We review the 10 Things we wish we knew before we got a Glowforge. 

Question of the week: What are the things you would like to know before you invest in a laser?

this is so insanely helpful. it doesn't turn me off from getting a Glowforge, but it does help me feel more prepared before getting one. Thanks so much you guys!

I wanted to add a note; those vinyl record clocks are usually cut out using a water jet cutter rather than a laser cutter when they're automated, but can also be done with a scroll saw if you practice. In case anyone was wondering how that's done.

Oh my gosh, your video is fabulous! I bought a Glowforge several months ago and am just now getting started with it. I set it up, chose a file, and went to print it and realized, as you stated here, the Glowforge is NOT plug and play! I love all the tips you shared here as well as the links you provided. Thank you so much - this is invaluable for newbies like me!

This is hands down the best info I have seen. There are so many things I never even considered! Thank you so much for putting this together!

Yes I see this a lot in sublimation too! People heating pvc and releasing chlorine gas - but they say “I feel fine” 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ thanks for bringing that up!

Thank you very much for your information about Glowforge. I've been thinking about getting one and these tips are valuable. You are darling and honest, thank you so much.

Looking into buying one and I'm so glad I learned that about PVC. Yikes, that was the main material I had questions about. Great video! So helpful and you guys are so easy to listen to!

Great info! Not even the leather makers out there showing using a glow forge are telling the dirty little MUST KNOW details. You guys rock!

You are both amazing! Thank you so much for sharing! SAFETY FIRST!!!

Excellent video!! I'm definitely considering getting a Glowforge and all of these are a MUST KNOW! Thanks gents - much appreciated!

Super helpful. Thinking about purchasing a Glowforge so I’m thankful for these tips

Thank you for your tips and honesty about the dos and don’ts, they were very informative.

Thank you SO MUCH for this video. I was considering this product after a RU-vidr used it to create something in her video, that I am trying to find a way to do myself, but I was completely clueless. I thank Jesus for getting me to your video and saving me a LOT of headache.

Thanks guys - considering a laser cutter for acrylic projects right now so this was very informative

I love the honesty, this was very helpful, thank you

Great video for creators in the researching stages of new stuff! Love it

Great job on this video guys. I appreciate the links as well. i hope you both have a blessed weekend and I hope you and your families are all staying healthy. Dale

Thank you. This is helpful. I am saving to purchase a high-end Glowforge product. So, I'm taking the time to gather as much information as possible so that I can get the best out of my purchase, and practice maximum safety at all times. This is exciting technology. I look forward to additional videos on this and similar products.

Great info guys, things that the average crafter won’t think about! Thanks

All great and important points for most lasers. Thanks!

This was a great top ten. We just ordered a Glowforge, so this video was perfect for us.

Thank you for the video. I’m thinking of getting a Glowforge to make gifts for friends and family. I really appreciate the insight. As an old Army nerd, I did notice safety was pretty low on your list of things to know. I look forward to making things. Again, thank you for the very informative video.

I'm so glad to have found this video pop up on my feed. I am a maker of all sorts of things that I sell on Etsy. Of course, this magical machine is one of the things I want so badly but just can't afford yet. This is one of the best REAL resources out there that tells the truth about some information, that I had to look at from so many other resources, all right here in one video. The noise and ventilation is definitely not transparent in any other video that I've seen. I actually know that it probably would be very inappropriate for my 2nd bedroom condo workspace! I look forward to checking out some of your other videos!

Wonderful video very informative!! I’m looking into getting one !

Love the way you broke it down, the editing and quality so great!! New here just subscribed and looking forward to the next video!

Great video guys thanks for sharing really helped me be informed about where to start in choosing a laser printer!

Terrific video - very informative. Thanks!

Nice music. Thanks for the tip. My Glowforge just arrived!

Very helpful video. Always nice to hear people that enjoy their work. Thank you. i subscribed.

