Last week I finally got my hands on the 2000w continuous laser cleaning beast. Let me tell you, that first day was rough. Set everything up according to the stupid manual, fired it up at default settings, and nearly gave myself heatstroke waiting for results. This machine ain't cheap, so I was sweating bullets wondering if I blew my cash.

The messy trial-and-error phase

Started experimenting like a mad scientist in my garage:

• First attempt: Cranked power to 100% straight away. Huge mistake - left scorch marks on test steel plates
• Second try: Lowered power but kept speed slow. Barely touched the rust layer
• Lightbulb moment: Realized focal distance was messing everything up - arm got tired holding the nozzle too close

Nearly threw in the towel when I saw how much compressed air this baby chugs. Had to rig my industrial compressor with duct tape and prayers.

The sweet spot discovery

After wasting two days, stumbled on the magic combo:

• Set power dial at 85% (goldilocks zone between cleaning and burning)
• Adjusted nozzle exactly 15cm from surface (used scrap wood as spacer)
• Moved the gun in quick overlapping zigzags instead of straight lines

Suddenly the rust just vaporized like morning fog. Did a 2x4 foot steel plate in 8 minutes flat - manual scraping used to take me an hour. My neighbor came over thinking I was welding from all the sparks flying.

Living with the laser beast now

Gotta watch this monster like a hawk:

• Never skip the cooling breaks - overheats faster than my old laptop
• Clean lenses every 3 hours (learned this after smoke started pouring out)
• Safety glasses aren't optional - got flashbanged when reflecting off curved metal

Honestly? Worth every penny now that I'm not killing my back with grinders. Just restored a vintage tractor seat in one afternoon. Still finding glittery metal dust in weird places though - pretty sure my cat's sneezing rainbows.