Tips for starting a CNC Side Business with an X-carve/CNC

[RobertBeattie]

That’s what I assumed that this person meant when they contacted me, which although cutting close, I would have done.

[WayneHall]

i just had someone asking about 38 signs in total. 34 the same and 4 different ones. guess i won’t take anything else on that has to be done for Christmas.

[AngusMcleod]

The record was 4.00pm Xmas eve.

I once witnessed the postman delivering mail on his motorbike at 1:00 AM on Christmas morning. No idea when that stuff was actually mailer, but I was shocked that Postie was working in dead of night!

[AngusMcleod]

must have been his Mom’s house

No, it was my niece’s house! And he didn’t hang around to see if he’d get a gift, or even a glass of Ponche-de-Creme!

[WayneHall]

my dad walked a route in the town i grew up in and there were a lot of christmas mornings he worked. don’t know if he got paid or was just trying to be nice.

[nogeel]

Out of curiosity (and maybe I should make this a new thread) those of you with a J-Tech Laser on your X-carve which do you make more money with the laser or the x-carve?

[PhilJohnson]

My jtech is saving me time on my stuff I already do because I no longer have to paint text.

The trees used to take forever to paint.

It’s opening more doors to faster money because I can take an already made item, engrave it, and sell it.

[X-CNC]

My jtech is saving me time on my stuff I already do because I no longer have to paint text.

Personally, I prefer your resin inlaid projects better than the mono tone laser look, but I guess it would depend on the project. The laser projects would certainly be easier to produce, but maybe that’s why I prefer the look of the resin inlay. You can tell that more craftsmanship went into the project. If it’s just about making money then using a laser would be hard to beat.

[PhilJohnson]

Personally, I prefer your resin inlaid projects better than the mono tone laser look,

Never did resin. Laser is so much cleaner. I’m in it for the money to pay for the hobby and one day full time.

[MidnightMaker]

If you filmed your unbelievable productivity and just threw it up on YouTube, you would be able to leverage your efforts and possibly double your revenue streams. It feels like you’re already doing this full-time

[BrianJohnson]

Wait. Phil doesn’t do this full time?!

[Devin]

Man… did everyone wait until this last week to ortder stuff???

Exactly. Last week I was complaining about slow buisness. And this week. I have to turn buisness away. Or at least let them down and say I wont be able to get it done by x mas. This next 2 weeks. I will be producing more things than I have ever done in that same 2 week time period.

[Devin]

Personally, I prefer your resin inlaid projects better

I would agree that if I was buying. I would go for the carve. But as long as you are giving both options and probably pricing more for carving. Then it is as they say.

[PhilJohnson]

I just got an order. It says 1-2 weeks on the product page…

“Do you have an estimated ship date?”…

I told him I would try for the lower end of the spectrum.

[nogeel]

I am going to take my profits and put it back in my machine (if I don’t pay myself back for v-carve). Am I better off getting a cnc4newbies z-axis to replace the finicky stock on that give me trouble when zeroing or making the plunge for the j-tech laser first? It is sounding like the laser may be the better for making money (though I need to look at software and such for the total cost.)

I take any thoughts on this and thanks, everyone. This thread has been really helpful

[PhilJohnson]

And now I’m competing in my local buy sell trade group with People 35 miles away.

I ened up having to block her she just kept on going. At the end of the day I it’s not like I was too worried but still I don’t go on people’s buy and sell groups from miles away and call myself a local

[Devin]

Bill Burr the comedian advertises for them on his podcast… which is a must listen to

I will second that

[PhilJohnson]

I got one going out today that was ordered on Sunday. A 3-D cribbage board. Completely finished. There is no way I could have gotten it done that fast without the help of the laser. And the customer paid an extra $20 to have it overnighted.

[nogeel]

Out of curiosity, how did you use the laser to speed that up?

[AngusMcleod]

Out of curiosity, how did you use the laser to speed that up?

He lasered on the dots instead of drilling them!