Best Co2 cutter for around $3000-$4000

[Steven Jones28]

I am in the market for a laser cutter. I have read several posts and still undecided on what to get. This is going to be an add on in my woodworking business so i need one that will last. I saw a Laguna 12/20 at Rockler's not sure if that is a good brand. Any suggestions are appreciated. Thank you

[John Lifer]

Others will chime in, but under no circumstances would I buy that or any other small bed laser for anywhere near that money. You can read a lot here, and get varying opinions. This is such a limiting size laser, what are you going to do if you have a 12x24 cutting board? It aint fitting. Or a 8x10x4" cube? it ain't fitting.
This is the major issue with this type of laser, size. No Z height. And No way to pass through larger items.
Look at small Rabbit. Yes Chinese built, but US reseller with good reputation. Or Import yourself from China, Or Step up and spend three or four times that for small Epilog or Trotec. Boss is another to maybe look at. I know that three years ago, I could have gotten a 500x600mm bed with about a 6" or so Z height for about $3k, maybe $4 now with tariffs. Lot of options.

[Rich Harman]

...I have read several posts and still undecided on what to get.

It's a good thing I wasn't drinking coffee when I read that...

[Bert Kemp]

seriously look at spending a little more money and look at a Rabbit or maybe a Boss laser you won't be sorry

[Kev Williams]

you may laugh, but 'reading a few posts' is how I ended up with my Triumph 1390 :)

[Bill George]

It's a good thing I wasn't drinking coffee when I read that...

Thinking the same thing. He needs to spend some time on here doing some research, not just a couple of posts. I guess the worst would have been, I purchased this laser on eBay and ……

[Steven Jones28]

Thinking the same thing. He needs to spend some time on here doing some research, not just a couple of posts. I guess the worst would have been, I purchased this laser on eBay and ……


I have read quite a lot of post on several sites. So many contradictions on brands. I didn't see anything on the new laguna that's why i asked.

Thank you

[Bert Kemp]

Well you said 3 to 4k and Lagunas start at about 5500 thats why I suggested spending a little more. I can't ever recall anyone here using a Laguna except for a couple that have there huge industrial lasers(big bucks) You haven;t said anything about what you will do with it, how big do you need how much power do you need. Can't really help with out some more info.
I've had my Rabbit Laser going on 5 years now haven't had any significant problems with it, still on it original tube. and support from them is the best.

[Bill George]

Try this Search here. Laguna laser site:www.sawmillcreek.org

[Jerome Stanek]

Thinking the same thing. He needs to spend some time on here doing some research, not just a couple of posts. I guess the worst would have been, I purchased this laser on eBay and ……

I have a wonderful laser that is a workhorse and I do mean that I did purchase a laser from Ebay and it has earning me money now that some of the other more expensive units with the same specs would still be paying off. My laser cost me less then half of what a Rabbit that has a smaller bed and less power and no rotary and I had it up and running in 4 days of my ordering it.

[Steven Jones28]

I have a wood workshop and a real estate solutions company.

For the woodshop i will use it for patterns, jigs, signs, models, cosplay and other projects.

For the real estate side we buy promotional products (key chains, coasters, custom gifts) and would start to make our own. We have a lot of people asking us for products and have a market to provide local products to people in our network.

Overall i am very green to laser cutters but don't want to spend 10k

To answer the other question the Laguna 12/20 is 4k with 10% this month it is a portable version and can do large pieces with access to slide large pieces underneath. Comes with air compressor, Water cooler pump, and exhaust fan.

After looking at the boss it cost more but looks like a better product over all.

[Gavin Hamblin]

you may laugh, but 'reading a few posts' is how I ended up with my Triumph 1390 :)

Haha, this is my exact situation right now. Went from looking at a Snapmaker to a G. Weike 1390N

[Joe Abenhaim]

Haha, this is my exact situation right now. Went from looking at a Snapmaker to a G. Weike 1390N

If you don't mind me asking, how much was your weike 1390 ?

[Jerome Stanek]

I bought mine from a seller on Ebay they had 80 to 130 watts lasers listed in their store. The seller was Goldraydigital and I am very happy with them. I ordered my laser on a Friday and had it up and running on the next Wednesday They were good to respond after the sale also as one of the fans in the chiller was not working and after they saw a video they shipped out a new one only took 3 days.

[Steve Krahn]

I will second the Rabbit option. I have had mine for a year and a half, and the biggest problem was a fualty tube which was replaced under warranty. The machine performs well, and the service is good.

[Kev Williams]

Some personal perspective about big Chinese lasers:

This was my 1390 Triumph sitting in the warehouse parking lot in China, waiting for the rest of the crate to be built around it:
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and it's first stop in my garage shop-
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Since 'options' are always brought up, I want to point out that this machine was an experiment, so I wanted as cheap as possible, so it is totally option-free. Note the stationary table, doesn't go up or down. But it DOES come out. And NOT getting the moving table was the best thing I did. Because had I gotten the moving table, none of these engraving procedures would have been possible:

this wood 'table' and a couple of clamps (there's now 3 clamps),
cermarking cowbells-
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Just find whatever works for what I need, like holding up
these elk antlers, these were fun--
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an old shelf and a few 'attachments' allows me to level
out these PIA 'mega' cowbells to be cermarked-
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Here I'm doing a 10" tall aluminum box, note the box
is resting on bottom of the crap-catch drawer--
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If I remove the drawer (I cut out the metal below it so I could do this)
I now have a 19-1/4" x 12" hole that goes clear to the floor, which gives
me 38" of vertical focus clearance-!

This electronics housing is 17-1/2" x 7" x 28" tall, I'm using one of my
longer lens tubes (Triumph made them for me), and it's sitting on scrap
wood blocks, I still have 10" of space left...
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This is a $900 Ebby Rane suitcase, I think I did 120 of these...
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SO, I got the ability to laser engrave lots of stuff that normally isn't do-able, just by getting a stationary table-- which BTW IS a pain to remove and put back, but that's the only drawback. And the best part? -including the cheap 3000 chiller (replaced), a blower, air assist pump, shipping and duties, cost was less than $5000 to my door... As an experiment this machine has been a huge success, it's paid for itself many times over in the 6 years I've owned it. :)

[Chuck Kahler]

Anyone with experience on Glowforge laser?

[Jerome Stanek]

Anyone with experience on Glowforge laser?

Just go to their forum and see the problems and support also everything else threads. Also no phone support and email is like 3 days if your lucky. Not worth the money

[Bert Kemp]

serch here for glowforge no on has anything good to say