New Member - Michael Monteith - Greenville, NC

[Michael Monteith]

I started out on this journey in kind of a round about way. I wanted a hobby that i could also make some money to support my habit. lol I started out with a CNC3018 that did CNC but also ordered it with a laser. My first test of the CNC was to cut out an earring out of walnut. But found out there is only so small that you could go and it couldn't cut sharp corners. So I took the same design and had the laser do it. It looked so much better and posted it to my friends and family on FB. All the women went crazy and wanted a pair of earrings. It was the farthest thing from my mind to make earrings. I had problems with the laser and ended up buying an EleksMaker and have been making over a dozen earrings.

Since that time I've gotten offers from salons to sell my earrings in their salon. So now I'm tasked with making a lot more. That's when I bought a mini K40. It was touted as a 40W, but I knew the tube was too short to be 40. But I bought one at least with the removable panel on the right to put a longer tube. My main thing is to have something I can cut out these walnut earrings faster. I've only had the laser a couple of weeks. So right now having to temporarily put it in a spare bedroom. I have to create a make-shift panel for the window to vent it out.

A bit about my background. I have an extensive background in electronics. My first job was an Engineer's Aid designing and building automatic test equipment. We use PC clones at the time and we designed circuit boards for interfacing to the computer and various hardware. We also did all the programming, testing, and alignment of the equipment. Since we were the techy types in the company we also serviced all the PCs in the plant. Since then I worked at a fortune 500 company on their helpdesk, then as Unix system admin for over 15 years. Now I work at a small company designing and maintaining web applications for the company.

I'm in the process of getting a shop built since I need better controlled environment than my garage. Also looking at actually starting up a business so I can do all this right. The business end of it will be all new to me as far as starting one, etc. I've looked at about all the usual sites on businesses and guess I just need to get it done. But working 40hrs a week and all does limit my time.

I love watching Russ's videos and I belong to at least half dozen or more laser groups on FB for the EleksMaker and the Chinese Lasers. I'm constantly suggesting Russ's videos to people who are having various issues or need to understand something. I'm not sure what to expect here. Hoping maybe someone in my area has the same interests. I certainly don't mind helping people out. If I don't have the answer myself I at least usually have a bookmark somewhere on the information.

[Gene Uselman]

Welcome Michael- you seem very well qualified for this hobby. I have also cut hundreds of earrings from many species of solid wood for my step-daughter and granddaughter who sell in boutiques. I since have set up a 24x36 100w laser in their A/C garage. I source wood from Ocooch hardwoods in Wisc with no problems- they call it project wood, many sizes/thicknesses and species. Gene

[Pete Cyr]

Welcome Michael -
I see you were finally able to break through into the Forum -sorry for your troubles.

[Michael Monteith]

Thanks. So far I've just used the walnut. I've got so many requests that I haven't got to try out any other woods and also try out the dyes I have. Guess that's a good thing. I'll check out that place. I'm sure I'll get to where I need larger batches of wood. Most of mine have come from E-Bay or Amazon and only 1-3 boards at a time. Thanks again.

Welcome Michael- you seem very well qualified for this hobby. I have also cut hundreds of earrings from many species of solid wood for my step-daughter and granddaughter who sell in boutiques. I since have set up a 24x36 100w laser in their A/C garage. I source wood from Ocooch hardwoods in Wisc with no problems- they call it project wood, many sizes/thicknesses and species. Gene

[Michael Monteith]

Thanks. It's quite alright. I'm here now. That's what counts. Thanks again.

Welcome Michael -
I see you were finally able to break through into the Forum -sorry for your troubles.

[Pete Cyr]

Thanks.

[/quote]

Your welcome.