Want to laser engrave leather and make your leather crafts stand out with the help of a leather laser engraver?
We've handpicked the 5 best laser engravers for leather, ranging from portable and handheld machines to desktop models. Each has its own advantages and offers precision and efficiency for engraving detailed designs on leather.
Keep reading to find the best laser engraver for leather that'll boost your leather laser engraving projects!
In this article:
Part 1: Laser Engravers for Leather - Top 5 Choices
When it comes to engraving leather with laser, a leather laser engraving machine is the go-to tool. This specialized equipment uses a laser beam to create detailed designs on leather surfaces.
A top-notch leather laser engraver should excel in accuracy and precise control, ensuring no burns or flames during the engraving process. Additionally, it should be versatile enough to engrave on various leather materials like faux leather and PU leather.
This comprehensive guide provides all the information you need to know about the best leather engraving machine. It compares them based on weight, laser type, power, workspace size, engravable materials, accuracy, and price.
1. LaserPecker 4 - The World's First Dual-laser Engraver for Almost All Materials
- Weight: 4 kg
- Laser Type: 450nm Blue Diode Laser & 1064nm Infrared Laser
- Laser Power: 10w + 2w
- Workspace Size: 160 mm x 120 mm (Standard); 160 mm x 300 mm (With the Slide Extension)
- Engravable Materials: Leather, Wood, Metal, Food, Paper, Fabric, Plastic, Acrylic, Glass, Ceramics, etc.
- Engraving Accuracy: 0.0019 mm
- Price: $1,599 USD
- Where to Buy: LaserPecker 4 (LP4) - The World's First Dual-laser Engraver for Almost All Materials
LaserPecker 4 is the world's first dual laser engraver for virtually all materials. This versatility allows it to fulfill all your leather engraving needs under any circumstances.
With two lasers—a 10 W 450nm Blue Diode Laser and a 2 W 1064nm Infrared Laser, this machine isn't limited to just engraving leather.(Learn more with the LaserPecker 4 Full Review) It can also cut through specific wood materials like faux leather and PU leather. So it's not just a top choice for laser engraving, but also a reliable laser cutter for leather.
Besides, it is also a portable and handheld laser engraver. Weighing just 4 kg, you can easily lift it with one hand. Compared with other machines, Its compact build ensures it can be placed anywhere and effortlessly disassembled and reassembled. Whether you're on the move or at home, you can bring it along and have it up and running in no time.
Even more impressive, this machine offers optional accessories like a slide extension and rotary extension. The slide extension increases the working area from 160*120 to 160*300, making it perfect for large-scale or batch leather material engraving. Meanwhile, the rotary extension allows you to engrave on various cylindrical objects with curved surfaces, like bottles, cans, trophies, and more.
2. LaserPecker LX1 - Foldable Multi-Functional Laser Cutter & Engraver for Leather
- Weight: 5kg
- Laser Type: 450 Blue Laser/1064 Infrared Laser
- Laser Power: 20w/10w/2w
- Workspace Size: 1400 x 420 mm
- Engravable Materials:leather, Wood, paper, cardboard,acrylic, stone, glass, ceramics, stainless steel, titanium, and aluminum oxide, etc.
- Accuracy & Precision: 0.01 mm
- Price: $1329.99 USD
- Where to Buy: LaserPecker LX1
LaserPecker LX1 is the world's best foldable multi-functional laser cutter and engraver. With unmatched power within the LaserPecker series, this laser machine is engineered to tackle all your leather engraving tasks with ease.
This machine is equipped with three laser sources: a 20 W 450nm blue diode laser, a 10 W 450nm blue diode laser, and a 2 W 1064nm infrared laser. Its capability goes beyond leather engraving, as it can also cut through various materials like leather, wood and acrylic.
Additionally, it features an innovative "Artisr Module," allowing for creative drawing on any material with felt pens, markers, pencils, and other mediums.
Beyond its remarkable power, this machine is built with convenience in mind. Weighing just 5 kg, it's easy to handle and transport, requiring only one hand to carry. Its foldable design sets it apart from other framed laser engraving machines, ensuring easy placement and portability.
