Getting Started - What Lasers Can Fit a Wide Brim Hat
You're ready to dive into the world of laser hat burning, but you have no idea where to start.
The research process is overwhelming, and what the fudge do you actually need?
I get it. Been there, melted down about that. Now that I have some experience, I created a starting point for you newbies. The most important factor when choosing a laser specifically for wide brim hat burning is SIZE. Many of the most common lasers are awesome machines, but can't fit a full hat in one pass. Trust me, you don't want to spend the time trying to line up pieced together designs perfectly because your laser isn't large enough to burn the whole thing in one go.
At the minimum, you need a 400x400 working engraving space to burn the full brim of a hat in one pass.
Height will be your second factor. You need to be able to raise your laser head up about 5-6 inches. Some lasers have leg extensions you can buy separately, and some lasers you'll have to get creative and raise it up yourself. An open frame laser (meaning the enclosure is not build in) seems to work better than most enclosed lasers.
Next, consider what other materials you might want to use with your laser. Hats are fun, but don't limit yourself. Wood, acrylic, metal? Different lasers work on different mediums, so think in advance, and choose the one that's best for you.
