![Kristhecreative](/img/default-banner.jpg)
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Kristhecreative
Приєднався 19 вер 2011
Just an illustrator/ designer trying out different things! Primarily laser cut videos, shorts, reviews and resources.
Other areas I dabble in- resin, dice making, vinyl and more! Never know what i'll try next.
Other areas I dabble in- resin, dice making, vinyl and more! Never know what i'll try next.
Reviewing my Tumbler Jigs from Thelasertwinsjigs!
I was super excited to give these jigs a go! I have been making SO MANY TUMBLERS! I probably have made close to 800 these past few months. As I started to get into the larger ones to test the waters in my area, I realized I was struggling with leveling them and keeping them on the rotary. I ended up finding these jigs from FB and knew I had to give them a go. I have a bunch of shorts on my Instagram that feature these, and unfortunately due to space I removed a lot of my previous clips of them in action. Whoops! But you can at least get an idea on how they work. Iv'e had a lot of people message me asking about them, so I didn't want to hold off getting this video up.
Nathan (the maker behind the jigs) has been phenomenal to work with. Not only did he get me the right working jig, but he also actually ended up custom building mine because my generic tumblers were their own size. He made sure that everything was right. So if you do purchase these and have an issue, just reach out! If you have questions prior to purchase such as wanting a custom fit because you order from certain suppliers, he can help with that too.
One thing I do want to mention with these generic 40oz tumblers (I have been ordering them from TEMU to test and sample), is some are NOT perfectly round! This is what was throwing me off, and why I ended up using some hot glue on the smaller jig (it just pops right off if I wanted). That extra barrier of hot glue actually helps hold the more oval ones in place, almost acting like a suction. I didn't even realize how off some where, until I had them loaded on the rotary and actually measured them. Would also explain a lot, as many arrived with cracked lids/ tops.
You can find these jigs on Thelasertwinsjigs Etsy! Feel free to use my link, so Nathan knows where you are coming from! Feel free to tell him Kristina sent you, because she's obsessed with these jigs. thelasertwinsjigs.etsy.com?coupon=KRISTHECREATIVE15
Facebook Group: groups/2648068205347192
Nathan (the maker behind the jigs) has been phenomenal to work with. Not only did he get me the right working jig, but he also actually ended up custom building mine because my generic tumblers were their own size. He made sure that everything was right. So if you do purchase these and have an issue, just reach out! If you have questions prior to purchase such as wanting a custom fit because you order from certain suppliers, he can help with that too.
One thing I do want to mention with these generic 40oz tumblers (I have been ordering them from TEMU to test and sample), is some are NOT perfectly round! This is what was throwing me off, and why I ended up using some hot glue on the smaller jig (it just pops right off if I wanted). That extra barrier of hot glue actually helps hold the more oval ones in place, almost acting like a suction. I didn't even realize how off some where, until I had them loaded on the rotary and actually measured them. Would also explain a lot, as many arrived with cracked lids/ tops.
You can find these jigs on Thelasertwinsjigs Etsy! Feel free to use my link, so Nathan knows where you are coming from! Feel free to tell him Kristina sent you, because she's obsessed with these jigs. thelasertwinsjigs.etsy.com?coupon=KRISTHECREATIVE15
Facebook Group: groups/2648068205347192
Переглядів: 87
Відео
Unboxing some OMTech Swag!
Переглядів 133Рік тому
I recorded this intending for it to go on Instagram but I talk a lot so it's going here. A huge shoutout and thank you to @omtechlaser for sending me this swag and all the amazing people who voted for me! It was so funny too, cause my entry for the contest was a gift I did for my Mom who is a HUGE football fan. When I saw @homestylecustoms7125 released some new sports files, I KNEW I had to mak...
Engraving some Metal Pens (on my 30W OMTech fiber)
Переглядів 206Рік тому
I got these awesome metal pens from Jay's Laser Blanks and had to try them out! They write really nice and they engrave nicely. I use an enamel pen with the deeper engrave to get the darkness, but some people pay just prefer to leave it shiny white. I will add this here- I don't honestly have any long term data how the enamel color will last. Iv'e been using these for about a month no issue (en...