Really appreciate you guys doing this

When GF first hit the gofundme scene, I was very impressed, and was considering the passthrough version. I did my research first, a very in depth research in fact because $8K is a LOT of money for a hobby laser. The cloud based functionality was a major turn off for me. I'm in IT, specifically security, and I don't like the Cloud. Ask Capital One why. Aside from that, it has great potential. A few things I discovered after doing research. Laser tubes need to be kept cool for them to last. Overheat a tube and the CO2 mixture loses it 2 part and becomes CO, and no longer functions. I could not find any specs on the GF cooling system, so is it a glass tube, or electronic? Very few lasers use electronic tubes, which have huge heat sinks and fans to keep them cool, Epilog is one of them, and VERY expensive. Replacements are also a LOT more expensive than $499. Try 4-5 times that. Fume Extraction is a big one, which was well covered in this video. In the end I wound up spending about $2500 on a Ebay Chaser(Chinese Laser). It has a 28x20 bed, which is the size I need for the projects I do. It is HUGE, weighs nearly 500 pounds, does not sit on a table, requires a separate water chiller, and a large extraction fan is a must. It is not as super functional as the GF, requires separate software to run it, and separate software to create with. The Laser tube is over-rated, it is sold as 60 Watt, but is actually 50 Watt. These are the things to be aware of when looking at the cheap lasers. They are however upgradable, I can easily go to a 100 Watt tube if I want to. Compared to the GF though, the software and camera system is what makes the GF stand out from all the rest, and if one can afford it, it is a great machine, provided you have Internet. Oh and these DON'T work on dial-up! If you can't afford one, there are alternatives, but Do Your Research first, if you don't you will get burned. One more thing, it was mentioned about baby sitting. Make sure there is a fire extinguisher sitting near the machine and another by the door to the room it is located in, just in case you step away and it goes boom. The one by the door is especially important, because if the machine goes up, you may not be able to reach the one next to it if you had stepped away! Also, if cutting a lot of acrylics, don't use a honeycomb bed, use a steel plate with legs to support the work. What you can't see with the honeycomb is the offgassing when cutting condenses on the honeycomb over time, and that is what will actually start on fire, not the piece you are cutting, but the bed itself. I know, TL;DR Have fun Forging

The best video on RU-vid! Thanks a lot 🙏

I appreciate the safety info. Thanks!

Excellent information that is very much appreciated!! 👍👍👍

Amazingly good information. Been looking at a Glowforge. this is some good info.

Great information!! I really want a glow forge. But now I need to think about when, how, and where I’ll have it. Thank you.

Cool thanks for the tips! I got a Glowforge and need to set it up soon. I'll keep these tips in mind.

Very very good information thank you I no longer want one I have kids around so this tutorial really help me

I’m considering a glowforge. Thanks for an awesome video.

Hi. Great and informative video. You spoke about the in-line fan that you purchased that is much quieter than the one that comes inside of the glow Forge. Yes I understand it’s a 6 inch opening that needs to be brought down to a 4 inch opening, but how do you turn off the fan inside the glow Forge in favor of using this fan? Obviously I haven’t purchased my glow Forge yet Love the idea of making it quieter by purchasing a different fan. Thank you for making these videos and answering comment questions.

Thank you so much for this video. So many things I didn’t know were addressed here. May need to start out on a baby laser first

Very useful video, thank you. I can't afford one yet, but am trying to research to make sure it's what I should get when I finally can make the purchase.

Excellent video. Great stuff to be mindful of.

Thank you for this very comprehensive video

I’m buying this. Thank you!

Thank you. This was very informative.

Great video, you guys!

That table is such a good idea, some images on it would be good too

Thanks very professional and helpful !

This is one of the most helpful videos I found on this. Thank you! What would you recommend for under $500 and maybe desktop size?

Nice job on video. Very Helpful! Thank you!

I’m getting my Glowforge Monday. I’m going to etch on bar necklaces and cut acrylic.

I’m adding a laser cutter to my arsenal in about a years time so I’m starting my research. Your video quality is awesome and my! You guys are hot! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥😆

Very helpful! thanks!

Very informative, and has given me food for thought. Do you have info comparing these Glow Forge lasers with others? I’m still researching what will be the best machine for me.

This was absolutely informative...can't believe there's dislikes

Thanks for the informative video. You should do videos of lasering/“glowforging” different objects like you mentioned such as volcanic rocks, gems, a skateboard etc. it would be interesting to see.

Excellent information...thank you

This was a really helpful video. Thanks!

Thanks for the information!

Informative.. appreciate you guys

Love this video thanks 😊

awesome video thank you.

Great video thanks guys

Hey guys! Thanks for the good content. I've been doing a bunch of researching online attempting to find a video that shows the glowforge's capabilities with cutting different kinds of hardwood as well as their thicknesses. I want to cut 1/4" perhaps up to 1/2". The online community does have ambiguous answers but I think a video would do this topic justice! How many passes, what kind of wood, wood thickness etc. What's your experience with such things?

Thanks for sharing this!

I love your logo!

Thanks. This was helpful.

sooooooo many of my friends on facebook are getting into laser printers...and im intrigued. would love to see you guys do a demo on making your leather tags.. i love them!

Thank you for this, I think Santa might be bringing me a Glowforge for Christmas.

