Introduction
Life has been challenging for me since acquiring a Spinal Cord Injury in 2009. However, I enjoy learning new skills. My local University of the Third Age invited me to the Port Adelaide Enfield Council’s Makerspace facility. I became interested in laser cutting, and after many months of vaporising materials, making mistakes, and a few artwork and toys, I purchased a laser cutter for my home.
Laser cutting is now one of my favourite hobbies. I still make mistakes, but I’m progressing towards becoming more skilled in laser cutting. Now, I share my experiences and knowledge gained via this site. I’ve included the equipment, materials, and tools I used to produce my favourite laser cutting projects, and tips and tricks to help you craft.
What’s the next step for my laser cutting hobby? I don’t know. I could get involved in producing items sold at markets or online. I live in Adelaide, South Australia, and welcome any suggestions about the future. Please don’t hesitate to contact me here.
Laser cutting equipment
Please visit the laser cutting equipment page for more detailed information about the equipment in my garage. The page includes features, tips, and tricks for where to purchase the equipment.
- The Xtool P2 CO2 laser cutter provides 55 Watts of power, a large bed size and two 14-megapixel cameras.
- The Xtool smoke purifier provides three stages of filtration, removing 99.7% of small particles and absorbing harmful gases and odours.
- The Xtool RA2 tool helps process materials such as cylindrical shapes.
- The Xtool riser base allows thicker materials to be used, and in conjuction with the Xtool conveyer feeder, allows the processing of longer materials.
- The Xtool conveyer feeder allows materials up to 3 metres in length and 50 centimetres wide.
- The Xtool honeycomb panel allows materials to be securely fastened.
- The Xtool currently sits on old dining table, with lockable castor wheels. I’ve purchased a CAP furniture hand wound table that is yet to be installed.
- The CO2, TVOC, HCHO, Temperature And Relative Humidity Tester ensures I’m not inhaling dangerous substances.
- The MacBook air that communicates with the Xtool P2.
Laser cutting materials
Please visit the laser cutting materials page for detailed information on each material, including photos, descriptions, and where you can purchase them, or click on the links below.
Materials to cut, score, engrave
- Plywood is a multi-layered wood sheet commonly used in construction and furniture making.
- Medium-density fibreboard (MDF) is an engineered wood product from compressed wood fibres.
- Acrylic is a durable, versatile plastic, perfect for laser cutting clear, coloured, or frosted designs.
- Bamboo Magnetic Bottle Opener has a magnetic back. It is eco-friendly and stylish for everyday use.
- Black slate coasters, laser-cut and engraved, are durable and elegant. They are perfect for protecting surfaces and adding décor.
- Wooden key chains are simple, stylish, and perfect for any occasion. They can be customisable for personalised gifts or promotional items.
- Wooden key chains with bottle openers are multi-functional and combine practicality, personalisation, and a built-in bottle opener.
Materials to complete the item
- Spray paint – A quick-drying paint dispensed in aerosol form, ideal for covering surfaces smoothly and evenly.
- Paint – A liquid or semi-liquid mixture coats surfaces, providing colour, protection, and texture.
- Wood stain – A pigmented solution applied to wood to enhance its natural grain and add color or protection.
- Wood dye – A liquid colourant penetrating wood fibres, providing rich, even colouring without masking the grain.
- Clear acrylic gloss spray – A protective clear coat that adds a shiny, durable finish to surfaces while sealing them.
- Glue – An adhesive substance used to permanently bond materials like plywood, MDF, and acrylic.
- Borax – Applied on metal or glass before engraving, borax helps create darker and sharper engraving results.
- Clock mechanisms – Essential parts, like hands and motors, used to assemble and power custom-made clocks.
- Tassels – Decorative fringed embellishments attached to bookmarks and other items for added flair.
Laser cutting tools
The laser cutting tools page has detailed information on each tool including photos, description, and where you can purchase the tools or click on the links below.
- Clamps – Tools used to hold materials in place firmly during gluing tasks.
