# X-Carve Newbie Essentials **URL:** \ **Category:** Tips and Tricks\ **Created:** [February 7, 2018, 5:19pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-carve-newbie-essentials/50410 "2018-02-07T17:19:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FrankDecker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@FrankDecker](https://community.inventables.com/u/FrankDecker)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 5:19pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-carve-newbie-essentials/50410/1 "2018-02-07T17:19:59Z")
I’m 3 months into being an X-Carve owner. During that time I’ve picked up on some tips and resources that have made a world of difference in my experience. I’ve create a website to share those learnings and resources. If you are like me, new to X-Carve and CNC, you may find this site useful. > **[X-Carve Noob Essentials](https://sites.google.com/view/x-carve-noob-essentials)** > > Welcome fellow X-Carve Noob! As of the publishing of this website, I have been a X-Carve owner for about 3 months. During that time I've picked up on some tips and tricks that have really made my experience with the machine less frustrating and much... ---
**Author:** ![AndyF](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/andyf/32/50380_2.png) [@AndyF](https://community.inventables.com/u/AndyF)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 5:28pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-carve-newbie-essentials/50410/2 "2018-02-07T17:28:22Z")
All good info that I’ve gleaned from reading through the forums, but great to have it in a single spot. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![PaulAlfaro](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/paulalfaro/32/71869_2.png) [@PaulAlfaro](https://community.inventables.com/u/PaulAlfaro)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 6:37pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-carve-newbie-essentials/50410/3 "2018-02-07T18:37:36Z")
looks great and straightforward definitely nice to have everything in one place for a beginner. Phil has a tremendous wealth of info as well; > **[X-CARVE TIPS](https://www.designsbyphil.com/x-carve-tips.html)** It would be good to incorporate squaring the machine overall as well. ---
**Author:** ![JeffreySBeebyJr](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/jeffreysbeebyjr/32/46757_2.png) [@JeffreySBeebyJr](https://community.inventables.com/u/JeffreySBeebyJr)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 6:42pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-carve-newbie-essentials/50410/4 "2018-02-07T18:42:54Z")
As a noob, I love what you have. I would suggest to add: > [@Color coded Inventables bit guide](https://community.inventables.com/t/color-coded-inventables-bit-guide/34972?source_topic_id=50309): > > I did a search didnt find anything so i threw together a quick guide to all the color coded bits sold by Inventables. Let me know if anyone sees a mistake. and i would love it if we could somehow compile a chart for bits, bit feed rates, speeds and material; because if i ever try and cut anything that the Easel does not have something recommend, i am pretty much out of luck. Site looks amazing!! ---
**Author:** ![FrankDecker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@FrankDecker](https://community.inventables.com/u/FrankDecker)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 6:46pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-carve-newbie-essentials/50410/5 "2018-02-07T18:46:36Z")
Perfect! Thanks, Jeffrey. I’ll add your chart to a page. And yes, I agree. Would love to have a single destination page with someone who can layout everything bits. Would be so helpful to all of us noobs. ---
**Author:** ![FrankDecker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@FrankDecker](https://community.inventables.com/u/FrankDecker)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 6:57pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-carve-newbie-essentials/50410/6 "2018-02-07T18:57:26Z")
OK, Bit Chart Page added. ---
**Author:** ![JeffreySBeebyJr](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/jeffreysbeebyjr/32/46757_2.png) [@JeffreySBeebyJr](https://community.inventables.com/u/JeffreySBeebyJr)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 6:58pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-carve-newbie-essentials/50410/7 "2018-02-07T18:58:32Z")
awesome ---
**Author:** ![CurtisCummings](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/curtiscummings/32/51964_2.png) [@CurtisCummings](https://community.inventables.com/u/CurtisCummings)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 9:15pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-carve-newbie-essentials/50410/8 "2018-02-07T21:15:50Z")
While I’m not quite a noob. I appreciate you doing this. ---
**Author:** ![FrankDecker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@FrankDecker](https://community.inventables.com/u/FrankDecker)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 9:34pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-carve-newbie-essentials/50410/9 "2018-02-07T21:34:58Z")
Thanks, Curtis. ---