A huge Thank you to you guys. I am still doing my research as to why I want one. At present where I would set it up doesn’t have ventilation so I’m not ready to invest. I am also unsure if I should start with the glowforge aura or go all out and purchase the glowforge pro. Anyway, I am grateful I came across your post because it has stopped me just going out and buying something that I may not have the right environment to use.

Great info, fellow youtubers! My kind of content. Subscribed

Good info. Plus you guys are a nerdy version of Ricky and Julian from trailer park boys! Thanks again for all the great information

Thanks for information, greatly appreciate.

My family owns a glow forge and a snap maker. The snap maker is cool it 3D prints does Cnc and laser engraving

So cool!! Love the video!

Interesting, thank you guys! :)

very good info thanks

Whew! Thank you!

Nice Video guys very informative. Rural living has its drawbacks. The internet is very intermittent and weather dependent. I really was considering a glow forge to compliment my camio 3. Cloud storage is regrettably a deal breaker.

Very informative video!

You covered good things here, but I think a big question people might ask is what really is the difference between a K40 and a Glowforge or FSL Muse. I just ordered a Glowforge. I have a K40 that I did a lot of work tweaking. All in I have about $1500 in the K40. Started with a good one shipped inside the states, developed a cooling system, added a new brain, installed a amp meter, cut down the exhaust vent to make clearance, bought good software (Lightburn), added air assist, better in line exhaust fan, cable chain, new mirrors and lenses. It isn't a bad machine. It gets the job done. The case leaks like a sieve and no matter what you do, you have to vent the whole room. It isn't the most precise thing in the world, and the work area is functionally like 8 x 10 inches. I have done some cool stuff with it, I made the sea ghost for a D&D campaign in 28mm scale with 4 levels, it went over really well in game. But I did set fire to the thing trying to cut an intricate design for another project. No major damage, but I used to be a firefighter and didn't panic. So there is that. Do not leave these things unattended. This isn't a real comparison of the machines, just a quick take.

Thank you so much for making this video. I really want a Glowforge, but I now know that I don't enough space to properly handle it. Also I wasn't aware that you needed to replace parts to the tune of $500 every 2 years. Not a lot of money but it is something to consider for a casual user. I guess I'll stay in my lane with a Cricut

Loved your video! I'm in the process of purchasing a glowforge. I wonder if you can explain better how you set up your clouldline fan

Awesome guys! I just subbed! You only 45 away from 1k!🎉🎉

Thanks for the great information guys. I'm about to start building my own laser cutter/engraver and I'm doing a lot of planning ahead of time. With regard to ventilation, what setup have you found that works for you to pop a smoke billowing hole in the side of your house :-)? I was originally thinking of putting mine in the basement, but I may be reconsidering that as I'm reading tales of exhaust fans pulling water heater and furnace exhaust back in to the house since the powerful fans create a low pressure zone in the room while they are venting the laser.

Hi, not sure how important this is but your link for the 6" fan actually takes you to the 4" version. I wasn't paying attention to that little fact and ending up buying it. Hopefully it will be adequate :)

Beautifully done video! Easy to watch! Good pace! My question is... with the external fan you talk about, can u turn off the GlowForge fan?

Very Good Video

Thank you for your helpful video. Quick question, the AC Infinity Cloudline fan on the link you provided has a duct of 4". Does that mean you don't need the get the 6" ducting as well as the ducting adapter from 6-4 since glowforge also has 4" ducting?

Very interesting topic and video!! Great editing!

Beautifully shot video. Actual footage of the GlowForge would have been nice. Like when you talked about the fan sound, a shot of yours running with sound would be helpful.

I am so glad I watched your video. I was thinking about joining this community of creaters but I have realized this is not for me. Its a really cool craft and I can see there is a lot of money that could be made. Like anything you have to be knowledgeable about your equipment. There is so much you need to learn that I felt overwhelmed. I wish the best of luck to anyone who wants to invest in this cool equipment. But please make sure you do your research and know what your doing.

Great honest and well done video. I did have a question. When you connected the in-line fan, did you disconnect the 2 built-in Glowforge fans?

Man cool info

Hi! This video was very helpful! Have you ever tried the Dremel laser cutter? my debate is between dremel and glowforge?

Hi Guys Great video thank you for sharing just wondering if you could cut corbels with the Glowforge 3D 🤔🤗

Super interesting, and nice job on your editing! New Sub here!

This is really an awesome video and extremely helpful. My wife and I have been looking at getting one but she wants to be able to cut and engrave into metal for jewelry. Is this even a possibility with the Glowforge? Ive seen some videos that seem to make it seem possible but I'm not sure.