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Architects can use laser engraved models to help clients visualize a building. Photo courtesy of Xenetech Global, Baton Rouge, LA. |
You can use your laser to create unique invitations and greeting cards out of paper, such as these examples from LaserBits, Phoenix, AZ. |
If you are like me, you are always looking for that super special idea that will make you a lot of money with your laser. This article is about ideas—ideas about products that you can create with your laser engraving system and add to your bottom line. Nothing complicated, nothing too detailed, just lots of good ideas for making money.
Okay, I admit it. I’m a thief. That’s right, I’m a thief. Milton Berle, known as “Mr. Television” in the 1950s, was reported to have said that he would steal a joke from anyone and he lived by that motto. Well, I’ll steal (borrow is a kinder word) a good idea from anyone if it might make me some extra money with my engraving equipment.
Most of us probably do the majority of our work in traditional markets that involve engraving products like awards, signs, badges, nameplates, desk accessories, gifts, etc. But the beauty of laser engraving is its versatility and the nearly endless possibilities of items you can customize and/or make. I’ve heard of lasers being used for everything from creating architectural models to engraving logos on soap to cutting out gingerbread cookies. By delving into some of these unique projects, you could add a customer here and there or, even better, tap into an entirely new niche market! And wouldn’t that be nice for your bottom line?
This article is a compilation of projects I have created, found, borrowed or stolen that might spur some ideas and help make all of us a few extra bucks using our laser engraving equipment. I make no apologies for “borrowing” the ideas and fall back on the old adage about using someone else’s idea as the “highest form of a compliment.”
Although I have attempted to organize these projects into some kind of order, I found it to be something like herding cats. Some fall into multiple categories and some in no category, so for the most part, this is just a list of ideas that might work in your business. As for sources, I don’t know where many of these came from. Some came from laser manufacturer websites. Some I found myself and some I really don’t know where they came from so if I have borrowed something you think is your idea, I give you all the credit and thank you for sharing it with the industry.
WOOD PROJECTS
Cabinet Doors: Many people would love to have the center or edge panels of their cabinet doors (bedroom furniture, entertainment center, kitchen cabinets, china cabinets, etc.) lasered with interesting artwork, a family initial, a family crest or some other design. This works best on solid wood items such as oak, cherry, maple, etc., but you can also laser engrave laminate doors covered with most Formica-like materials. The big limitation here might be the size of the door vs. the size of your laser, although many of today’s lasers have a “pass-through” feature that allows you to open the doors on the machine to accommodate oversized items.
Also consider doing inlay work on wood which adds a ton of value to the item and isn’t as difficult as you might think. You can use it on cabinet doors as well as a variety of other products. A good step-by-step tutorial is available at www.laserbits.com. Use shell, mother-of-pearl or plastic to create a family heirloom.
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Stencils: In the next category, you will read about making paper stencils which work well for people who want to use them with spray paint or a stencil brush, but what about people who want to trace letters onto poster board or other materials and need sharp, crisp letter guides? You can custom make these for customers out of thin acrylic. Although they are more expensive than paper, stencils cut out of 1/32" acrylic will last for thousands of applications and are inexpensive to make.
Photo Cut-Outs: Photos can be attached to acrylic (wood and cardboard work too) and then cut out to form self-standing images either for advertising or personal use. Photo statues are especially popular for children’s sports pictures such as dance, gymnastics, softball, football, etc. Instead of using a band saw to cut out a custom shape, simply import the image into CorelDRAW and trace it. Then use your laser to quickly, easily and accurately vector cut the shape. You can also use this idea to create other photo cut-out products like key chains, ornaments, wall mounts, cake toppers and magnets. These all make great, highly personalized gifts.
Rulers: Remember the rulers mentioned in the wood section? They work great with acrylic too!
PAPER PROJECTS
Stencils: Stencils are used for all kinds of applications. I always think of the stencils men use to paint DOT information on the sides of trucks or owner information on the sides of heavy equipment. Much of this has been replaced by vinyl but certainly not all. You can use stencil paper and laser any kind of stencil you want using your “stencil” font and a heavy paper or special stencil paper. You can also cut stencils for general use, such as crafts, school projects and scrapbooking.
Letters: How many teachers across the country spend hours cutting out letters from construction paper for bulletin boards? True, some schools have dies that are used to cut them out but many schools don’t, especially Sunday schools and small schools. Yet these teachers still have lots of bulletin boards to decorate. And what about all those kids who enter science fairs every year? They cut millions of construction paper letters for their projects.
