Lately I see a lot of YouTube films about using a diode laser cutter en engraver in leather working?
Is buying such a machine a waste of good money or a good investment. I'm curious about your opinion.
I'm talking about the 10W and 20W diode lasers
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I have access to a laser from my local makerspace, and I find it useful to cut leather and patterns for prototyping, but I wouldn't invest in my own. I only use veg tan (I've read that cutting/engraving chrome tan can release unsafe fumes, but I don't really know) and, as others have said, it smells pretty terrible, even with a good vacuum system. If you use the same patterns over and over again, you might be better off investing in a die cutting system.