20+ Cool xTool Projects You Can Make (w/ Download Links)

When it comes to laser engravers and cutters, xTool hybrid machines are up there with the most innovative, accurate, and affordable machines available. They’re easy to use and highly versatile, making them ideal for hobbyists, business owners, and educators alike.

However, it can be difficult to know just what to do with it – they can do so much. They’re perfect for cutting and engraving plastic and acrylic, and can even be used on wood as long as it’s not too thick. As for metal, the xTool D1 Pro 10W can engrave stainless steel with the same high precision it boasts on wood and plastics.

While you may already have some ideas for what to do with your new xTool, there are quite a lot of options to choose from.

Here we’re going to explain exactly what xTool machines can do, as well as take a look at some of the coolest projects you can try out today.

Who is an xTool Ideal For?

Those of you looking to sell your creations online will be happy to hear that designs can be easily and quickly replicated for stock items, and the high precision makes custom orders a breeze too. Overall, the xTool machines are ideal regardless of your purpose, whether you’re cutting and engraving for personal, educational, or professional reasons.

In essence, xTools are the best option for both beginners who want a fresh and easy start in laser cutting and engraving, as well as professionals who need highly precise, fast machines for their stores.

Should You Get the 10W or 20W?

The standard laser for an xTool engraver is 10W, which can cut and engrave acrylic, wood, and engrave some metals. The 20W doesn’t cut or engrave any materials the 10W can’t, but it takes fewer passes to do so. Effectively, depending on the material and complexity of the project, the 20W laser can perform up to 3x faster than the 10W.

This means that the 20W laser is more ideal for business owners and professionals who need high productivity and turnover than it is for hobbyists who only want to make simple home projects. For more information on the xTool D1 Pro 20W, feel free to check out our complete xTool review here, and we have also written an in-depth comparison between the xTool D1 Pro 5W, 10W, and 20W lasers.

Now that we know what they can do, let’s take a look at some of the coolest xTool projects to help you get inspired.

xTool D1 Pro 10W: Higher Accuracy Diode DIY Laser Engraving & Cutting

$629.99

And if you need even more power, go for the 20W version (we did!)

xTool D1 Pro 10W: Higher Accuracy Diode DIY Laser Engraving & Cutting

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xTool D1 Pro | 20W

$1,399.99

Upgraded laser engraver, 20W Laser Cutter, 120W higher accuracy laser engraving machine for engraving 340+ colors on metal steel

xTool here

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Bookmarks

Bookmarks need to be thin enough that they fit comfortably in the book without falling out, and they’re also ripe for customization. Because of this, the combination cutting and engraving features of the xTool make it the perfect machine for the task.

For our tests, we tried making My Hero Academia and Celtic knot bookmarks which turned out really well!

Leaves and Flowers

Nature motifs are popular for bringing a little bit of the great outdoors to the comfort of your home. Making bookmarks that look like leaves and flowers is a cinch with an xTool, and they look great too.

These bookmarks are perfect as gifts and are especially useful for people who like to read more than one book at a time.

Christmas Bookmarks

Speaking of gifts, homemade Christmas presents is a great way to give thoughtful presents while taking a little of the often jarring commercialism out of the holidays.

These Christmas bookmarks are great laser cut examples of such gifts to spread some Christmas cheer to your book-loving friends. This makes the gift of a good book even better and much more meaningful.

All-In-One Bookmarks

For more year-round bookmarks you can make with your xTool, this selection of insightful and comforting bookmarks are definitely worth saving.

The creative images and nice messages engraved into the bookmarks are a delight to see every time you reopen your current or favorite read, and there are enough to choose from that you can have a new experience with every book.

The pro-literature phrases and sayings on many of these bookmarks also make them an ideal gift for little ones you want to inspire to read more.

Coasters

Coasters are another ideal xTool project for the same reason as bookmarks. The cutting and engraving capabilities of the xTool mean you can shape and design each coaster using only one device.

These coasters can be as complex or as simple as you like, allowing you to let your imagination run wild.

When making your own coasters with your xTool, just be sure the engraving doesn’t go too deep. Intricate designs can create a spillage risk if the surface isn’t sufficiently flat.

Just like with bookmarks, we actually made a few coasters with the xTool for our review. The Mandala patterns turned out particularly well.

Rock Coasters

Because the xTool can engrave slate, you can make some excellent rock coasters with just a few simple steps. Though because the xTool can’t cut slate, you will need to prepare the shape ahead of time, or even buy your preferred shape like these heart shaped ones.

These coasters are more weather resistant than wood, and so are perfect for patios, barbeques, and even outdoor excursions like camping, as these clever and funny coasters show.

To find out exactly how to make your own rock coasters, you can follow these detailed instructions laid out by xTool themselves.

