Make Laser Engraved Jewelry with the xTool F1 Laser Machine

Have you wondered if it is easy to make engraved metal jewelry with a laser? I have the xTool F1, which is a portable and handheld dual mode laser machine, and it’s perfect for those of you that want to engrave custom and personalized jewelry projects! Keep reading to discover how the xTool F1 can transform simple metal jewelry blanks into something amazing!

xTool F1 Laser

If you are an avid crafter, you may know a little about large desktop laser machines like the xTool P2, xTool S1, or even the Glowforge. But did you know that there is a smaller version that can you can carry with one hand and has not one, but TWO included laser modules?

The xTool F1 is a portable desktop laser craft machine that combines the power of a 10W diode laser as well as an 2W infrared laser module! That means you can engrave all materials that you can with a diode laser like the xTool S1 AND engrave all metals with the infrared laser!

I frequently get asked if I can laser engrave jewelry with my laser machines? And the answer is a resounding YES! The xTool F1 is PERFECT for engraving jewelry, especially metal jewelry!

Since wavelengths of infrared light are able to interact with materials differently than other types of lasers, you will be able to add all types of metals (copper, gold, silver, aluminum, etc) as well as plastics, some acrylics, stones, and additional materials to your craft project list! Yes, that means all of the jewelry you can think of can be engraved by the xTool F1!

Before I get started on all of the details of engraving jewelry with the xTool F1, if you want to compare laser types, materials you can cut or engrave, and figure out what the best laser machine is for you, make sure you check out this laser machine comparison post. I have included all of the larger laser machines that I am familiar with, including the Glowforge Aura.

Laser Engraving Metal Jewelry with an Infrared Laser

When you begin to read about engraving jewelry, you typically hear about fiber laser machines. But the infrared laser that is in the xTool F1 is the type of light that is typically used in fiber lasers, but at a lower wattage. The best part about the F1 is that it is more affordable and much more compact than traditional fiber lasers.

What is an Infrared Laser?

Infrared lasers use a diode to produce light. They are named for the wavelength of light that they emit: 1064nm, which falls in the invisible infrared spectrum. In fact, it is often confused with a fiber laser, which also operates in the infrared spectrum. The light emitted by the laser diodes is reflected and then passed through a lens to create a laser beam.

Infrared Laser vs. Fiber Laser

With a fiber laser, the light is directed through a fiber optic cable, creating a powerful laser beam. The wavelength at which the light is emitted is determined by the material used in the core of the fiber optic cable.

Infrared laser modules operate at a much lower power level, typically around 2W (like the modules offered with the xTool S1 and contained within the F1). Fiber lasers usually start at 20W of power and go up from there (into hundreds of watts!) Because fiber lasers are so much more powerful, they are also more expensive.

*Note: Powerful fiber lasers can CUT metal, but a 2W infrared laser can only engrave (or mark) metal jewelry. If you wish to create your own laser cut jewelry, a fiber laser is what you will need look into.

What are Infrared Lasers Used For?

What does all that mean for a home crafter like you? Unlike a diode or CO2 laser, the infrared laser beam interacts with ALL kinds of metal (including gold, silver, platinum, and copper), and makes it perfect for engraving and marking jewelry pieces and metal crafts. Infrared lasers also interact well with acrylic, and produce clear and detailed engravings.

Because infrared lasers like the F1 start at lower power levels, you can make all of these projects at the fraction of a cost of owning a commercial fiber laser. But don’t worry, these smaller infrared lasers for engraving metal are still fast and powerful enough to make amazing engraved metal jewelry!

What Can the xTool F1 Engrave?

Because of the dual laser functions, there are tons of materials that will work with the F1. xTool has a wide range of blank materials on their website that work great with their lasers.

F1 Blue Diode Laser Materials (Engrave):

• Wood
• Acrylic (some colors)
• Paper
• Cardboard
• Fabric
• Felt
• Glass
• Ceramic
• Stainless Steel
• Slate Coasters
• and More!

The infrared laser is where I get all excited because of all of the metals you can engrave! Almost every piece of metal jewelry can be engraved with the F1!

F1 Infrared Laser Materials (Engrave):

• Gold
• Silver
• Platinum
• Copper
• Aluminum
• Stainless Steel
• Iron
• Acrylic (even clear!)
• Plastic
• Rubber, and More!

And don’t forget that the diode laser in the F1 can also CUT certain materials!