Moreover, safety is a top priority with this machine. It features an "emergency stop button" that enables you to halt the laser instantly with a gentle touch. Recognizing the heightened fire risk associated with increased laser power, it incorporates "high temp control" to cease engraving or cutting operations if internal temperatures surpass 50°C.
Main Features of LaserPecker LX1
- Three laser Modules: Easily handle engraving and cutting tasks, covering everything from paper to glass to metal
- More precise engraving & cutting: Up to 0.01mm engraving & cutting accuracy
- High resolution: Up to 4k ultra fine engraving
- Minimalist foldable frame: Always ready for immediate use and effortless placement
3. Glowforge Pro - A Flagship 45W CO2 Laser Engraver for Leather
- Weight: 58.51 kg
- Laser Type: CO2 Laser
- Laser Power: 45W
- Workspace Size: 279 x 495 mm
- Engravable Materials: Leather, Wood, Paper, Acrylic and more materials.
- Engraving Accuracy: 0.025 mm
- Price: $4995.00 USD
- Where to Buy: Glowforge Pro
The Glowforge Pro stands as the flagship 45W CO2 laser engraver from Glowforge, offering unparalleled power and performance in its class.
Much like diode laser engravers, the Glowforge Pro demonstrates remarkable material compatibility, handling leather, wood, metal, and plastic with ease. Meanwhile, it's notable for its powerful 45-watt output and large workspace set it apart from most diode laser engravers.
Sure, CO2 lasers like the Glowforge Pro have their drawbacks. Their larger size and heavier weight make them less convenient to use on the go and require alot of space to place.
In addition, their high power poses safety challenges, often requiring enclosed designs to protect users from potential harm. However, this enclosed design can limit the machine's expandability and engraving space.
Fortunately, the Glowforge Pro has addressed some of these challenges with a notable improvement: the inclusion of a material passthrough slot (6.3mm x 508mm). This innovation expands the ability to engrave and cut larger materials.
4. xTool M1 - Hybrid Laser and Blade Cutter & Engraver
- Weight: 9.8KG
- Laser Type: Diode Laser
- Laser Power: 10W
- Workspace Size: 385 x 300 mm
- Engravable Materials: Leather, Wood, Stainless Steel, Ceramic, MDF, Jade, Marble, Fabric, etc.
- Accuracy & Precision: 0.01 mm
- Price: $999.00 USD
- Where to Buy: xTool M1
xTool M1 is a revolutionary laser machine in recent years. It's the world's first laser machine to integrate diode laser technology with blade cutting, making a creative leap forward in the field.
Equipped with a 10W 450nm diode laser, the xTool M1 is capable of engraving a wide range of materials including leather, wood, metal, and plastic. Additionally, its unique blade cutting function allows for precise cutting of delicate materials like paper, vinyl, and thin leather. This multifunctional approach tries to enhence machine's flexibility and address the drawback of burned marks often associated with laser engraving. But what about the result?
While the xTool M1 is innovative, the xTool M1 does have some drawbacks worth considering. One issue is its engraving accuracy (only 0.01mm), which falls short compared to its counterparts.
In addition, the integration of the laser and the blade in one unit sacrifices the distance between the laser head and the material to be processed. This limitation poses challenges, affecting the quality of laser engraving and limiting the thickness of materials that can be engraved.
Nevertheless, the xTool M1 remains an appealing choice, especially for beginners, thanks to its affordable price and versatility in handling various engraving and cutting tasks.
5. LaserPecker 2 - Best Beginner/Entry-Level Laser Engraver
- Weight: 2.72 kg
- Laser Type: 450nm Blue Diode Laser
- Laser Power: 5W
- Workspace Size: 100 x 100 mm (Basic); 100 x 2000mm (With LP Electric Roller)
- Engravable Materials: Leather, Bamboo, Paper, Food, Plastic, Wood, Fabric, Photosensitive printing, Lacquered metal, Anodized aluminum, 304 stainless steel, Plastic, Acrylic, Tinted glass, Color glaze ceramics, etc.
