 So, you're ready to roll up your sleeves and turn that creative passion into a money-making laser craft side hustle? Well, we have a giveaway that's gonna get you started and we'll talk about that right now. What is up? Welcome back. Do it to do it Builder and Make It. So do we. And we have new videos every Tuesday and Friday. If you're someone who lives and breathes DIY, if crafting and making is your jam, and you've got a spark of an entrepreneurial spirit, you've come to the right place. We're about to lay out the ultimate roadmap to take your craft and transform it into a lucrative side gig that'll get you crafting, creating and cashing in. Get ready to dive into a world of starting your very own laser engraving and cutting business. That's right. We're taking you through the ins and outs of turning your maker passion into a money-making adventure. From understanding the basics of starting a side hustle to unleashing the power of lasers, we're gonna guide you every step of the way. And guess what? The secret ingredient that's gonna make your creations shine brighter than a supernova? Laser magic. Picture this. You, with a state of the art, laser cutting and engraving machine. Ready your fingertips. But hold on tight because there is more than one flavor of laser awesomeness. Today we're lifting the curtain on three laser stars that are gonna light up your creative journey. The diode, CO2, and infrared lasers. And we'll be showcasing all of our X-Tool friends. The D1, the F1, and the P2. Hey, don't forget to hit that subscribe button and ring that bell so you won't miss any of the exciting laser content coming up next. R1, setting the foundation for your laser engraving business. Before we jump into laser specifics, let's lay the groundwork for your new venture. Starting a laser engraving and cutting business is an exciting journey, but it requires some planning and here are a few essential steps to consider. Identify your niche and your target market. Analyze online marketplaces like Etsy and Pinterest. Investigate social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. And see what's trending. Attend local craft fairs, shows, and farmers market. And see what's selling and maybe what's missing from your market. Next, and this is important, you'll need to create a business plan. You'll create your purpose statement, think through your target audience, and delve deeper into your product and what makes it unique in your market, and you'll outline your goals. Once you have your business plan, this will help you identify which laser is right for you. And legalities, you'll need to register your business and look for insurance options. These are super affordable. Equipment, of course, you'll need to research and invest in a quality laser. We'll share more about that in a minute. Your workspace. You'll need to set up a dedicated workspace with proper ventilation and safety measures to include fire safety, personal protective equipment, and ways to ventilate your machine. We'll talk more about these in a few minutes as well. Planning might not sound as thrilling as making it, but trust us, it's the foundation for your success. Once you've got these basics covered, you're ready to dive into the world of laser money-making magic. Part two, unleashing the power of diode, CO2, and infrared lasers. Now, let's talk about the real stars of this video, the lasers themselves. We got three laser types to explore. We have our diode, our CO2, and our infrared lasers. Each has its own unique features and strengths. Diode lasers are your affordable, budget-friendly entry point. They are compact, easy to store, and user-friendly, making them perfect for beginners. These are also called blue lasers, not because of the color of this machine. This is the XL D1 Pro 10 watt diode laser, and this powerhouse is lightweight and pretty compact. It can engrave and cut wood, leather, paper, and colored acrylics. Also engrave and etch paint and metal. For cutting, it works best with materials up to 1 eighth inch thick. This little diode can grow with your business. You can start with the 10 or 20 watt diode and later upgrade the head and swap it out to a 40 watt or even an infrared laser head. You can get accessories to double the size of this laser bed. You can get a smoke enclosure, and it's the first laser with an optional fire detection and CO2 extinguisher. As your business grows, you might want to upgrade to a CO2 laser. These are all about precision and power. CO2 lasers are more powerful and can cut through thicker materials and engrave deeper. Now with more power comes more workspace. These machines can be desktop to car size. This is the X-Tool P2 desktop CO2 laser. It's a 55 watt CO2 laser. This machine has features that will take your business to the next level. Its features include an automatic pass-through for cutting longer materials, project batching to speed up production time. It has two built-in cameras for perfect placement. It offers curved surface engraving for things like bowls, spoons, and bracelets. Last but not least are the infrared lasers. The IR lasers are all about precision and speed. IR lasers are great for engraving metals and acrylics, and they are great for jewelry and can easily engrave gold, silver, platinum, copper, etc. As well as all acrylics. This is the X-Tool portable laser engraver. This is both an infrared and a diode laser. This is so portable that you can bring this laser to a craft show, a farmers market, and personalize items right on the spot. This is a great compliment to the P2 because the P2 can do all of the heavy lifting and batching, and the F1 can add those final touches. And honorable mention, a rotary tool. If you plan to do anything round, like tumblers, glassware, rings, or even baseball bats, you'll need a machine that works with a rotary attachment. All of these lasers work with the RA2 rotary tool. Part three, maker crafts with laser power. What are some project ideas? Now let's get to the fun part of crafting with lasers. We'll give you a taste of projects that you can make with your lasers. With a diode laser, you can make projects that are not just eye catching, they're also profitable. You can cut and engrave custom acrylic projects like these LED acrylic signs and keychains. You can also make personalized jewelry, create leather engraved wallets, do glass etching, engrave tumblers, engraving wood items like this skateboard, or even engrave rubber to make your own stamps. Switching to CO2 lasers, let your creativity shine with laser cut 3D door hangers, vertical porch leaners, giant wall clocks, engraving on curved surfaces like bowls, trays, spoons, trendy accessories like these hair clips or car air fresheners, projects for everyone from wedding decor like cake and table toppers, to items that create nostalgia like these 3D maps. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination. The precision and speed of the infrared laser is perfect for slate coasters, jewelry like bracelets, rings and pendants, and add personalization on sports equipment to kitchen cutlery. These are great corporate gifts or on-site family gifts. Part 4 Tips for Thriving Laser Business Let's wrap up with some golden nuggets of wisdom to ensure your laser engraving business thrives. Design matters. Invest time in creating unique and eye-catching designs that resonate with your target audience. You can find designs on places like Canva, Adobe Stock or laser ready cut files on the internet like Etsy3axis.co and we offer hundreds of high quality laser ready door hanger designs on our website at kngmakeit.com. Safety first. So always prioritize safety by using protective gear and following safety guidelines. Fires will happen so be sure to have the right safety equipment on hand like one of these canned fire extinguishers. Experiment with materials. Test different materials to discover new crafting possibilities. Get to know your crafting software. Lightburn is an industry standard software and it works with most lasers but it does come at a cost. Most lasers come with proprietary software. X-Tool comes with creative space which is free to use and works with all the lasers we're using today. Another tricky item, pricing strategy. Set prices that cover your costs, time and leave room for profit. We made a whole video on how to price crafts and offer a pricing calculator on our website. Market yourself. Use social media, craft fairs and online platforms to showcase your work and attract customers. Well there you have it our crafty maker crew. Starting a laser engraving and cutting business might seem like a leap but with the right preparation, equipment and creativity you're well on your way to crafting your own success story. We offer all the tools to get you started in your new business from digital files to supplies to a community of like-minded small business entrepreneurs. We offer monthly community group calls and digital design training. If you enjoyed this video and want to get started with your laser craft business or expand your current side hustle we have a treat for you. We're giving away two $500 coupons good for any X-Tool product. Details will be in the description below. We'll ask you to leave a comment below with your niche and which type of machine you would want and we want to thank X-Tools so become a subscriber to both their channel and ours and go out and join our Facebook groups. We'll randomly pick two people to win a $500 coupon good for all X-Tool products and accessories and giveaway is only open for one week. So go like, comment and subscribe now. Big thanks to all of our patrons and thank you for joining us and until next time keep those lasers glowing and those creative juices flowing. Nice job.