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You are getting a new laser cutter, congratulations!! Laser cutters are both practical and fun, they make both gifts and tools, and are an all around extremely versatile machine to have at your disposal. There are a few more purchases you might want to make to get the most out of your new laser cutter.
Start up and Safety
1. Fire extinguisher
This one tops the list for obvious reasons! You are going to be cutting with a laser on flammable materials. You should always keep an eye on your project that is cutting, but fires can still happen. Just in case your machine ever catches fire, you need to have a fire extinguisher on hand so you can contain the fire.
2. AC Infinity Cloudline Fan
This is an external fan that can work even harder than the internal fan that is factory installed on your laser cutter. Even though the exhaust hole on the back on the glowforge is 4”, I still suggest the 6 inch fan. I will show you the materials you need to make this conversion seamless. You will set this up with the dryer vent hose that appears next on the list and this will allow you to lessen the smell, the noise, and you’ll be able to vent out of a window.
3. Dryer Vent Hose 6 inch
You need this dryer hose to connect the machine to the AC Infinity Cloudline Fan and then from the fan to the window or dryer vent.
4. 6 Inch Exhaust Adapter
This exhaust adapter turns your 4 inch output on the back of the Glowforge into a 6 inch hole. If you do not use this adapter, you will need to use a 4 inch fan with 4 inch dryer vent hoses.
5. Fire Blanket
Here is another safety item that tops our list. This fire blanket will help you contain any fires that your machine might create. Fires are not a frequent occurrence, but you definitely want to be prepared for that worse case scenario.
6. Transfer Tape
When you are cutting with a laser, it can cause burn marks on the top or bottom of your material. It happens on the bottom when the laser reflects off of the metal pan back onto your material – flashback. Transfer tape can help you prevent these marks and keep your materials clean. It can also help you to paint engravings or scores much easier. In that case you would engrave, leave the tape on, paint where the tape has been burned away, let dry, and then remove the transfer tape giving you super clean lines.
7. Lens Wipes
These Lens Wipes are great to have around to keep your machine clean. You can use them to wipe each of the laser mirrors and windows. A clean machine is a happy, well-functioning machine.
8. Gorilla Tape
Duct tape is so useful and this Gorilla Tape is one of the strongest tapes to do the job. When you are using Transfer Tape in your project, there will at times be small pieces left behind (when you are engraving tiny letters, such as the middle of the e or a). You can use the Gorilla Tape to pick up these pieces all at once.
9. Microfiber Towels
These towels can be used to clean or wipe your materials when they are done. You can also use them with LA Awesome which is next on the list.
10. LA Awesome
LA Awesome is a fantastic cleaner that just does better than other products out there. It is especially handy to clean out your engraving of certain materials (silicone, acrylic, powder coated metal items, etc) or to clean the crumb tray of your machine.
11. 3M Adhesive Sheets
These adhesive sheets are a game changer! They are heavy duty, double-sided sticker sheets that can be added on to the back of your material. They cut WITH your machine and can really help you when you are working with small, detailed cut outs such as words on signs or tiny earrings. You won’t have to work with messy glue and unlike glue, there is no dry time.
Tools
12. Digital Calipers
Sometimes when purchasing materials, they are not the measurement they say they are due to planing, shrinkage during the drying phase, or the overcut due to the blade. Digital Calipers are helpful when you want to manually input settings into your software to set the height accurately.
13. Plastic Razor
Plastic Razors can be used in many different ways and are a safer alternative than razor blades. These razors will allow you to scrape transfer tape off of your materials or remove other sticky residues.
14. Weeding Tools
These weeding tools are great for removing transfer tape, but also for placing transfer tape with the scraper tool. Even though I am a Silhouette Machine person, I have found that Cricut tools are a superior brand.
15. Craft Knife
At times, your machine might not make a cut all the way through your material. If you have already picked up your design, it will be almost impossible to replace exactly right. This is where a craft knife can come to the rescue.