- Accuracy & Precision: 0.05 mm
- Price: $699.00 USD
- Where to Buy: LaserPecker 2 (LP2) - Best Portable Laser Engraver Designed for Leather
LaserPecker 2 is the perfect entry-level laser engraving machine that excels in leather engraving. Despite its small size and lightweight design (2.72kg), LaserPecker 2 handles various leather materials effortlessly.
But its versatility doesn't end there. it can also engrave on metal, glass, ceramic, leather, paper, acrylic, and beyond. Moreover, with a power bank, you can kickstart your engraving projects anytime, anywhere without being tethered to a power outlet.
While LaserPecker 2 might have a slightly lower laser power compared to LaserPecker LX1 or 4, resulting in engraving results that may not be as impactful, it remains an attractive option for newcomers to wood laser engraving, offering a great balance between affordability and performance.
Main Features of LaserPecker 2
- More Compatible Materials: It is applicable for most materials from leather to metal, plastic and wood.
- High Engraving Accuracy: LP2 is equipped dual optical lens, which allows it to engrave on metal with up to 2K High Resolution
- Multi-functional: LP2 has abundant add-ons & working modes
Part 2: What Type of Laser Is Right for Leather Engraving?
Selecting a suitable laser source for leather can be daunting due to the variety of options available in the market, including diode, CO2 and fiber lasers.
Leather comes in various types like genuine leather, patent leather, synthetic leather and more.
For most of synthetic leather's engraving, diode and CO2 lasers are popular choices. They're cost-effective and compact, making them perfect for leather engraving tasks. Additionally, these versatile lasers can engrave a wide range of materials including metal, paper, glass, plastic, and ceramic.
If your engraving tasks involve thicker and larger leather pieces, fiber lasers are the optimal solution. Their higher power enables them to effortlessly handle thicker leather materials.
In summary, selecting the optimal leather engraving tool depends on various factors such as the type of leather, its thickness, desired level of precision, and the scale of the project. Diode lasers are often preferred for their versatility and cost-efficiency, but CO2 and diode lasers can also be suitable depending on specific requirements
Part 3: How to Choose The Right Leather Laser Engraving Machine?
There are a few things you need to consider when you choose a leather laser engraver. Below are the things to take into account:
1. Purpose
The first thing you need to think about is your purpose in buying a laser engraver, starting your own hobby, gift customization, or starting your small business. The different purposes will lead to different choices: you can choose an entry-level laser engraver if you want to start a new hobby or gift customization.
However, you need to choose a more powerful laser for your small business and better laser engraving effects, you can choose machines like LaserPecker LX1, Xtool M1 and Glowforge Pro.
Once you have thought clearly about your purpose, you can narrow down your choices.
2. Leather type
As we mentioned before, it's the target materials that decide what type of laser you choose. You can use a fiber laser if you want to engrave on thicker leather (more than 15 mm). But if you're embarking on smaller home-scale leather engraving endeavors, a diode laser is the way to go.
3. User Friendliness
It's a little challenging to learn a new machine or technique. There are two main factors that determine user-friendliness: the software and the tutorials across various platforms. Easy-to-use, stable and free software is a must-have for laser machines as it involves design work and engraving settings.
What's more, various tutorials are also necessary as learning to operate a laser machine and master the art of engraving and cutting different materials can be quite extensive. The more guide is provided, the quicker you will get familiar with the machine.
4. Extra Feature
Furthermore, does the machine come with a rotary module or other valuable accessories? Having a rotary module onboard facilitates engraving on cylindrical objects with ease.
Furthermore, expandability and other advanced features enrich the machine's functionality, empowering users to tackle a wider range of engraving tasks.
Conclusion
After thorough research and comparisons, we've identified the top 5 choices that excel in leather laser engraving, taking into account elements such as product design, software versatility, and user-friendliness.
Of these choices, the LaserPecker LX1 and LaserPecker 4 emerge as our top recommendations. Not only are they budget-friendly, but they also boast impressive laser power. With these machines, you're sure to find the perfect laser engraving solution for your leather projects!
