If you’ve been laser cutting and engraving for a while, you know that having the right tools and materials can make every project you create easier, quicker, and cleaner. With the holiday season and Black Friday deals just around the corner, now is the perfect time to stock up on must-have laser cutting & engraving tools or share your wishlist with friends and family. In this guide, we’ve rounded up 14 essential items every laser enthusiast needs—from precision tools to the best materials for cutting and engraving—so you can upgrade your setup and make the most of this year’s holiday gift ideas for makers.
Why Every Laser Enthusiast Needs a Holiday Wishlist
I typically find that the holiday season is the best time to upgrade your laser setup. You’ll find awesome deals on useful tools and supplies you might have been eyeing throughout the year during Black Friday or Cyber Monday sales. Additionally, you may even get lucky with a brand new laser accessory that’s been gifted to you.
14 Must-Have Laser Cutting & Engraving Tools
Assorted Needle Files
Sometimes sandpaper just can’t get the job done. When you need to round or smooth out areas in small shapes or corners, needle files are great to have. An assorted set of needle files is a small investment for laser crafting with wood, acrylic, and metal materials.
Rotary Tool for Shaping Laser Art
Having a handheld rotary tool, like a Dremel, has helped me to take my laser cut projects to another level. Learning ways to use different bits to create awesome textures and artwork has been a lot of fun and has helped me to expand my creativity when it comes to laser cutting. If you’re a fan of laser cutting and engraving and woodworking, a rotary tool is a must-have.
Honeycomb Bed for Improved Laser Cutting
Nothing is more annoying than losing a small laser cut piece that has fallen below your laser slats! Avoid having to recut small pieces and improve the air flow during laser cutting with a honeycomb grid. While searching for the stock xTool version for myself, I stumbled across an aftermarket version for my P2 machine for half the cost. You can also wait for Black Friday or Cyber Monday for any deals on the factory one.
Digital Calipers for Quick Measuring
These are a handle little tool for accurately measuring your materials when laser cutting and engraving. The more precise you are with inputing your material thickness, the better the quality and result of your piece. This is why I always recommend having digital calipers as part of your laser kit essentials.
A Set of Acrylic Paint Markers
As a laser maker and creator of other things, there’s never been a time where a set of acrylic paint markers haven’t come in handy for me. Whether touching up paint chips on finished products or adding a pop of color to your laser cut and engraved signs, jewelry, or other accessories, acrylic paint markers are great to have.
I personally really like the coverage of Posca acrylic paint markers and use them for a lot of my projects.
Air Purifier for A Safe Workspace
Reduce lingering fumes during and after laser cutting with a compact air purifier for your space. This will help to improve the overall air quality of your craft room or workshop in addition to your existing exhaust system.
Foam Brushes for Quick Painting
I’m usually one to reach for a paintbrush when adding paint or stain to my laser cut projects, but it wasn’t until I tried comparing paintbrushes to foam brushes did I immediately see a difference in speed. Foam brushes are a quick and easy way to apply paint to your laser cut and engraved projects. They’re also cheap enough to dispose of when you’re done using them, so you don’t have to worry about constantly cleaning brushes in between color changes—something I always struggle with!
Conveyor for Laser Cutting & Engraving Long Materials
The perfect accessory and gift to add to your gift wishlist. If you’re in the business of creating laser signs, a conveyor is a fantastic investment for your laser machine, if compatible. Not having to worry about a limited bed size unlocks so many more laser projects and opportunities to create cool things. This would be an add-on that will definitely upgrade your laser setup if you can get your hands on one.
Electric Cardboard Cutter for Making Jigs
You may be wondering why I added an electric cardboard cutter on this list when your laser can already cut through cardboard. Well, this is something that’s been on my list since I rarely ever have a piece of cardboard that fits within my laser on hand. I usually have to chop down boxes that I have laying around, and doing this with my box cutter is kind of a pain. I usually need a big enough cutting mat available or my box cutter blades need changing.
This is definitely not a necessity, but it sure makes creating jigs for your laser jobs easier. Also, cutting down cardboard to use for test cuts before using your good material is a way to save money too!
Riser Base for Laser Engraving Tall Items
At some point in your laser journey, you’ll end up finding a reason to need a riser base for your machine. Processing tall items like boxes, tumblers, and other things that can’t sit on your slats need a rise base for your machine (especially for xTool machines). I purchased the riser base for my xTool M1 and it helped me with a ton of projects. I’d say it’s a really good add-on to have for your machine.
Chalk Markers for Acrylic Laser Engraving Fills
Similar to acrylic paint markers for adding a pop of color to your pieces, chalk markers are a great way to add color to engraved acrylic. I’ve used these in several projects and I love them. They fill in all of the engravings easily and wipe away pretty clean in a few swipes with a cloth. Highly recommend for your acrylic projects!
A Materials Bulk Bundle or Gift Card for Blanks
Stock up for holiday orders or other creative projects with a bulk of laser-safe materials. If you’re sharing your laser engraving wishlist a gift card to your favorite material shop is an easy ask, especially on MakerStock.com.
Mini Shop Vac for Easy Cleaning
Having a mini shop vac or a cordless handheld vacuum to use between laser jobs not only makes clean-up easier, but it helps to ensure your laser jobs process safer each time. Making sure your laser machine is free of any bits that may be sitting at the bottom of your tray reduces any chances of fires happening. Not to mentioned reducing any splinters for pets, kids, and yourself,
I love my mini shop vac! It’s got a lot of power, but it’s compact enough to stow away.
Utility Cart and Material Storage
A clean workspace is a clean mind. I for one can’t start a new project when my space is filled with clutter. Adding proper storage and utility carts to my workspace has helped tremendously with keeping my tools in place, so I can grab what I need, when I need it (instead of wasting time searching).
Utility carts are fairly priced and are a workshop game changer.
Keep the Holidays Creative
So there you have it! My list of 14 must-have laser cutting and engraving tools and supplies to hunt for during holidays sales or to add to your gift wishlist. You can shop most of these items on Amazon or check your laser manufacturer for better deals on OEM parts and accessories.
Feel free to share this list with a friend or family member. You can also pin this wishlist for the future!
Looking for creative ways to use your laser this gifting season? Check out this list of 10 Laser Cut Gift Ideas for the Holidays.
