Favorite things that you use daily along with your GF

[mackimsey1]

So I’m impatiently waiting on my new/next Glowforge to arrive. First one arrived with a coolant leak

So while I wait…What are some of the most useful/ must have supplies that I should have to accompany my Glowforge?

1. Favorite Products to clean glowforge with?
2. Favorite Products to clean soot/ residue off different materials?
3. Favorite tape to use over non proof grade materials?
4. Any other must have tools/equipment? Maybe, Digital Calipers?
5. Favorite glue for assembling different materials?

Thank you in advance!

[jbv]

1: Simple Green, Zeiss Wipes
2: Fast Orange w/Pumice, alcohol, windex wipes
3: masking: TransferRite 592U, masking removal: T-Rex duct tape
4: Digital Calipers, small pokey tool, utility knife, vinyl-application squeegee, clamps
5: Fastcap 2P-10 series super glue for wood

[jason.fuller0]

For me:

1. Mostly Zeiss wipes.
2. Depends on the material, but I mostly use high content rubbing alcohol (I like 91%). For marker on ceramic tile, if I don’t want to fade the ink as much, I will use water with a toothbrush or magic eraser.
3. Just plain masking tape, typically. I normally use blue scotch, and I frequently like wider widths. (For engravings, typically like no tape overlap if I could manage that.)
4. Digital calipers, pick, plastic razor, brayer/squeegee (sometimes want to smooth the tape as much as possible
5. I typically use standard wood glue (such as Titebond original). For some applications, I use Aleene’s Quick-Dry Wood Fusion. I haven’t used any acryilic bonding agents, yet. Most other gluing, just use a straight super glue (crazy or gorilla).

[techyg]

Congrats on the purchase and welcome!!

1. I use Clorox Bleach wipes to clean the glass and tray. I use Zeiss Wipes for the lenses.
2. I also use the Clorox Bleach wipes to clean soot/residue when needed. Others have had good success with Windex, but I don’t use it.
3. I just use some cheap 2" wide masking tape from Amazon, it works pretty well.
4. Digital Calipers are a must for measuring thickness of materials, especially non PG materials, though even those can have some variation.
5. I use E6000 glue when I know it might take a bit to orient things, because it doesn’t set instantly… I have had good luck with CA glue for getting things to stick together quickly with a nice tight bond.

[Jules]

Favorite Products to clean glowforge with?

50/50 mix of vinegar and water.

Favorite Products to clean soot/ residue off different materials?

50/50 mix of vinegar and water.

Favorite tape to use over non proof grade materials?

50/50 mix of vinegar and water. Oh, no wait… ABI TransferRite Ultra Paper Tape.

Any other must have tools/equipment?

Digital calipers - definitely. Also a weeding pick - Weeding Pick.
Couple of rolls of Gorilla Tape for weeding.

Favorite glue for assembling different materials?

Gorilla Wood Glue.
DAP Rapidfuse.
Gorilla Contact Cement.
Weldon (SciGrip) # 3 or #4
Disposable gloves.

[Xabbess]

Plastic razor blades!

[cynd11]

Neodymium magnets, and holddown pins.

[jason.fuller0]

The pins being something I will be printing a bunch of when my current task set is done, especially if I can use them for material stops to be able to pull something out and place it back in the exact same spot again.

[mackimsey1]

Thanks Everyone! This has been very helpful!

[deirdrebeth]

The one thing I haven’t seen anyone list is a pin, preferably a quilters pin with a big head - I use that constantly to get stuff out so I can turn it over in the same space to work on the other side.

[mrinken]

That’s what a pocket knife is for! I NEVER go anywhere (except a plane) without it.

Amazon.com: SOG Folding Knife Pocket Knife - “Flash II” TFSA98-CP Spring Assisted Knife with 3.5” Black TiNi Half Serrated Knife Blade + Tactical Knife Grip: Home Improvement

That’s my current favorite, sharpened to a 15 degree angle and laser etched with a big 15 on it so I know.

And agreed about the magnets and holddown pins - those are priceless! BTW - if you have old hard drives, the spinny kind, there’s 2 really big magnets in each one that make awesome magnets for this. And the drives are fun to take apart.