios]

Thank you for the video, you have shown some great features. How are you venting/fume extracting for wood cutting--i'm lost in the details between the desktop air purifier, and the floor standing fume extractor, and windows venting. Thank you :)

[@FirstDayofHome]

Hi there! Yes, it can be a little confusing. The smoke purifier (sold by xTool) will help reduce a lot of the fumes. You'll just need to plan on replacing the filter when it gets dirty. I also invested in an inline fan (not an xTool product) to suck more of the fumes out. In all cases, you would vent out a window. The fan simply sucks more fumes out. The Air Assist is more of a tool that helps achieve cleaner cutting and prevents scorching inside the machine. You can read more about my setup here: www.firstdayofhome.com/xtool-m1-review/#safety-considerations--accessories. I hope this helps!

[@PemlaCakes]

Is it possible to make cupcake fondant embossers and debossers with this machine? Thank you 😊

[@FirstDayofHome]

Hello. I believe you can cut food-safe opaque acrylic shapes to create your own embosser or debosser, but I don’t have experience with that type of project. You can see some examples of laser cut acrylic embossers and debossers on Etsy if that helps. You’ll just need to make sure the acrylic is thin enough to cut and opaque (not clear or blue).

[@octaviasingleton-lee9393]

Would the chalk paint hack work on clear acrylic

[@FirstDayofHome]

You can engrave clear acrylic with masking tape or dark paint, but you cannot cut clear acrylic with a diode laser like the M1. Your best bet is to upgrade to the P2 to cut clear and transparent acrylic. I have a video on what that looks like here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqLaXmN_n8RomrM. Hope this helps!

[@joeast8223]

Great cutting board 🥰

[@FirstDayofHome]

Thank you!😊

[@JesusLopez-sb3ir]

This is so cool but should I go for a co2 ? Or this one ? You said it took you 50 mins or 15 mins to engrave the stamp ? I want to multiple stamps at once. How long will it take me to?

[@FirstDayofHome]

I think it all depends on how much you're willing to spend. I have a few comparison charts vs. other diode lasers and vs. CO2 lasers in this article: www.firstdayofhome.com/xtool-m1-review/#xtool-m1-vs-other-laser-cutting-machines. (That link will take you directly to the comparison section.) It took 48 minutes to make the stamp I showed. If you want to start a bigger business making stamps, you might want to upgrade. I hope this helps!

[@FirstDayofHome]

I should also mention xTool just came out with another more powerful/faster diode laser called the S1. You can get either a 20W or 40W laser module with that machine. Here are more details if you want to compare: shrsl.com/4d4f1.

[@annettebenson4022]

Thank you! Did you have something hold down the cutting board when engraving?

[@FirstDayofHome]

Glad it was helpful! I did not have to hold down the cutting board. Here is the detailed tutorial in case you want to learn more: www.firstdayofhome.com/laser-engraved-cutting-board/

[@SergeyKasimov]

Would it let you engrave on a paddle that does not need to be cut

[@FirstDayofHome]

If the paddle is made of wood, yes it should let you engrave. It should be similar to the cutting board that I engraved. If the paddle is long, you can use the wooden risers instead of the riser base to fit the paddle underneath. I hope this helps!

[@SergeyKasimov]

@@FirstDayofHome how many inches can this do long

[@SergeyKasimov]

@@FirstDayofHome so I got a paddle I want to basically do stuff that is only around not more then 1 inch in height and max 14 across what is the cheapest x you recommend

[@FirstDayofHome]

@@SergeyKasimov The maximum cut size is 15″ wide × 12″ tall (385x300mm) for laser projects and 14″ wide × 12″ tall (365x300mm) for blade cutting. You might find it helpful to read my full review here: www.firstdayofhome.com/xtool-m1-review/. It has other xTool comparisons that might help you decide which machine is right for you. I also own the xTool P2 which can handle larger projects because it has a pass-through conveyor accessory sold separately. I hope this helps.