F1 Diode Laser Materials (Cut)

• Wood (including maple, cherry, and walnut)
• Bamboo
• Acrylic (some colors)
• MDF
• Leather
• Most paper and fabric products, and more!

How to Make Laser Engraved Jewelry with the xTool F1

To engrave metal jewelry blanks, you will need to set up your design like any project. You can import free SVG designs like those in my Free Downloads Library, design your own SVG files in programs like Adobe Illustrator, use photograph images, or create designs right within xTool Creative Space. You can even use a digital art program like Procreate to create your own artwork!

Determine the design that you want to engrave on your jewelry, and size it to fit the blank.

The xTool is capable of auto focusing on your material, but you can also adjust the laser focus manually by turning the knob on the right side of the machine. Both ways have worked well for me, but I do prefer adjusting the focus manually.

To make sure your design is lined up on your blank, the xTool F1 uses a very low power laser framing system to position your design on the material for engraving. Once your design is ready, you can click the Framing button on the bottom right of the screen. The xTool F1 will draw a box showing the perimeter of the design, so that you can move material to the perfect position on the base of the machine.

xTool F1 Settings for Laser Engraved Jewelry

Just like with every other laser machine, laser engraving metal jewelry with the xTool F1 will require material tests to determine the best settings for each material.

Within xTool Creative Space (the in house design program used with xTool laser machines), xTool does offer built in settings for certain blank materials. As you get to know your machine, you will find certain settings work better than others, so factor that into your time designing and creating your early projects.

In general, I have found that you can use the default stainless steel settings for a lot of jewelry blanks if you want a basic laser marking (not deep) on all silver colored jewelry blanks from craft supply stores. The default setting I use is the infrared laser at 100% power, 50 speed, 1 pass. This is a good starting point if you have no clue what your settings might be. I engraved these necklaces with the default setting! The laser mark is consistent and appears to be durable. I was unable to scratch or rub it off.

However, if you want a deeper engrave or are engraving on other matierals, you will have adjust the speed way down. For these engraved beads, I used the following settings: 100% power, 10 speed, and 2 passes. The downside to these deeper engraves is that they take much more time – but I think the results are worth it!

For gold or rose gold jewelry, I reduce the speed to 5.

Laser Engraved Jewelry with the xTool F1 Laser

Here are some of the laser engraved metal jewelry projects that I have made so far with the xTool infrared laser. All of the blanks that are pictured are either from the xTool website or from my local craft stores (Hobby Lobby and Michaels).

Engraved Metal Beads for Friendship Bracelets

I engraved silver, rose gold, and gold metal beads from xTool for these friendship bracelets! My girls and I are obsessed with them!

Coordinates Bar Necklace

This is a cheap jewelry blank I found at Hobby Lobby – it was my first jewelry project with the F1 and I love it!

Engraved Spotify Code Necklace

This set of jewelry blanks was also from Hobby Lobby. I engraved the Spotify Code for my daughter’s favorite Taylor Swift sing on the larger blank, and glued a crystal for the album color on the match smaller blank!

Read the Spotify Code Necklace Tutorial

Celestial Moon Phase Necklace

I made a second necklace in the bar style – this moon phase necklace is my new favorite!

FAQs about Laser Engraving Jewelry

Is it Worth Buying a Laser Engraving Machine?

If you are interested in engraving jewelry, I definitely think that an infrared laser is a great tool to have in your craft room. I have really enjoyed it and think it would be great for making personalized gifts, or stocking a small online shop.

If you have a busy Etsy shop or small business, you might be a little disappointed in the time it takes to get close to a true engrave on metal with a low power infrared laser. I have successfully gotten very close to a true engrave on some metal coated jewelry, but it takes several passes and sometimes several minutes for a small jewelry item. If you have a much larger budget, a fiber laser might be something worth looking into.

Does the xTool F1 Mark or Engrave on Jewelry?

At faster speeds, diode and infrared lasers will “mark” metal, not engrave it like a fiber laser would. However, at lower speeds and/or with more than one pass, I have been able to engrave into the surface of blank jewelry items, as you can see in my pictures!

Is the xTool F1 Worth It?

I really like this machine, and you can read my full review of the xTool F1. I think it is a great machine for crafters that want to add engraved jewelry or small craft projects to their projects. I think it is a really great smarter machine to those of you new to lasers, too!

Can You Engrave Gold With a Laser Engraver?

You can only engrave gold with infrared or fiber lasers.

Can You Engrave Photos on Jewelry Blanks?

Yes, you can! I can’t wait to make one myself!

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