- Paint Brushes – Handheld tools with bristles for applying paint to surfaces, available in various shapes and sizes.
- Black sponge paint brushes – Foam-tipped brushes ideal for smooth paint application on flat surfaces without streaks or brush marks.
- Sandpaper – Abrasive material used to smooth surfaces before painting or finishing, available in different grit levels.
- Microfibre cloths – Soft, lint-free cloths ideal for cleaning surfaces and wiping away dust or excess paint.
- Respirator – A protective face mask filters out harmful fumes or particles during painting or sanding projects.
- 4ft Bi-Fold Blow Mould Trestle Table – This sturdy, foldable table is often used for workshops, providing a solid workspace for various DIY projects.
96 Laser Cutting Projects
Are you looking for your next project? My collection of 96 projects includes toys, wall art, clocks and other items. Each project contains photographs of the completed item, links to the design files, project completion times and a guide.
If choosing projects solely based on a title and short description is too tricky, the options below filter the items and provide longer descriptions and a larger photograph of each completed project.
- All of the 96 laser cutting projects
- Difficulty level
- Suitability as gifts for
- 70 Free Laser Cutting Projects
- Cats
- Toys
- Clocks
Easy laser cutting projects
| Gifts for children | |
|---|---|
| Dark Knight Silhouettes: Batman Wall Art Collection Bold Batman silhouettes for striking, customizable laser-cut wall decor |
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| Giraffe Heights: Growing Tall Together Fun and easy-to-make giraffe height chart for tracking growth |
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| Spiderman's webshot Vibrant Spiderman wall art, with his mask and a web-slinging hand gesture |
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| Trace 'n' Learn Shapes Shape Up Your Day: A Colorful Puzzle Party" |
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| Snail's Number Spiral Adventure Fun snail puzzle teaching kids numbers from 1 to 25 |
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| Dark Knight's Layered Legacy Create a layered wooden Batman artwork featuring Gotham and Bat-Signal |
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| Cape Crusader Laser-cut Batman artwork, bold silhouette, perfect for superhero enthusiasts |
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| Face to Face with Heroes Laser-cut Marvel heroes' profiles, bold design, perfect for superhero fans |
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| Solar System Cosmic Puzzle Fun and educational Solar System puzzle for hands-on learning adventures |
| Gifts for all ages | |
|---|---|
| Prismatic Prowl Geometric cat artwork, black outlined, modern, dynamic, and elegant |
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| Puzzling Safari: A Wild Adventure in Every Piece Create a playful animal puzzle with laser-cut precision today |
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| A Portal to Another Dimension 3D tunnel illusion artwork - a modern, stylish, and captivating design |
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| Silent Night Meets Laser Light A laser-cut Nativity Cross featuring intricate, meaningful Christmas silhouettes |
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| Stone Rolled Away Wooden plaque of Matthew 28, featuring three crosses and engaved words |
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| tic-tac-toe fun Wooden tic-tac-toe set, perfect for creative fun and gifting |
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| Purr-fect Love: Cat Silhouette Wall Art Cat-shaped "LOVE" sign brings feline charm to your decor |
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| Silent Paws Black outlined geometric cat artwork |
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| Moonlit Tree Serenade Create a serene wall art piece featuring a tree and moon |
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| Geometric Whirl - the hypnotic spiral Dynamic geometric art of squares using multiple layers |
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| Basketball Dunking Time Basketball wall art with dunking player, perfect for sports fans |
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| Spider clock Acrylic or MDF spider wall clock, vibrant, fun, and easy to make |
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| Birds on branches Wall art with intricately carved birds on branches |
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| Time in a Galaxy Far, Far Away Star Wars clock featuring characters and scenes, made from acrylic |
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| Love in Geometrics A geometric "LOVE" sign with a heart, laser-cut in red or any colour you love |
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| Timeless Fab Four Beatles-themed acrylic clock with bold silhouettes and vibrant hands |
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| KISS Your Boring Clock Goodbye Laser-cut KISS clock combines art, music, and bold rock style. |
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| Sunset Ride: Laser-Cut Mountain Biking Adventure Laser-cut art showing a cyclist riding through mountains with sunset |
