LASER ENGRAVING - Materials to AVOID lasering - beginners advice RESIN? 

Generally, VERY good advice. That aside, take a lesson from we woodworkers: (1) I have a sanding station that captures dust via a powerful woodshop dust and chip collector. The station has sides, a top and a back and does a remarkable job capturing even fine dust from project work. (2) I build a copper plating station. The work area, like my dust sanding station, has a top, sides and a back. Rather than a large, cumbersome dust collector (mine has two upper cartridge filters and two lower collection bags), I draw air into the work area via an in-line, variable speed fan. Working with Sulphur compounds that would stink up the shop in short order (used to patina the copper), you never know I've opened the jar, because the negative air flow created by the $30.00, in-line, variable speed fan pushes all the nasties outside through a common dryer vent. My simple venting system uses common painter's plastic for the sides and the air is drawn off the top and exhausted out a window, via a piece of plywood used to secure the window and with a hole to accommodate the 4" dryer hose. ________________ Even if you were not working with materials that created super nasty smoke, you should be exhausting everything outside. My exhaust fan does a remarkable job working at or around the whisper fan level.

Stainless steel does not rust due to the formation of a protective chromium oxide layer. There does not seem to be much concern about laser engraving stainless steel, whereas it is advised that welding or plasma cutting of stainless is done in well ventilated areas preferably with a mask using a forced filtered air supply. Maybe best to be careful with stainless steel. Imho the biggest danger with lasers is children or some maniac abusing them to make for example a blinding weapon, the second biggest dangers is diy repairs/modification by unskilled individuals. Thanks for sharing!

Thank you so kindly for sharing this wonderful video full of fantastic safety with us all. Another thing that should never be laser cut is vinyl records. Very dangerous fumes. Deadly fumes

Just a note: differentiate between things not to laser for organic health reasons, and things not to laser for machine health reasons. Things like resin, depending on which resin you use, are fine for the machine, so as long as you have a setup for ventilating properly then you'll be good to go. PVC however, releases hydrogen chloride, which combined with water in the air produces hydrocloric acid, damaging the machine itself, so even with the best ventilation system, you will kill the machine itself. As you said though, people should do their own research instead of just believing anything they read.

Thank you, nice video and very helpful!

Such an important video Sarah and thanks for putting it on your Channel. What is your opinion on engraving MDF. I have stayed away from using it as when I first started Pyrography a good friend told me the fumes from MDF are really nasty due to the adhesives used in its manufature. Take care Sarah and thanks again. Cheers, Huw

Thank you for in warning. I’ve wondered if there were down sides to using a machine like this. I watch several artist that have gotten this machine wondered. Like you, I wouldn’t want to expose myself and others to any toxic fumes. I have such a chemical allergy, I’d be really Leary of that. 😊❤

You might be able to use some materials with a proper filtering system. They aren’t inexpensive, so probably only viable for higher profit situations.

i was worried about those little tags you cutout of a card with disney caracters in another video, pretty sure that was PVC. but hey, the filter will take care of chlorine gas too, or anything else for that matter, its still not a good idea and should be avoided ofc.