Floppy Disk Coasters

It may be tempting to pass these over lest you risk showing your age, but you can’t deny these floppy disk coasters are a pretty cool blast from the past and make for some amusing coffee table additions.

Coffee Coasters

Coffee-themed coasters have been a household staple for generations. They’re quirky, they’re fitting, and they can be quite fun.

This selection of eight different coffee coasters would make a great addition to any kitchen, and are perfect to break out for afternoon guests. The wording on each ranges from funny to charming, and you’re sure to pick out at least one favorite from the group that you can keep just for you.

Puzzles

The precision and accuracy of the xTool lend themselves well to making your very own puzzles. 3D puzzles and jigsaws are excellent ways to not only exercise your imagination, but also train your brain.

Of course, you can always make whatever design you like, even laser cut designs made from your own photo album, and it into a fun jigsaw puzzle you can enjoy. However, there are also some pre-existing designs you can try out.

This wooden R2D2 puzzle is one of my personal favorites, and looks amazing with just a little careful painting.

1910s Grand Prix Car — 1910 Grand Prix 3D car puzzle

This wooden horse puzzle is particularly cool to look at and is deceptively easy to construct because of its interchangeable pieces. It also allows you to reconstruct it in any shape for use as a creative centerpiece.

The same goes for this festive puzzle, which you can put together however you like as a nice centerpiece for your dining table while your serving up Christmas dinner.

The xTool is also great for making 3D puzzles like this animal collection or this 1910 Grand Prix car. Each 3D puzzle makes for a delightful pastime to be enjoyed either alone or as a fun activity with the family.

Personalized Metal Engraving

The xTool is powerful enough to cut through stainless steel, making it a great machine for personalizing metal as well as wood. Engraving metal things with emblems, words, and images makes for great gifts, excellent store products, and really cool personal effects.

Personalized flasks are great for marking special occasions and are ripe for funny wording too. Just about anything you can engrave in wood can be engraved on a stainless steel flask with an xTool.

Zippo lighters are also great for engraving, as anyone who owns or knows someone who owns a Zippo will tell you, getting them engraved is a fantastic way to make it more yours, and is much cheaper than getting it done in the shop.

Hexagon Pet ID — Hexagon-shaped Pet ID/Tag

Laser engraving metal jewelry is also a cinch and makes for some unique wearables you can show off anywhere. If you’ve got a furry friend, you can also engrave their tags in case they get lost.

For a more meaningful xTool project, there’s nothing more special than engraving signs and plaques in metal to commemorate the life or service of a loved one. Making these memorial plaques more personal with laser engraving gives a newer, more special meaning than simple words.

Above all, it feels a lot nicer to make something that special yourself instead of paying to have a stranger do it.

Decorations

While practical xTool projects like bookmarks and coasters are useful things to create, there’s something to be said for making creative and inspiring things with which you can decorate your home.

Most of these will require using different color materials or paints to look their best, but if you don’t mind using a little elbow grease, then you’ll agree the end results are worth it.

Laser Cut Animals

These simple 3D insects and arachnids are like particularly simplified 3D puzzles that we’ve seen above. The minimalist design make for subtle but welcome decorative items for any bookshelf, mantlepiece, or desk.

For a more complex and challenging xTool project, you can try your hand at cutting and painting these amazing 3D forest animal statuettes would make a welcome mantlepiece decoration for any home. My personal favorite is the fox, but of course you can always make a little family out of whichever animal takes your fancy even if you don’t want to make each one.

Sasquatch

One of the coolest decorative xTool projects I came across is this sasquatch. The 7-layer design paints an entire woodland scene within the body of the infamous bigfoot in a mysterious yet beautiful way that’s sure to catch the eye of any visitor.

If you like this design, then you can always tweak it slightly to add to its already imaginative form. Personally, I’d love to see one for day and one for night, both representing the beauty of the natural world in any given frozen moment in time.

Calendar

Ending this list with one of the more complex but useful xTool projects on this list, and one of my absolute favorites, is this calendar.

The simple circle design leaves enough space that you can engrave whatever pattern or image you like around its frame, and the day, month, and dates can be done in any font you like to suit the aesthetic of your home or even just match your personal tastes.

The best thing about this kind of calendar is that each wheel is moved and adjusted individually, meaning it can be used for any given year without the need to update or customize it further than you like.

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Scott Hamill

I'm Scott, a professional writer currently living in Edinburgh. As a kid, my dad taught me a lot about woodworking and cutting plastics. As I grew, so did my interest in what I'd later learn was called 'subtractive manufacturing,' which I'm lucky enough to write about extensively along with 3D printing. CNC machining is a relatively recent passion of mine, and one I enjoy learning about every day

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