Best For Hobbyists/Woodworkers: ORTUR Laser Master 2 20W

We surveyed our parent readers to find those hobbyists who love to work with wood. Then we asked for advice on the best laser cutting machine for wood (or for hobbyists).

After taking these suggestions, we compared several machines before deciding ORTUR’s Laser Master 2 is the best bet for most hobbyists. We thought this machine was perfect for wood projects, for craftsmen who just want to tinker around . . . or create personalized gifts.

Here’s more: 

What We Liked

• Easy to set up.

• Easy to use.

• Best for lines, not shading.

• Perfect for wood projects, but also can engrave on leather, plastic, and film-coated glass.

What Needs Work

• Requires assembly (which takes about 30 minutes).

• Learning curve. Yes, this machine works with popular software like LightBurn . . . but it takes a bit of practice. And the instructions could be more clear.

Best Engraving Tool For Crafts: Uolor 109 Pcs Engraving Tool Kit

For the best handheld engraving tool, we’d recommend Uolor’s Engraving Kit with 109 pieces.

No, that isn’t a typo—this tool comes with 109 total pieces, include 82 accessories (drill bits, grinders, sanders and so on). There are also 24 stencils, with letters, numbers, graphics and more. We were impressed with the overall bang for the buck and quality here.

This tool was recommended by our crafty readers who love it for crafting.

What We Liked

• Great for engraving tools and items.

• Easy to use.

• Ergonomic grip.

• Stepless speeds from 3,000 to 20,000 RPM.

What Needs Work

• Cord could be longer.

• Not enough power to do extensive projects. We’d say this engraver is better for light duty crafts.

Best Engraving Tool For Marking: Dremel 290-01 120-Volt Engraver Rotary Tool

Our local police department suggest folks engrave items like bicycles (or other valuables) with your name or driver’s license number. Why? If the items are stolen, you can be reunited with your stuff if recovered by police. (Tip: engrave this info on a hidden area of the item, so it isn’t filed off).

If you want a simple engraving tool to mark possessions, we’d recommend Dremel’s 290-01 engraver rotary tool. This tool is nothing fancy, but gets the job done—you get one carbide point . . . and that is about it.

What We Liked

• Lightweight.

• Easy to use.

• Affordable.

• Can engrave metal, wood, leather, tools, china, steel, stone, etc.

What Needs Work

• No other accessories are included. Yep, there is just one tip and one letter stencil. So this engraving tool is less ideal for crafting, as you’d probably need to buy additional bits or blades.

• Noisy. And it vibrates uncomfortably when in use, in our opinion. Of course, for quickly marking a possession, that is an acceptable trade-off.

Best Tool for Small Businesses: OMTech CO2 Laser Engraver, 8″x12″ Desktop K40 Laser Engraving Machine

If you are making homemade crafts and reselling them, you probably need a more robust solution than the laser engraver recommended earlier in this article. And if you have a small business where you offer personalized engraving, this would be our recommendation—OMTech’s CO2 laser engraver.

Yes, it is pricey . . . but the engraving is flawless, said one of our readers who uses it in her small business. Quality is impressive.

Here’s more:

What We Liked

• Easy to set up.

• Can etch glass.

• Engraves: fabric, acrylic, ceramic, leather, cloth, melamine, paper, rubber, tile, plastic, cork, and more.

• Software included.

• USB port to attach computer.

• Fast engraving speed.

What Needs Work

• Work area is a bit small (3.5″ by 8″ is the rough estimate).

• Software is Windows only (no Mac version). On the plus side, you can use other software to control this machine as well.

• Learning curve could be helped by better directions.

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do extensive research, evaluating products with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!