How to Edit my Inlay Earring Files (short LightBurn tutorial)
Переглядів 140Рік тому
These were my first inlay release and I wanted to put something together to help clarify how exactly to modify and use these. These were made and tested on a 60W OMTech and my friends 80W OMTech. Please keep in mind some of these are larger than my normal earrings as they are intended to show off the pattern. PLEASE NOTE: If you use a rubber mallet, you risk cracking. What I try to do is size m...
Engraving Silicone on my 30W OMTech Fiber Laser!
Переглядів 1,8 тис.Рік тому
I had quite a few people reach out and ask me how exactly I did this on my fiber, so I figured I would do up this quick little tutorial to hopefully provide some guidance on how I accomplished this look on my 30W OMTech fiber. The reason I ran this on my fiber VS my CO2 is because my fiber is my dedicated mug machine with a chuck rotary installed, meanwhile my CO2 has been busy with all kinds o...
Unboxing my new line of COLORboards over at Craft Closet!
Переглядів 1492 роки тому
I have been SO excited about this brand new adventure with the team over at Craft Closet. They are making one of my dreams a reality by offering my artwork and patterns on their line of COLORboards! That means if you have a laser, you can buy these and use them in your own products now! WHOO HOOOO! How exciting! I also got a bunch of misfits in this set (wood and acrylic) so I go over some tips...
How to Distress a Wooden Sign (featuring files by Homestyle Customs)
Переглядів 3542 роки тому
This has been a common ask in the Homestyle Community, so I knew I had to make it happen! Here is the official tutorial for all those who have asked. It has also been posted in the Homestyle group too- so you can find it there as well. Before we dive into the materials, this file is brought to you by Homestyle Customs- www.etsy.com/listing/1267621401/fishing-and-hunting-signage-70-regular . The...
Making a National Park Map (featuring Homestyle Customs)
Переглядів 3452 роки тому
Second gift in my set for my bestie! I followed the same process as I did with my other video. I had a ton of fun with making both of these maps and i'm actually really happy with this acrylic paint style iv'e been working on! File is by Homestyle Customs: etsy.me/3xjqBhd Stains used: Golden Oak- amzn.to/3OqvGLr Jacobean- amzn.to/3n46Vta Acrylic Paints used: Folk Art Apple Barrel Wood Used: Bot...
Testing out my new Laser Jig to life material (yay no more flashback)
Переглядів 2432 роки тому
I was having all the issues when it came to getting my material to lift off the bed. I was faced with flash back and chipped corners on most of my pieces that did not look the most professional. I tried using risers and spacers but faced the issue that everything started to bow in the middle, causing all my cuts to be off. I saw someone post this jig in one of my groups and knew I needed to hav...
Making a Travel Map (featuring Homestyle Customs)
Переглядів 2772 роки тому
Ok, I do wish I recorded this the other way, but I wanted to see if there was any interest in this kind of video! Anyways, here is my DIY video on my first try at making a travel map! This is a gift for one of my close friends and I learned a whole lot about different things while testing and trying this out. File is by Homestyle Customs- etsy.me/3ttiGwF Stains used: Golden Oak- amzn.to/3OqvGLr...
I FOUND MY YELLOW! Unboxing the new line of CraftClosetSupply Pastels!
Переглядів 1042 роки тому
I DID IT! I FOUND MY DREAM YELLOW! Ok, i'll calm down a bit, but I am super excited with all these beautiful colors! Even better is one side is matte and the other is glossy. I found out about Craft Closet last fall when I ordered a bunch of random supplies. Their customer service has been incredible and I love how active they are with the community. I have so many other unboxing videos I am ju...
Unboxing my latest PatternPly® order from Smokey Hill!
Переглядів 3352 роки тому
I am at it again! I always wanted to give unboxing a go, especially where I purchase from A LOT of businesses within the laser community. This is their time to shine because they help bring my ideas to life by making amazing materials I can use in my creations! For those who don't know them and/or are new to the laser world, Smokey Hill has a custom product line called PatternPly® which I am OB...
Unboxing some awesome stuff from Custom Made Better!
Переглядів 1632 роки тому
Here it is! My first "unboxing" video! Only I LOST THE CLIPS FOR THE ACTUAL UNBOXING PART. I ran out of space when recording on my phone which resulted in quite a few of my clips getting corrupted. However! I was able to recover the product review portion of this. I know it is short, but I wanted to share how beautiful these pieces are that I got! Also note to self, next time I think i'll just ...
