Tutorials

Ten projects that teach the whole craft

Each one follows the same shape — what you'll make, what you'll need, the settings, the steps, and the mistakes everyone makes so you don't have to. Numbered because the order matters: each project builds a skill the next one uses.

TUTORIAL 01 / 10

Your First Job: The Material Test Grid

The most important project you'll ever run — a grid of squares worth more than any chart on the internet, because it's from your machine.

Absolute beginner15–30 minDIODECO2FIBREUV
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TUTORIAL 02 / 10

Engraved Plywood Coasters

The classic first real project. Teaches engrave-before-cut, masking, and finishing — cheap, quick, giftable.

Beginner20–40 minDIODECO2
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TUTORIAL 03 / 10

Slate Coaster With a Name or Logo

Maximum wow per effort. Slate engraves beautifully on even a small diode, and the oil-finish trick doubles the contrast.

Beginner10–20 minDIODECO2
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TUTORIAL 04 / 10

Photo Engraving on Wood

The project diode lasers are secretly best at — carbon-black, ink-like results. Photo prep, dithering, and the test-strip habit.

Improver30–90 minDIODECO2
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TUTORIAL 05 / 10

Acrylic Keyrings

Your first cut-and-engrave product and your first taste of production work. Cast vs extruded, mirror-engraving clear, low air assist.

Beginner–Improver5–10 min eachCO2DIODE
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TUTORIAL 06 / 10

Veg-Tan Leather Luggage Tag

A premium-feeling gift from one of the friendliest natural materials — and the safety lesson about tannage every leather worker needs.

Beginner–Improver20–30 minCO2DIODE
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TUTORIAL 07 / 10

Personalised Wooden Chopping Board

The UK's bestselling personalised gift. Placement, focusing on thick stock, and why you only ever engrave bare wood.

Beginner20–45 minDIODECO2
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TUTORIAL 08 / 10

Glass Engraving Without a Rotary

Glass sounds advanced. With the tempera paint trick, a cheap diode does it — and CO2 owners learn the damp-towel method.

Improver30–45 minDIODECO2
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TUTORIAL 09 / 10

Cut-Out Occasion Ornaments

Batch production, gift-ready. Teaches nesting, layers, and the workflow that carries straight into craft-fair selling.

Beginner30–60 minDIODECO2
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TUTORIAL 10 / 10

Your First Metal Mark

Two routes: fibre annealing for a permanent black, or marking compound for diode and CO2 owners. Dog tags, openers, tools.

Improver10–20 minFIBREDIODECO2
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