A good mask keeps smoke stain off the surface and makes cleanup faster. Here is how we mask wood, leather, and acrylic in the shop, and when we skip it.

The LightBurn material library keeps proven settings ready to apply. Pair that with a clear use of Fill vs Line, and your layers stop fighting each other.

A dirty lens steals power and ruins focus. Here is the careful way we clean CO2 laser lenses and mirrors in the shop, and the habits that keep us from damaging them.

There is no universal power and speed chart that fits every CO2 laser. Here is how we use test grids and a material library for wood, leather, and acrylic.

When a CO2 laser leaves tabs, char, or a half-cut, don't start by turning the power all the way up. Work through focus, dirty optics, speed and power, passes, and air assist in that order.

Air assist keeps the lens cleaner, reduces flare-ups, and gives the beam a clearer path. Here are the everyday habits we use, plus when an upgraded compressor is worth it.