Why I chose an OMTech Laser (my personal review & story)
Переглядів 15 тис.2 роки тому
This video has been something I have been wanting to do for AGES, and I finally took the time to make it happen! For those who don't know me, I'm an owner of two OMTech machines (60W CO2 and a 30W fiber) and I get asked a lot of questions about my machines and my personal experience. Iv'e been active in various laser communities over the past year and I had the pleasure to speak with and interv...
Making a Pocket Hug/ Lotl! (video short)
Переглядів 7812 роки тому
Yet another short! I had to jump on the pocket hug trend and make some of my own, inspired by and older illustration I did a year or two back. Made out of 5/32 maple from Home Depot Engraved and cut with the help of my 60W OMTech Laser Packaging designed and cut by me Materials Used (contains my affiliate links) Card Stock for Packaging (you can also get it on sale at Michaels) - amzn.to/3qWuQ0...
Making Heart Earrings with my Laser! (video short)
Переглядів 2082 роки тому
Making Heart Earrings with my Laser! (video short)
Hello. What thickness is the wood you are using? Would you mind sharing the settings you used in lightburn? Thank you.
I have two lasers, a 1630 LS Boss & a Mira 9. With the Boss I have an external CA Air compressor and I get no flashback at all. The Mira 9 doesn't have one and I sometimes get flashback on that one, not a lot, but enough to piss me off (LOL). However, when I get a really good FLAT piece of plywood there's no flashback on the Mira. So, I'm thinking it's all about how flat the plywood is. Thank you for posting... I love your work.
I originally thought I was going to get the same OMTech 60w laser that you have because it was in my budget, but most people in the forums say to forget the 60w and get the 80w. Did find that you were limited with cutting ability with your 60w laser?
Back in the day when I started, I couldn't swing the extra for the 80W- so the 60 it was! I don't find I have any limited cutting capabilities- but I also don't cut thick materials for the most part with what I do. I do believe they have lens kits that allow you to cut thicker material, and with the upgraded air assist- it's much easier. With my 60W I have no issues with materials up to 1/4. I might have to make it slower than my usual 5/32 I use- but it's not bad. Same applies for the acrylics. I have heard the lower the wattage, the more detailed engrave, and do recall reading back in the day that the 60W was the sweet spot for that. I do a lot of engravings more than I do cutting thick material, so I never saw a need to cut anything over 1/4 thick. One of my friends who has a 60W has the American Photonics kit and cuts 1/2 inch MDF with hers. She did say, however for the thicker stuff (If you want to cut thicker than 1/4)- she wishes she did go with a higher wattage for that. However, if you don't see yourself doing much for detailed photo engraving and want more of that power behind the cutting- go with the 80W. They also have all kinds of lenses- I just don't know much about them. Still on my stock lens almost 3 years later. It has served me well!
great - how do you print the display cards please?
Hi, how much electricity does it cost per hour to use this laser machine?
Hi there! I honestly am not even sure how I could measure that. 😅 I will say, there hasn't been a noticeable change in the electric bill, if that helps with your answer? These days, I am usually running the CO2 for 4-8 hours a day, Monday through Friday. The fiber maybe 3-6 hours a week in addition, depending on workload. I usually run both machines together as well.
Just wondering why you chose their fiber laser and not the CO2 polar 50w laser?
I actually purchased the fiber way before the Polar came out- back in 2021, about 6 months after my CO2 because I needed a dedicated mug machine, and I wouldn't get the rotary to connect or stay connect with my CO2. I was watching some of the videos Max over at Laserbeastlab had in real-time of his tumblers he was running with his 20W OMTech fiber, and I was very impressed- so I decided to get a fiber for my mugs. :) Most of what I do is powder coated, and honestly for silicone- the CO2 is the way to go, if you can.
lookin good!! thanks for the video!!
Side note Your eyes are so pretty.
Aw thank you! ☺
I just stumbled across your video, THANKS for your opinions on the lasers......we are seriously thinking about getting a Thunder. My wife asked if I looked at a OMtech, so now I'm back on the fence. We are hoping to be able to put one in our basement, so a 60W laser is probably the largest we can get down there. I'm REALLY curious.....how thick of plywood will it cut? We mostly use Baltic Birch for our business.