16. Brush Kit
A brush kit is necessary when using a laser for engraving materials. Whenever engraving in your machine (especially acrylic or wood), a fine dust is creating and can get into the design area. A brush is especially useful for getting out those particles to make your design look the best.
17. Grout Brush
A grout brush is very similar to the brush kit. It will help you clean dust or char from items. It can also help you clean your crumb tray.
18. Light Box
or I also have this cheaper Plastic Light Box
Even if you are purchasing a laser for personal projects, you will want one of these light boxes to showcase your creations. If you plan on just working on small files such as key chains or earrings, these light boxes are the perfect size. If you are working on larger items such as signs, you might need a larger light box or different set up.
19. Double Sided Foam Tape
Different tapes and adhesives almost always come in handy when working with projects on your laser cutter. You can adhere larger pieces to the backer of your signs. You can also use it to hold down materials in your machine.
Materials to Make Projects Fun!
This section is all about items to try or things that will make your projects so much more fun!
20. Posca Paint Marker
Paint markers are essential when working with your laser cutter. If you cut out small items such as earrings or keychains, these paint markers will help you pain those small details. They have great coverage and will keep your designs looking sharp!
21. Cast Acrylic Sheets
you can also try these color cast acrylic sheets
These are great acrylic sheets that allow you to do some amazing projects. They are sturdy and cut easily, without a ton of melting on the edge of the cut. You can use acrylic to make nightlights, signs, earrings, keychains, ornaments, and so much more! Acrylic is a versatile product to use with your laser cutter.
22. Cardboard
Cardboard is a great inexpensive tool to use when cutting out prototypes so you don’t waste material. You can use your old amazon boxes, but with old labels and tape on the cardboard, it makes it more flammable. Sometimes you just want clean ready to go cardboard and this is where you can find it!
23. Stamp Material
Your laser cutter can also help you to create stamps! You will just engrave the opposite areas of your design and the raised part that is left goes right into the ink. Stamps can be used to create your business packaging, gifts, inside your books, or multiple uses for a school.
24. Stamp Handles
With these stamp handles, you can glue down your engraved stamp material and create a full stamp. This makes it much easier to put in the ink and to give you a firm, even press over the stamping area.
25. Self-Inking Stamper
A self-inking stamper is fantastic for those stamps that you would use frequently. This is the best price I have found on self-inking stampers and comes in a variety of ink colors. I just message the seller that I want mine blank.
26. Acrylic Night Light Base
Using the Cast Acrylic Sheets from the previous entry, you can create your own customized night lights. These bases are perfect for 3mm to 4 mm acrylic sheets. Your laser cutter can make any design on the clear acrylic and then once it is placed into the night light base, it will appear to change colors based on the color choice you make with a remote.
27. Cermark
A glowforge laser cutter is NOT able to engrave on metals. However, using heat from the laser and a marking spray such as Cermark, you can mark on the metal. You simply spray the cermark on and then engrave or score with reduced power. This will make it possible to customize your metals, even without the ability to engrave.
28. Birch Plywood ¼ inch.
you can also get 1/8 inch Baltic Birch for those thinner projects
Birch plywood is a great material to use for most of your wood projects such as keychains, earrings, signs, and decor. ¼ inch thick plywood is the thickest that your glowforge will be able to cut easily. If you want a thinner profile to your projects, then you would want to use ⅛ inch plywood or thinner.
29. Chipboard
Chipboard is a sturdier material than cardstock, but you can do similar projects with each. Chipboard is a wonderful medium to make bookmarks. Other great projects using chipboard include decorative boxes, gift tags, card embellishments, and earring cards.
30. Wood Veneer
Wood veneer is a very thin layer of real hardwoods. You can use these for your more delicate projects. It is a great material to use for bookmarks so that it is thin enough to not damage the book. You can mirror and cut two layers and then adhere together with 3M adhesive sheets.
This is the list that I would absolutely share with anyone that is going to purchase a laser cutter. Is there anything else that you would include on the list? Let me know in the comments or send an email to allyn@stemstarters.com.