**Author:** ![RayMacke](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/raymacke/32/85452_2.png) [@RayMacke](https://community.inventables.com/u/RayMacke)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2018, 1:47am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-carve-newbie-essentials/50410/10 "2018-02-08T01:47:54Z")
I am a huge fan of tape and glue. You might want to look into this as I feel it is a large step up from the foam tape. No residue and no slight squirming like the foam tape. Get a small tube of super glue and some masking tape and give it a try. Accelerator speeds up the process but not mandatory. Just let it sit for 20 seconds or so and go. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uTsQ3dYRrk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uTsQ3dYRrk) ---
**Author:** ![Olivier1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/85f322/32.png) [@Olivier1](https://community.inventables.com/u/Olivier1)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2018, 6:46am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-carve-newbie-essentials/50410/11 "2018-02-08T06:46:34Z")
Hello Frank Thank you, very useful. I have a question about the triquetra tool you mention on your site. It’s not clear at all for me. I understand the help for zeroing but you still have to align eyeball the plate, so instead of aligning the bit, you have to align the plate? The video is not clear at all, and the website doesn’t give any explanation on how it works or has to be aligned. ---
**Author:** ![Olivier1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/85f322/32.png) [@Olivier1](https://community.inventables.com/u/Olivier1)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2018, 12:52pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-carve-newbie-essentials/50410/13 "2018-02-08T12:52:40Z")
Thank you Phil for the answer, but i went to the website and didn’t found explanation on how it works. Just a video where you see the plate put on the board with no explanation on how it is set. ---
**Author:** ![FrankDecker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@FrankDecker](https://community.inventables.com/u/FrankDecker)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2018, 3:08pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-carve-newbie-essentials/50410/15 "2018-02-08T15:08:06Z")
Thank you for the tip. Added that video to the page as another option. Going to give it a try myself! ---
**Author:** ![JeffreySBeebyJr](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/jeffreysbeebyjr/32/46757_2.png) [@JeffreySBeebyJr](https://community.inventables.com/u/JeffreySBeebyJr)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2018, 3:40pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-carve-newbie-essentials/50410/16 "2018-02-08T15:40:32Z")
Heads up on the paint mask, looks like its oramask 813 not the 631. Didnt know if you wanted to update that or not. ---
**Author:** ![FrankDecker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@FrankDecker](https://community.inventables.com/u/FrankDecker)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2018, 3:59pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-carve-newbie-essentials/50410/17 "2018-02-08T15:59:30Z")
The Oracal 631 is what I’ve been using from Amazon. ---
**Author:** ![JimSnikett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/41988e/32.png) [@JimSnikett](https://community.inventables.com/u/JimSnikett)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2018, 1:58pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-carve-newbie-essentials/50410/18 "2018-02-10T13:58:49Z")
Thanks so much for the effort & sharing this! ---
**Author:** ![JustinBusby](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/justinbusby/32/30906_2.png) [@JustinBusby](https://community.inventables.com/u/JustinBusby)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2018, 2:13pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-carve-newbie-essentials/50410/19 "2018-02-10T14:13:16Z")
Which is fine. It’s not the intended purpose but it works. Oramask is another option and might be slightly cheaper than 631. I just paid $40 shopped for a 10 yard roll of 30” wide Oramask. Most of the normal 631 is like a 5 yard roll of 12” wide for like $15. ---
**Author:** ![MattSlaga](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/mattslaga/32/85368_2.png) [@MattSlaga](https://community.inventables.com/u/MattSlaga)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2018, 2:38pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-carve-newbie-essentials/50410/20 "2018-03-29T14:38:43Z")
On the Oramask, is it sticky on one side and you just stick it evenly to the wood prior to carving? Edit - searched other parts of the forum and found the answer. ---
**Author:** ![DavidKwon](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/davidkwon/32/82738_2.png) [@DavidKwon](https://community.inventables.com/u/DavidKwon)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2019, 1:29pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-carve-newbie-essentials/50410/21 "2019-05-24T13:29:46Z")
As a noob, just wanted to say THANK YOU! I learned a whole lot in a short time.