Anytime! I try to not be bias as I know there are so many other amazing companies and brands of laser out there, I just don't have personal experience with any of them outside of talking with people in the different communities. Iv'e heard great things about Thunder as well and those I have spoke with said they are really durable machines built like a tank. I usually cut 1/8 to 1/4, but recently got some wood that was roughly around .3 inch thick (a bit over the 1/4) I was able to cut with a slightly higher setting, although I personally feel like the maximum I would go on my unit comfortably would be 1/4. Upgraded air assist helps a lot with that and prevents flare ups as well. Some of the thicker woods with the denser fillers seem to burn more around the edges for some reason. I have certain suppliers who sheets are a bit over the 1/4 and even with the upgraded air assist, the edges look dark and burnt to me when they cut. I haven't really ventured any thicker because I just wasn't a fan of the quality I was getting with the edges. Just my opinion though. A lot of my clients don't really care about the darker edges (which I do clean up as best as I can), but I much prefer them to look that golden brown when possible. I know some users recommend different lenses depending on what you want to do (cannot speak to that just yet). Another option iv'e seen some people do is multiple passes, which I honestly haven't tried either.
@@Kristhecreative We have a glowforge now 40W, and it almost cuts the 1/4", I was sure the 60W would cut 3/8". I guess we need to look at the 80W, I'm just not sure we can get it in the basement. THANKS for your reply.
Awesome video. Thanks for the information. I just pushed the button on the OMTech Polor. I'm new to lasers so wanted to start out with a table top model. I hope to see more YT videos on the Polar.
Thank you! The Polar looks like such a fun machine and I really like the features I am seeing for it. I know a couple people in the OMTech Official FB group have been making content for it, but I honestly don't know much about the specifics on it. It looks really promising from what I have seen though.
How about trotec
When I originally posted the poll around and was researching before compiling this video, these were the main 4 companies/ machines people seemed to be the most interested in. I then started to scope users out who had these machines within my communities to do a small interview with because I don't have personal first hand experience with any of them. There are so many other companies and lasers out there too. I would eventually like to dive more in depth with interviewing people with other machines (Trotec, Epilog, Rabbit, Gwekie and Beamo I sometimes get asks about now).
We are going to be purchasing their 100 watt 2440 model soon. Currently use a 50 watt fiber and wife has a k40 which I upgraded as much as possible. Really liking your channel, thank you for the videos.
Thank you and congratulations on your soon to be upgrade! Iv'e heard good things about the 100W models. The next machine I want to add (someday) will be a 100W or up. Really wishing I had some more cut power with all the things iv'e been doing lately, especially signs and decor where I often use thicker material. I just lack the space at the moment for any additional machines haha.
@@Kristhecreative I sooo know what you mean about space. I converted a grain silo we have on our property into a shop. Insulated it, installed a wood burning stove for winter, an ac for summer and made it 2 stories. It's only 18 foot diameter but works lol.
@@kennethfails3593 Nice! That sounds like an awesome set up though and a great shop area for your business and work. My biggest issue with not having the space is I do a lot of things- it's hard to keep things clean and organized. It would be great to have an area just for photos/ finished products/ shipping somewhat away from all the messy-ness when working. I keep all my smaller products in totes, but i'd love to be able to organize them. Hopefully someday!
@@Kristhecreative Oh we have the same issue when it come to organizing lol. My wife made her first real video on youtube. If you'd like to see here's her channel ua-cam.com/video/lgmh47PNLbQ/v-deo.html She filmed it upstairs in the silo. Someday the organizing will come though lol.
@@kennethfails3593 I just subscribed to her! I love learning and trying out new diys. 😄 thanks for sharing.
I've been in the market for a laser and I think Ive landed on wanting the Omtech 60w with Autofocus. Im nervous to take the plunge as I've never used a laser cutter before and worry about the learning curve. I was looking at the glow forge because it's user friendly but the turn off was the price difference, shorter warranty, and being tied to their software. Is LightBurn pretty user friendly? Also have you used the pass through option to do a larger piece with your omtech.