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| Thunderstruck Timepiece AC/DC clock combines vinyl records, laser-cut designs, and rock energy. |
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| Frame the Fur-tastic Cats Laser-cut colorful framed cat silhouettes for stylish, easy décor pieces |
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| Rocket Clock Man Vivid Elton John clock combines vinyl records and laser design. |
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| Hump Day laser cutting Layered wooden camel with desert dunes, mountains, and vibrant landscape |
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| Fly High with This Pterodactyl Project Layered wooden pterodactyl with triceratops, palm trees, and mountains |
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| Espresso Yourself in Wood Layered wooden coffee cup with latte art and saucer design |
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| Wood You Love This Corgi A layered wooden corgi design featuring detailed fur and expression |
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| Pug Pose: Stretch, Wag, Repeat! A playful layered wooden pug in a stretching pose |
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| Bull Terrier in Bold Wooden Layers A layered wooden bull terrier with strong features and details |
| Gifts for adults | |
|---|---|
| Minimalist Woman Silhouette Minimalist acrylic art of a woman in a striped skirt |
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| Curves and Stripes: An Abstract Play Modern abstract design of a flowing figure in green acrylic |
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| Snowflake Charm: The Wine Case Wooden wine case with snowflake cutouts, twine handle, festive design |
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| Abstract Femme Fatale Silhouette of a standing woman, elegant and abstract. |
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| Abstract Feminine Flow Artwork showcasing a layered silhouette of reclining elegance. |
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| Head in Harmony Layered silhouette of a woman’s head, elegant and mesmerizing design. |
Intermediate laser cutting projects
| Gifts for children | |
|---|---|
| Vintage Bi-plane Soars Assemble and customize a vintage biplane model with laser-cut precision |
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| Batman Desk Organiser Batman themed stationary holder |
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| Shape Shifter's Playground Wooden shape sorter with laser-cut pieces for educational playtime fun |
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| Easter Wonderland Egg Multi-layered Easter egg with fairies, bunnies, and vibrant colors |
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| Feline Fortune keeper money box Charming cat-shaped money box, easy to assemble and practical |
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| Purrfectly Playful Cat Faces Whimsical laser-cut cat faces, perfect for cat lovers' decor |
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| Wizard Time Magical Clock Magical clock with iconic characters from Harry Potter |
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| Holy Night, Handmade Delight Handmade nativity scene with charming details adds warmth to Christmas decor |
| Gifts for all ages | |
|---|---|
| Giraffe Gentle Giants Mother and baby giraffe in 4 layers |
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| A Timeless Nativity: Laser-Cut Elegance Create three stunning laser-cut Nativity scenes, perfect for gifting |
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| Catscade Colorful mandala cat art, intricate, vibrant, and whimsical design |
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| Colorful Cats Purrfect Pop Art A colorful cat-themed pop art of eight layers |
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| Graceful Crosses - Faithful Creations Inspirational engraved wooden crosses |
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| Floral Petal Power Treasure Trove Intricate wooden box with floral designs, perfect for keepsakes or gifts |
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| Love in Layers: Heart Box Edition Heart-shaped box with floral cutouts and a raised centerpiece |
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| Psychedelic mandala guitar Psychedelic guitar art, laser-cut layers, colorful and intricate. |
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| Rock On Musical Guitar Guitar-shaped five layer artwork with musical notes and dancers |
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| The Enchanted Forest Wall Art A layered laser-cut forest scene featuring depth, texture, and stunning colors |
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| Chaotic Time: An Avant-Garde Clock Avant-garde clock with scattered numbers, stylish and functional item design |
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| Vinyl Beats: Time to Rock Around the Clock A vinyl record clock with musician silhouettes—a perfect musical keepsake |
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| The Big Apple in Layers A stunning wooden NYC skyline with intricate layers and details |
