Xtool S1: What most laser reviews DON'T tell you.

[@jackjfb8439]

Finally, an honest review! Every other content maker who receives an Xtool laser sings the praises of Xtool, almost in a cult-like manner. Im not a hater, I have 2 Xtool lasers, with very few problems.

[@AlleyPicked]

I agree! They are good machines but not the best thing since sliced bread as other make them out to be. Thanks for the feedback.

[@MarkMcCluney]

Good balanced and, above all, honest review. Thanks Tom.

[@AlleyPicked]

Hi Mark, Lasers are interesting and useful but not for everyone. Thanks for tuning in.

[@patriotwoodworker6092]

Fantastic review man! Seriously I enjoy the hard truth

[@pmbrothny]

Great Job Tom. I purchased the laser a few weeks ago, and agree needs a handle. I 3d printed a handle for the 40w moduler. Works perfectly. I agree no camera, what is with this. So, I'm in the process of working on a camera installation. First, finding a camera that works with this bed size. I tried an older camera I had, it wokred, but I have a new camera coming that has greater FOV. We shall see, the hardest part, figuring out the mounting location for the best location,. I have it woking with lightburn, and created a few macros so that I can control the laser with the lid open. Again, great job.

[@astrophysicistguy]

Its aliment system is actually more precise because there is no parallax like with cameras. It's the same system used on high end commercial CO2 lasers that cost $5,000-$10,000

[@GoCreateSomething]

Have you seen the phone app that lets you take a picture of the stock as you've placed it in the S1 and then see that in XCS? I know it will let you align multiple items like pencils or something. Not sure if it will do the trick for bigger stuff.

[@shughes599]

You want them to provide items to modify your house ???

[@donnamcl6134]

Thanks Tom for the review. I always wanted a laser cutter but could not justify the expense since I'm just crafting for myself and a few family members. After watching this review I decided I'm probably too stupid to figure all the adjustments out😂plus no good place to put it.

[@pteddie6965]

I'm with you, donnamc.

[@AlleyPicked]

They are fun but they do take up a lot of space. The xtool F1 is smaller but these aren't cheap. Have a good week.

[@dian3145]

Tom, I don’t upcycle, so I have only watched your game videos. I have to say, first, you have the THE best logo ever. Hands down (or head down). I think it is great that you started with the challenges/drawbacks. Another is the speed. If each of your items takes 1/2hr to an hr, as a side hustle it will be a slow slog. Look forward to seeing your chotchies (sp).

[@AlleyPicked]

Thanks for watching and commenting! I also have more game and toy videos on the horizon.

[@myElHoElHo]

Thank you for this! 😁

[@Nisagi]

There is a whole lot You could add in the video that related to the DIODE laser as a whole. Maintenance, spare part availability (laser head, focal lenses, protective lenses etc. (they are expensive and hard to get with some diode brands)) and price, long cut times, improper air assist (you should use an air compressor to get good results FYI). And NO ONE is talking about this point at all. Because if You dip Your head inside this exact problem, You will understand how disgusting it is. Right now, i looked for the s1 spare parts. All i see is the protective glass for 15$ that is sold as "laser lens". First off, you can buy like 20 of those for 5$ and they will work fine, considering this is a consumable, its quartz glass protective piece (it is not a lens), but what i do not see is a focusing lens. That part is a consumable and You cannot purchase it. The most crucial part of the lase besides the laser module itself. Your laser head goes bust? well, that will cost 1k+ to change or beg the suport to send you the focal lens. Everything you do to overcome the limitations of the machine by taping or spraying takes a lot of time and additional resources to make. The price for this piece of tech is on par with a diy co2 laser. I had been waiting for 6 months (no joke) for a new laser head from China and in this time built a co2 laser. It's not night and day. It's earth and moon in terms of how quick, accurate and hands off this is. A good air compressor is not only for the charring. It is a fire safety system. i have seen to many posts with co2 lasers and alike with small fishtanks combust when unattended. That is because of the air assist being too weak. All in all, i like the honesty. I stopped watching youtube in regards to laser cutting, because its all about those crappy diodes and compact co2 lasers with stupid hard to find tubes.