One of the great things about the larger cabinet models is they can scale with you as you grow. Not sure if you saw the new announcement, but OMTech just released a smaller, more user friendly machine that is currently on pre-order. Not much is known about it, but there are some admins in the OMTech group who are making videos and posting the pros and cons. That might be an option for you if you are looking for a smaller, desk model machine. However the added bonus of the larger models is you have the rotary option and can do much larger materials due to the bed size. With autofocus, iv'e heard a lot of people say it isn't really needed (takes seconds to focus your machine in), however on the other side of things, iv'e heard it is a fantastic feature for those who have arthritis and wrist injuries and cannot easily turn their beds. It can also be removed at a later time if you feel it doesn't work for you as well either. I (personally) found LightBurn very easy to use, however I do come from a design background so i've worked with creative software for years. What I recommend doing is downloading the 30 day trial and playing around in it before you purchase/ before your machine arrives. I was expecting it to take me awhile to learn, but I feel like I figured out the basics within an hour or so. The real test comes from learning your settings and your machine. There are some great LightBurn tutorials online which is where I started. I just wanted to know the basics- what the line/ fill and terms all meant and how it applied to my machine. It will become second nature over time too. There is a learning curve with any machine, but the OMTech Facebook community is amazing resource and there are so many wonderful helpful people there as well. That is where I learned a bulk of what I know now and just through trial and error. I have used the pass through door for larger sheets, but not the actual feature, if that makes sense (where you line up the print marks and make one large design which I haven't done yet). I rarely work with large materials as they are hard to come by in my area. I will say you will need some heavy duty magnets. I got the smaller ones on Amazon and they do not cut it to hold down a large sheet when you open up the passthrough door. Hopefully some of this info helps! :)
great job, what else do you use the fiber laser for?
Thank you! I primarily use my fiber for engraving powder coated mugs, stainless steel mugs and stainless steel keychains/ charms and jewelry.
Thank you very informative 👍
😂 քʀօʍօֆʍ
I love this one too. So awesome.
That looks really cute
A nice ad brought to you by Omtech.
I like this video quite a bit because I am also searching for a laser now. I do not have a heated room that I can put it into. So, it will have to go out into the garage, and I'm talking rustic garage with some sort of 50/50 RV antifreeze solution. I am probably going to order a diode laser first. I have a small one now but haven't used it for quite some time. But the CO2 just logically justifies the purchase for business reasons even though I don't have a business. LOL Keep making videos, this was a good one if you could include some of your design processes, software walkthroughs, I think you would be well on your way to building your subscriber base.
Thank you so much for the feedback! I have some videos planned on my processes- I just honestly haven’t had much time to actually sit down and film them all. I'm not sure if you have looked into the K40 machines, but I know with OMTech they do make smaller CO2 lasers that might be worth looking into! You can also do some upgrades on them if you so choose. My boyfriend is actually going that direction because my large CO2 is too big for him haha- and with the smaller units, they are only about 55 pounds and can just sit on a desk (by a window for venting). Only downfall is the bed size is very limited and the same with height, but it might be an option for you if you are looking to get into lasers. For business purposes if you want to jump in with more of a production model, you honestly cannot go wrong with one of these 60W or even the 80W machines. Iv’e heard of people adding special solutions in the chillers to prevent tubes from freezing when in colder temps, I just honestly don’t know the specifics of what that is and the maintenance if the machine isn’t in use. The OMTech FB group has tons of resources though- so if you haven’t checked them out yet, it might be a good resource to look into. :)
Don't use any kind of automotive antifreeze. See my other post.
Ekspecially
That was supposed to be a 50 watt Omtech.
I bought a 50 watt Kitsch after several years experience with Laguna 1220 co2 and 2 diode lasers. I am extremely satisfied with the Kitsch and I like your installation. I have subscribed to you to learn from your experience. Good video and I look forward to more.
Thank you so much! It's been a new adventure for sure, but I really like the whole DIY approach and customization you can do with these machines.
Kristhecreative~youu uploaded excellent recording~ catch you later-;)
You took the exact same approach to getting started. Thank you for confirming my confidence.
Anytime! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions. :)
I love Custom Made Better too! You got some really cool pieces
Thank you! They have such an amazing selection of materials and items! I'm always trying different things so I was super excited about these.
@@Kristhecreative cool! What did you end up making with the sheets?
@@ForgedByCupid I made up a whole bunch of earrings with the acrylics and for the leatherette, patches for my Uncle!
Great video, well spoken, and interesting! Please keep the content coming! Subscribed,
Thank you so much! :) It is greatly appreciated!
Awesome video. I love the unboxing and the sheets. Keep going. 👍🏼
Thanks so much for your support! :D
Very informative and great video. Keep it up Kris. 🙏🏼
Aw thank you so much! That means a lot :)
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