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| Slice of Paris: Eiffel Tower in Four Frames Create a stunning Eiffel Tower display with this laser-cut project. |
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| The Galactic Ruins: Death Star Wall Art Detailed laser-cut Death Star art showcasing iconic structure with layered, intricate design |
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| Empire Strikes the Wall! Star Wars wall art featuring Darth Vader and stormtroopers |
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| Trunk Tales - A family portrait A stunning layered wood elephant design perfect for wildlife lovers |
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| The Force of Creativity: Star Wars in 3D Star Wars-inspired laser-cut wall art showcasing characters, ships, and iconic movie scenes. |
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| Feline Time: Purrfect Colour Cat Clock Colourful cat-themed clock perfect for cat lovers |
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| Heartfelt Layers of Love Heart-shaped box with delicate layered heart cutouts, perfect gift |
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| Laser-Cut Catitude A stunning, layered cat design perfect for laser cutting enthusiasts |
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| Majestic Elephant: Mandala Elegance Intricate laser-cut elephant with mandala patterns and golden accents |
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| Rainbow Swirl Mandala A vibrant, layered wooden mandala with a hypnotic spiral effect |
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| Mystical Meowscape Layered wooden cat silhouette with a scenic cabin and nature details |
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| Moose Meets the Mountains Layered wooden moose with scenic forest, mountains, and wildlife inside |
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| Hop into the Outback! Layered wooden kangaroo with Australian bushland, wildlife, and sunset sky |
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| Where Dolphins Roam and Coral Blooms Layered wooden dolphin with coral reefs, seaweed, and vibrant marine life |
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| Wings of the Wilderness Layered wooden eagle with mountains, pine trees, and flying birds |
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| Foxy Layers of Nature's Beauty Layered wooden fox with forest, mountains, and wildlife inside silhouette |
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| Dolphin Dive into the Deep Blue Layered wooden dolphin with coral reef, fish, and ocean plants |
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| The Perfect Rose – No Water Required Layered wooden rose in vase, perfect for decor or gifting |
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| Grizzly Scene: A Wild Laser Cut A layered wooden bear silhouette with a scenic mountain landscape |
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| Birds of a Feather Get Laser Cut Together A layered wooden parrot perched on a branch with intricate feathers |
| Gifts for adults | |
|---|---|
| The Last Supper Intricate Last Supper replica, perfect for laser cutting enthusiasts |
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| Circles of Function key holder Stylish wall hook with laser-cut concentric circle design |
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| Elegance in Wood with Grapevine Flair Wooden wine case with decorative grapevine cutouts, handle, reusable |
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| Sip in Style: Personalized Wedding Wine Box Elegant wooden box with engraved wedding design holding wine bottle. |
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| Grape Escape: Sleek Wine Holder Elegant wooden wine case, snug fit, flexible slats, festive design |
Challenging laser cutting projects
| Gifts for children | |
|---|---|
| Speedway in Miniature: The Ultimate Car Ramp Challenge Exciting car ramp design for kids with endless fun |
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| Haulin' Hot Wheels Laser-cut truck display holds Hot Wheels, perfect for organizing collections |
| Gifts for all ages | |
|---|---|
| Musical Mosaic Symphony Colorful laser-cut guitar and microphones with vibrant soundwaves background |
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| Modern Van Gogh Starry Night Contemporary multi-layered rendition of Vincent van Gogh's "Starry Night" |
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| Van Gogh Sunflowers Contemporary layered design inspired by Van Gogh’s "Sunflowers" painting. |
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| Layered Leafscape Five-layered plant artwork with intricate, textured design in wooden frame |
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| Sunset Serenades - Nature's Silhouette Multiple layers of nature-themed silhouettes of animals and landscapes |
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| Steampunk Marvel Clock Intricate steampunk clock with gears, Roman numerals, and vintage charm |
| Gifts for adults | |
|---|---|
| Picasso Cubist Dreamscape Cubist-inspired artwork with bold colors, perfect for modern art lovers |
Laser Cutting Tips & Tricks
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