Invitations & Letterhead: Although it takes a bit of time, the market is rich for laser cut invitations and letterhead. Commercial printing can be very expensive and almost always involves a long delivery time. You can do the same thing for your customers by using your laser to create personalized wedding announcements and invitations to various events such as graduations, new births, house warmings and the like. A great source for wholesale papers and envelopes in small quantities (250 sheets) is at www.doubleupaper.com.
Special Packaging: You can create some very unique packages and boxes using your laser engraver and cardboard. It takes some thought and perhaps some experimentation, but you can package your products in boxes that are as unique as your products or create custom packaging for businesses. You can also create boxes out of wood. Check out these two videos on YouTube for inspiration: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo5nPTJAZy0 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=0dQ8Ia1CO84&feature=endscreen.
Scrapbooking: Scrapbooking is a big industry and one that continues to grow. You could tap into this by creating custom scrapbooking kits and pages for your customers. You can use a variety of papers including construction paper, specialty papers, foils, films, plastics and more to create theme pages for custom scrapbooks that really stand out. Epilog’s website shows how to make three different scrapbook pages.
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Personalized license plates are sure to be hot sellers. Photo courtesy of LaserBits. |
You can use your laser to create beautiful home décor items, such as this wood inlay plaque. Photo courtesy of Trotec Laser. |
FABRIC PROJECTS
There are a variety of fabrics that react very well to a laser beam, including denim, cotton and synthetic materials such as polyester and micro-suede. There are countless projects that you can make using fabric and your laser which opens up a great opportunity for extra profits. Shirts, jeans, purses, jackets, vests, etc., are all great candidates for lasering. There are several more suggestions available on the Epilog website, including felt placemats and coasters, denim beach bags, microfiber pillows, aprons, velvet tote bags, felt appliques and twill appliques.
GLASS PROJECTS
Stemware & Steins: Wine glasses for weddings, anniversaries or personalized glassware for everyday gifts represent another great opportunity to make money with your laser. Although some people may want fancy stemware, most will be happy with basic Libby or similar quality glassware. These engrave easily, especially if you have a cylindrical engraving fixture, but they can also be engraved without one. The rule of thumb is, the cheaper the glass, the better it engraves and the glassware sold at Target does just fine with many of the glasses selling for under $1.00 each. Several sizes of beer steins are sold at stores like the dollar store type that can also be lasered.
Glass Plates & Cups: Again, Target sells a lot of glass plates and cups. These laser very nicely and can be used for awards, special events or monogrammed for formal use. Plates should be engraved on the backside.
Glass Jars: Jars from the Dollar Store are great for storage and can be engraved with text that describes what’s being stored, such as Sugar, Salt, Flour, Tea, etc. Many have cork lids which can also be laser engraved.
Wine Bottles: Giving wine is fine but what happens to the bottle after the wine is gone? If it is given as a commercial gift, you want the bottle to hang around as long as possible. What better way to accomplish that than to engrave the bottle with the person’s name and message? For those who don’t drink spirits, non-alcoholic sparkling juice bottles can also be engraved. Remember, in many states, you cannot sell or resell spirits. The customer must buy it and bring it to you.
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Custom laser engraved ornaments, such as these from LaserBits, are popular during the holiday season but you can also make money with them all year-round. |
Inlay work on instruments, such as this guitar example from Epilog Laser, can be beautiful and profitable. |
MISC. PROJECTS
Automotive Gaskets: Making gaskets for automobiles, motorcycles, lawn mowers or most anything is easy with a laser. People who work on classic cars or tractors, for example, often need gaskets that they can’t find commercially. These are easy to make with cork or gasket material which is available at any auto parts store.
Cork Coasters & Table Protectors: Anything made of cork can be laser engraved. Check out discount stores for inexpensive items or for something different, try www.everen
viro.com for cork coffee cuffs.
Soap: How about personalized soap? Why not? It can make a unique gift, promotional item or souvenir. Pick up designer soaps on closeouts at discount stores or boutiques, engrave several different scents and make a small basket or box for them. A few dollars is suddenly an expensive gift item. What about a local bed-and-breakfast? What a nice touch for their guests or even for your own guest bath.