[@SergeyKasimov]

Thanks but where you get the wood

[@GamingCornerYT]

Hi I need some help if possible I have recently bought the m1 XTool (only the 5w) however really struggling with the smell, it is vented outside however fine that the holes the base plate and bottom seem to just create a gap for fumes to escape! It’s a really bad smell when cutting wood 3mm Could I please ask the best solution? I have just bought an air assist to try and reduce the wood burning, Question is would the risers be good which come with the honeycomb and block cover? I keep looking at the air purifier but it’s £600 and not 100% sure if this is too epensive (when considering filters are £150) Please help as I’m close to selling the machine / returning

[@FirstDayofHome]

I’m sorry to hear you’re frustrated. I completely understand. I don’t think the ventilation is enough for indoor use without the Riser Base with Honeycomb Panel, so I do think the Riser Base will help. Air Assist mainly helps to prevent scorching for wood cutting. One alternative to buying the air purifier is getting an inline fan. Here’s one that I’ve tried and liked: amzn.to/46nU4pT. You would then need a slightly larger hose that you would connect from the fan to the M1 and from the other end of the fan out a window: amzn.to/3sFp5rB. You can get an adapter for this hose that screws into the M1: www.etsy.com/listing/1366156580/. It sounds like a lot, but basically it’s a fan that sucks more of the fumes out from the M1 before venting out a window. A lot of community members on Facebook use a similar setup if they don’t want to purchase the smoke purifier. I hope you can find a solution that works for you because there are so many fun projects to try. You definitely want to be safe and avoid fumes, though.

[@GamingCornerYT]

@@FirstDayofHome many thanks for the response and help!! (sorry to take up your time!) Does the riser / honey comb grill (with the front panel) aim to reduce smoke out of the machine? My logic is that the honey comb prevents smoke through the bottom? And the panel seals the front? (Current design just has the bottom metal panel with cut outs) I will definitely have a look at the links now! My plan buying the air assist was to try and reduce the wood burning and ultimately reduce the smoke if it’s a cleaner cut (it came yesterday so havnt yet installed!)

[@FirstDayofHome]

@XboxSeriesShorts It’s no problem at all!

[@FirstDayofHome]

@XboxSeriesShorts The riser base has a front and back panel that does help trap more of the smoke. However, some smoke will still escape because it’s not completely sealed even with the panels. You don’t want to completely seal it off either because you need some air to circulate, so don’t be tempted to tape it off. I do believe you still want either an inline fan to draw out more fumes or the air purifier if you want to limit the smell in the room. I could still smell fumes with just the riser base. Here’s a full article where I talk more about the riser base if you want more details: www.firstdayofhome.com/xtool-m1-review/.

[@vickynguyen9499]

Where should the red dot be? Mine is off to one side and I find my camera is not accurate. What do I do?

[@FirstDayofHome]

The red dot should be roughly in the center, but what really matters is where you place your design on the image preview you see in the software. Make sure you click “framing” to preview where the laser will cut or engrave. That’s a good indication of whether everything is lined up properly. Clean the lens from time to time too. You can use a Q-tip for that.

[@DizzyDaizy111]

I set up my xtool M1 exactly as you have shown other than air assist. I did a wood cutting board exactly as you did and for the life of me I cannot get the picture to center. I have framed it but it is hard to eyeball the blue laser to see if it is exactly center. how did you center yours so easily?

[@FirstDayofHome]

Sorry you’re having trouble! First, I would make sure you refresh the image once you get your object in the machine. Did you automeasure the distance too? Here’s a detailed example of the settings for something like a cutting board: www.firstdayofhome.com/laser-engraved-cutting-board/. If you are using risers or the honeycomb panel, you’ll want to select Open Plane instead of Laser Flat. My last piece of advice for centering is to create a rectangle or square around your design to roughly match the size of your object. Then center the design inside that rectangle. Just don’t forget to exclude the rectangle from cutting or engraving since you’re just using it as a guide for centering. I hope these tips will help!

[@FrankLawrence-s3g]

I would like to sign up. I am a new user

[@adrianwhitwell1963]

As an engineer, ex dt teacher who has used laser cutters in the classroom for many, many years (CL2 60 W laser) you should never, never, never use a Q tip or standard cotton buds with cleaning alchohol to clean a laser lense. Most cotton buds are adhered to the bus stick with glue, cleaning alcohol will dissolve the glue and you will end up with it on your laser lense. Only use cotton buds that are spun into the shaft with no glue. Do I really need to set up my own channel to stop these beginner mistakes that will cost you lots of money yet alone time?

[@FirstDayofHome]

Thanks for your tip. I will keep that in mind. You should contact xTool if you believe this to be true. Their support page has the same instructions: support.xtool.com/article/939. I highly recommend starting your own channel. I’m sure people would benefit from your expertise and you’ll also develop an appreciation for the effort that goes into it.