Glowforge FAQ: Engraving Glass, Cutting Foam Core & More Answers for Crafters & Small Shops

What You’ll Find Here: Honest Answers from a User Who Runs Orders for Both a 50-Person Office and a Weekend Craft Booth

I'm the office administrator for a mid-sized company—I manage all our printing and signage orders, roughly $40k a year. On weekends, I run a small Etsy shop making custom gifts and laser-cut organizers. I’ve been using a Glowforge for about two years. This FAQ covers the questions I hear most from other crafters and small business owners, plus a few things I wish someone had told me upfront.

Note: Prices I mention are from 2024-2025 quotes, but always verify with your supplier. Things change.

Can Glowforge engrave glass? Yes, but here's what nobody told me.

Short answer: yes. The Glowforge can engrave glass, and it does a pretty good job. I've done wine glasses, mirrors, and glass cutting boards.

Here's the kicker: it's not about the power settings as much as the prep. Everything I read said to use a damp paper towel over the glass. Turns out, that’s only half the story.

The trick: You need to put the glass on a piece of cardboard or wood inside the machine. The laser reflects off the glass and can damage the tray underneath. I learned this the expensive way—$200 replacement tray (ugh).

Also, not all glass is created equal. Colored or coated glass? It's a gamble. Clear, flat glass consistently gives the best result. I still kick myself for not testing first on a cheap piece before ruining a $30 set of beer mugs.

What is the best Glowforge setting for engraving glass?

I've tested a bunch of combinations. The most consistent I've found is:

• Speed: 80-90% (faster is better to avoid cracking)
• Power: 100%
• LPI: 350 (for a smoother finish)
• Passes: 1

But here's the thing: every Glowforge is slightly different. What works for mine might need a minor tweak for yours. I always run a small test grid on a scrap piece of glass first.

Can you cut foam core with a laser engraver?

Yes, but proceed with caution. I cut foam core for displays and packaging prototypes regularly. A Glowforge (or any CO2 laser cutter) will cut it cleanly.

The two risks nobody warns you about:

1. Fire. Foam core is highly flammable. You absolutely cannot walk away from the machine while cutting it. I nearly had a small fire once—since then, I babysit every cut.
2. Melting. The heat can melt the foam edges instead of cutting, leaving a sticky mess. Solution: lower power, faster speed, and one pass. If it doesn't cut through, don't re-run immediately; let the material cool down.

Granted, this requires more attention than cutting acrylic or wood. But for quick mockups, it's worth it.

Plasma cutter vs laser engraver: Are they the same thing? (No, and here's why it matters)

A client once asked if I could 'plasma cut' their project on my Glowforge. That's when I realized the confusion is real. Let me clear it up:

• Plasma cutter: Uses a high-temperature jet of ionized gas to cut through conductive metals (steel, aluminum). Industrial shop use only. Not a desktop machine.
• Laser engraver (like Glowforge): Uses a focused beam of light to cut or engrave non-metals (wood, acrylic, leather, glass) and some coated metals (like anodized aluminum for marking only).

If you need to cut 1/4" steel for a sign frame, you need a plasma cutter (and a workshop). If you're engraving cutting boards or cutting foam core for display boxes, you need a laser engraver. Simple.

I get why people mix them up—both use the word 'cutter.' But they are completely different tools for different jobs.

What is the best laser cutter and engraver for a small business?

This is the question I get asked most, and my answer always comes with a caveat: it depends on your product and your budget.

For what I do (custom gifts, small batch production, prototypes), a Glowforge is the right fit. I paid ~$4,000 for my unit (a 2023 price—they've changed since). I've earned that back in about 9 months selling coasters, signs, and glassware.

But it's not for everyone. After a year of use, I'll be honest about the downsides:

• Pro: Ease of use. I had it set up and making my first cut in 30 minutes. The software is cloud-based and intuitive.
• Con: Internet dependency. If your Wi-Fi goes down, so does your Glowforge. That's a real headache.
• Con: It can't cut metal. If your product line ever needs that, you'll need a different machine.

Alternatives I considered:

• OMTech: Cheaper, but more DIY. Requires manual setup and more technical knowledge.
• Epilog: More industrial, much higher price point ($10k+). For high volume, maybe worth it, but overkill for most home businesses.

To be fair, the Glowforge isn't the most powerful machine on the market, but for a crafter starting out, the learning curve is almost flat. That alone saved me weeks of trial and error.

Is rush delivery worth it when I need a laser cutter fast?

I had a client who wanted 200 custom coasters for a conference in two weeks. My regular order of extra proofgrade materials would have taken 7-10 days, no problem. But I miscalculated my stock. I ended up paying $400 extra for rush delivery from a supplier because the alternative was missing a $15,000 event order.

Was it worth it? Yes. I budget for that now. The price of certainty is real. Missing that deadline would have cost me the client and a reputation I've spent two years building.

If you're in a time crunch, paying extra for guaranteed delivery is buying peace of mind. Uncertain cheap delivery is often more expensive.

Key Takeaways I've Learned the Hard Way

• Always test glass engraving on a scrap piece first.
• Don't leave the machine unattended when cutting foam core.
• Know the difference between a plasma cutter and a laser engraver before you buy.
• Pay for delivery certainty when a client's deadline is on the line.

Hopefully this FAQ saves you some of the headaches I went through. Happy making!