Very small laser

[Mike Davis]

Is there a reliable small laser that is simple to program and operate for burning my signature into a spoon handle or bowl?

 

[chris_goris]

Cheap and easy to program!

 

[NOTW]

From my experience the small lasers typically use a software call LightBurn to control the laser and create the artwork. A couple of youtube videos and I was up and running. My "laser" is a bit unique as i bought the laser module from Creality that attaches to my 3D printer

 

[Mike Davis]

Cheap and easy to program!

I have a branding iron. It will not work on the curved surface of a spoon handle. I would need several sizes to work on different products. Also would need several more to burn the wood species and date/year. I was looking at X-tool for $600. says it can run from my phone.

 

[Canuck]

These reasonably priced lazer's may be width a look, Mike....
Laser Engravers for Entrepreneurs, Artists and Hobbyist

 

[Berta]

Just be sure the engraving area is larger than you think you need.

 

[Pointfiveone.5]

have heard good experience with these - Cloudray Laser Marking Engraving and Engraver Machines

 

[Douglas Robinson]

I do not know if Brad (Vettman) is still active here, but he used to do laser engraving for me on pens.

 

[Ricksmi]

I use a Longer Nano which for small things like coasters and spoons is spot on.

 

[Mike Davis]

I use a Longer Nano which for small things like coasters and spoons is spot on.

One of my co-workers has a Longer 10 watt, but hasn't fully utilized it well enough to give a review.
I'm looking at that one too.

 

[ScottM]

Following

 

[woodworkingshop.com]

Mike, we just started working with XTool and they have a small laser. Call Chris Smith at 800-228-0000 x 3712 and he can guide you.

Coleman

 

[riggsp]

X-tool model F1 is a very portable and fast laser engraver...I watched a demo of it at the local Woodcraft store a few weeks ago...I won't call it cheap at $1599.00, but it would easily engrave your spoons and much more.

 

[Mike Davis]

Unfortunately, my budget is around $500-$600.
$1600 is most certainly out of the question.

 

[Echd]

I've got an older "20 watt" (Chinese companies lie) Ortur laser master I'll let go real cheap if you want it. I have bigger lasers now and do not use it. It will do just fine for what you have in mind, and is not large. It needs to be connected to a laptop or pc to run. I believe the work area is 400x400 (they use heathen units). I'm in rockingham county.

 

[WallNutz]

I have an Ortur and it does ok for my needs, but a curved target will diminish the quality due to the changing distance between the laser and the wood. For curved surfaces you'd need a rotary attachment. Perhaps the machine you're looking at offers that capability.

The attached photo shows what happens if the target is not completely flat relative to the XY plane on which the laser moves. Notice the left side is much crisper - that's the side I used to set the laser focus.

If you're burning a single small font into the center of the handle or bottom of the bowl, the quality degradation may be slight enough to not even matter to you.

 

[Mike Davis]

I've got an older "20 watt" (Chinese companies lie) Ortur laser master I'll let go real cheap if you want it. I have bigger lasers now and do not use it. It will do just fine for what you have in mind, and is not large. It needs to be connected to a laptop or pc to run. I believe the work area is 400x400 (they use heathen units). I'm in rockingham county.

Thanks but I don’t have a computer. Only my phone and iPad. I use computers all day at work and don’t even want to see one when I get home.

 

[smallboat]

Ive done some laser engraving of pens without a rotary attachment.
with the copy going parallel to the long axis of the pen (similar to Mike’s spoon image ) there wasn’t an issue with focus.
I could do multiple lines of copy with a little jig I made that indexed the rotation around that axis. - engrave, stop, turn, engrave, repeat…

 

[Mike Davis]

I have an Ortur and it does ok for my needs, but a curved target will diminish the quality due to the changing distance between the laser and the wood. For curved surfaces you'd need a rotary attachment. Perhaps the machine you're looking at offers that capability.

The attached photo shows what happens if the target is not completely flat relative to the XY plane on which the laser moves. Notice the left side is much crisper - that's the side I used to set the laser focus.

If you're burning a single small font into the center of the handle or bottom of the bowl, the quality degradation may be slight enough to not even matter to you.

Just one line in the center of the handle along the axis. Worst case maybe 1/4 deviation from planar.

 

[Artisan Pirate]

One of my co-workers has a Longer 10 watt, but hasn't fully utilized it well enough to give a review.
I'm looking at that one too.

Ive got the Longer 5W and the Longer 20w Lasers and they are amazing machines