[@jppalm3944]

Xtool a marketing company. Support sucks. Support never included in reviews. Never included horrible reviews of xtool support. Better get lucky getting it to work out of the box or……

[@AlleyPicked]

That's a great point. I can only speak for my experience. I have 3 different xtool lasers. I have not had any hardware issues with them yet. Therefore no need for support. If you or anyone else has support issues, it's a good idea to post them on videos like mine so other people can read them. But I encourage you to be specific rather than saying things like "support sucks".

[@jessefurqueron5555]

One question that I see overlooked: is network connectivity required for the laser itself or the laser’s (assuming mfg’s software) to work.

[@AlleyPicked]

No. You can use USB to a computer.

[@jessefurqueron5555]

@@AlleyPicked cool, so the laser itself can run in an air gapped environment. What about Xtool’s “creative space” software? Can it run air gapped as well? Eg w no live/active internet connection?

[@AlleyPicked]

Yes. When you launch the software, it tries to connect to the laser.If you have a USB connection to the laser, it finds the machine and works great.

[@jessefurqueron5555]

@@AlleyPicked thanks, let me rephrase my question.. can all that be done without being connected to the internet/web….eg local network is air gapped from the internet..neither the pc running XCS nor the laser have network access to the internet.

[@aircamdrone3727]

1.36 - Let me disagree with you... I started working with a Sculpfun S30 5 watt laser engraver, in a year of its work it has paid off the money invested in it many times and has ceased to satisfy the requests for the volume of work. Now I have bought an XTOOL S1 40W laser and an IR laser, which will be delivered soon. The little Sculpfun S30 made me enough money and earned me enough for the big XTOOL S1. Hopefully the XTOOL S1 will bring me even more profit.. ---- Thanks for the review and good luck!

[@AlleyPicked]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I appreciate it.

[@mathieusimard]

What kind of jobs do you get? And What pays the most?

[@aircamdrone3727]

@@mathieusimard We have a family souvenir shop.. Xtool S1 came, started working - the speed of work increased 2-8 times, the quality of engraving by an order of magnitude.. According to my modest calculations, the payback period will be 3-6 months.

[@XavierPil]

So true!!!!!!

[@maiamystia]

Judging by the negatives you talk about, it seems like you haven't watched any videos about these lasers before buying one. 1. You claim that people won't be able to have a successful business just because they get this laser, how is the laser responsible for that? That's up to the person to have a business plan, so this point didn't even need to be included in the list of "problems". 2. Dark edges from cutting, you can always sand it off and it will be bright again. 3. Burned edges on the engraving. I've seen people use water and a small brush to clean that off (yes even on wood) or you can use sand paper. 4. Having computer in a different room; get a laptop and hook it up next to the laser, so it's always close together. Like a lot of these are a no-brainer and the same "problems" apply for co2 lasers as well. So they're not technically problems, but just things you need to be aware of in order to know what you're getting into. They're not that big of a deal. Other laser owners don't talk about this stuff because it's universal for all lasers; diode and co2. None of these are so problematic, you just deal with it as it comes with the territory. I thought this video was gonna be about issues with the actual machine, but it's just petty issues that are easy to get over.. especially with everything the machine can do for you. Be grateful for what you got.. not everyone can afford these.

[@shughes599]

Half way in and not a single detail on the s1

[@MEAN345]

Hello, nice to connect with you🥰🥰🥰

[@PandorusFightStick]

you got to be using these tools , if you are a designer of something unique, which isn't offered. then you can make a profit and sell less. same as 3d printers

[@AudioBookGenerationArab]

you need to read a little bit, mean there are things called marketing and scaling your business, and be creative and love what you do.

[@1-Nice-Guy]

What most laser reviews DON'T tell you..."hmmm...that the reviewer gets it for FREE and we are supposed to trust them"?

[@AlleyPicked]

That depends on the reviewer. For me...yes. Did I say something that wasn't true? If you watched the whole video you would know that it was more negative than positive.