Candy: One EJ reader uses his laser to engrave Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups for wedding favors (read “Getting Creative With a Laser,” Jun. 12)! I’ve tried lasering chocolate but didn’t have much success. Apparently, however, someone has figured it out. What do you have to lose? Whatever you mess up, you get to eat!
Puzzles: Cardboard puzzles are easy to do. Just paste a digital printout to a sheet of poster board and laser. These can also be made with wood or acrylic for an even more substantial puzzle.
Foam: Foam can be cut or engraved to make all kinds of items. For example, one application is to laser cut-outs to hold wrenches, sockets and other tools in metal tool cabinets.
Italian Charms: Companies like Johnson Plastics offer stainless steel Italian charms you can laser mark using a laser-markable chemical coating. These are popular among women, especially personalized charms that they can’t buy anywhere else. Note, too, that if you have a YAG or fiber laser, you can create a nice black mark on these and other metal items without using a laser-markable coating.
Property ID Tags: There are several companies that sell pre-cut property ID tags including Horizons, Johnson Plastics, LaserBits and Identification Plates, Inc. Plus, you can always make your own with engraving plastic or laserable metal. Schools, hospitals and many other facilities have a policy to label everything they own with their name, a code or a barcode. This can become a very lucrative market.
Architectural Models: This could be a section all by itself because it is so diverse. These models are sometimes made from heavy poster board, wood or acrylic. The material has to be thick enough so that the edges can be glued to other pieces, so 1/8" seems ideal but when building scale models, much thinner materials are often used. Architects use these models to help potential clients visualize a building and the models can range from very simple to incredibly complex. In fact, some architectural firms own their own lasers, (some of the biggest laser beds in the country) and hire CAD engineers to do nothing but create these masterpieces. The other end of the spectrum includes people like the guy in West Virginia who designs model railroad buildings and then cuts out the hundreds or thousands of parts on his laser and sells the kits for several hundred dollars each.
Agate Slices: This idea came from Epilog: Use agate slices as place cards. The agate is available from www.amazon.com. At about a buck each, these make beautiful place settings with a name lasered on them.
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The precision of a laser allows you to create extremely intricate designs in materials such as leather, as this photo from Trotec Laser illustrates. |
“YOU BRING IT, WE ENGRAVE IT”
Don’t forget to play up your services for engraving items that customers bring to you. Not only is it a great way to make extra money with your laser, but you very well may discover another niche for your business. Here’s a sampling.
Medical Equipment: Medical equipment is very expensive. Surgical tools, for example, are often made out of stainless steel or titanium. These can be marked with a fiber or YAG laser, or a CO2 laser using a laser-markable coating. Some customers will want barcodes or sequential numbering on medical instruments.
Tools: Tools are usually made of steel and are sometimes chrome plated. These too can be marked with a CO2 laser and a laser-markable coating. Like medical equipment, some customers will want barcodes or sequential numbering engraved on the tools.
Guns, Gun Stocks and Knives: Using a laser-markable coating, it is possible to laser engrave gun metal and knives with a CO2 laser. Wood stocks and hand grips can also be lasered. Be sure you are insured properly before accepting guns and that you meet any and all local and state laws.
Guitars and Pick Guards: Inlay work on musical instruments such as guitars, banjos and bass guitars can be both beautiful and very profitable. Many pick guards are made of acrylic which can be engraved and paint filled.
iPhones, iPads, Laptops, etc.: The backs of most, if not all, of these electronic devices can be laser engraved. Engrave them with a name, address, artwork, logo or inspirational message.
Jewelry: Some jewelry can be laser engraved using a laser-markable coating. This can be tricky, however, since it may have a rounded surface or a coating that the chemical won’t work with. Still, the stainless steel back of most watches, ID bracelets and medical safety alert bracelets or necklaces can be engraved and can add to your bottom line.
Skateboards: Skateboards are usually made of wood or a composite plastic material. I haven’t tried the composite material, but the wood boards engrave great. Kids love to pick “really rad” artwork to laser on the bottoms of their boards.
Conclusion
Wow! What a list and I am sure there are just as many that I have left out! Some of these ideas you might not be interested in, others you might like but you won’t have the customer base for them. But some of these could surely be money makers for you and your laser. Maybe you have never thought about them or maybe you did, but then forgot. Whatever the case may be, this reminder should ignite some excitement in your mind and put some dollars in your till, and that is the whole purpose of this list. My thanks to the websites and individuals these ideas came from. May we all use them in the hopes of a great 2013 and for many years beyond. Happy New Year!
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