[@BettyWalker-n3r]

Moore Thomas Lopez Dorothy Moore Jason

[@freeisworth3221]

Overpriced like the glow

[@KarlBunker]

If you know of a machine with similar features and a lower cost, I'm sure we'd all love to hear about it.

[@AlleyPicked]

Have you looked at the WeCreat? kzbin.info/www/bejne/fIqsnKOIr9eoppo

[@Playswithfire3782]

There are a ton of people that had issues out of the box with the recreate new lasers

[@charleswalker6109]

Completely ruins his legitimacy within the 1st 2 minutes by trying to tell the viewer it’s virtually impossible to make decent money with a machine such as the S1. I think everyone has to take such comments with a grain of salt as we have no idea where his mindset is in regard to finances, business acumen, etc. I’ve spoken with enough people who have made plenty of cash with such machines. It’s really about what YOUR mindset…not his.

[@AlleyPicked]

Buy this machine, start a laser business -- then reply.

[@Spartanthatdoesntgivearip]

I agree

[@mizoo87]

Bul@it

[@Spartanthatdoesntgivearip]

Yea. He was mostly just telling people what others shouldn’t do. All I wanna know is what are the weaknesses of the machine

[@mizoo87]

@Spartanthatdoesntgivearip What he expects from the laser machine, that it be flawless, all that he stated is total nonsense. Name me one machine in the world, any machine, that you have 100% efficiency with, without maintenance, additional material, adjustments, etc. I don't see any experience in this man at all, nor that he would actually talk about the laser machine, which is his first laser machine and which he has had for a few weeks..by the way, he will do everything for a few likes on KZbin

[@Spartanthatdoesntgivearip]

@@mizoo87 true

[@AlleyPicked]

What part of what I said was nonsense? This is my 4th machine. If you are going to be insulting, you should be specific. What did I say that was not correct?

[@Spartanthatdoesntgivearip]

@@AlleyPicked it’s ok you don’t have to be hostile

[@amconsole]

Still waiting on that followup video. Also have You by now estimated how long before the laser lens needs to be replaced on a diode laser machine? If it's non replaceable, the 40W diode module alone is 1.5K. I'm not sure one can make money with this machine but it was a fair number of uses in the shop other than engraving coasters to be sold at fairs. Here's some ideas for that follow up video. For starters You can cut router templates that are pretty accurate to within 0.1mm if You don't have a CNC machine, and this is a lot more quiet and creates less dust than a CNC. In fact, if You need to pick between a CNC and a laser cutter, I'd consider the laser to be a higher priority. Cutters get dull fast and break, laser does not (for practical comparison purposes). CNC machines need more maintenance in general, take up more space and have a higher running cost. They also need even more fiddling than lasers. Prototyping an overengineered latch mechanism for Your fold down router table extension? This will cut accurate plywood parts and they will fit together if You've designed them to. Same with all sorts of toolholders and modular drawer dividers for small parts. You can design and cut table saw jigs for compound angle cuts that would be difficult to make accurately on the table saw itself with much less material wasted as multiple nonrectangular parts can be cut from the same sheet if You spend some time rotating them and getting them all to fit, marking parts at the same time, even angle markings if the jig needs to tilt and a ruler that if jig needs to be offset, all accurate and simultaneous. Size of the S1 is sufficient for that. If You learn CAD modeling, You can combine plywood or opaque acrylic parts cut on a laser with 3D printed parts to create pretty elaborate jigs for glue-ups of clamping chair legs at difficult angles. Tamplates for furniture fixture and hinge placement - easy. If You cut them tight and press a metal bushing in the holes, You can use then not just for marking but as drilling jigs and not waste money on ones from Kreg. Buy varius size cheap beraings and You can make articulating arms that will press smaller pieces to a router table keeping Your fingers away fro the cutter or frictionless outfeed tables. Oh, and You can actually make custom PCB's for Arduino projects that control dust collection. At that point You're no longer a woodworker, but a tinkerer and that's fine as long as You're having fun designing all of it on the computer instead of sawing and sanding shit.