The Boss Laser LS 1420 vs. LS 3655: Which One Should You Actually Buy? (I've Made This Mistake)
If you're deciding between the Boss Laser LS 1420 and the LS 3655, here's the conclusion up front: For 90% of small to medium shops doing mixed materials (wood, acrylic, some thin metals), the LS 1420 is the smarter buy. The LS 3655 is a fantastic machine, but it's overkill unless you're consistently cutting large sheets of thick material or have a very specific, high-volume production need. I've handled laser equipment orders for our fabrication shop for 7 years. I've personally made (and documented) 3 significant machine purchase mistakes, totaling roughly $28,000 in wasted budget. Now I maintain our team's checklist to prevent others from repeating my errors.
Why You Should Listen to Me (And My $8,500 Mistake)
In September 2022, I made the classic "bigger is better" error. We were doing great with our 80W CO2 laser, mostly on 12x24" projects. I convinced the boss we needed the LS 3655's 36"x55" bed "for future growth" and "bigger projects." The machine arrived, it was a beast—but we used its full capacity maybe four times in the first year. The rest of the time, we were paying for electricity and floor space for a machine running small jobs. That error cost us the price delta between the machines (about $8,500) plus higher operational costs, all for capability we rarely needed. That's when I learned to match the machine to your actual, current workflow, not your aspirational one.
The Real-World Breakdown: LS 1420 vs. LS 3655
Everything you'll read on spec sheets says the LS 3655 is the "professional" choice. In practice, for our specific context of custom signage and prototype parts, the LS 1420's 14"x20" bed actually delivered better value and workflow efficiency.
Work Area: The Most Overrated Spec
The conventional wisdom is to buy the largest bed you can afford. My experience with 200+ different job types suggests otherwise. Think about your material sheets. Plywood and acrylic often come in 24"x48" or 32"x48" sheets. An LS 1420 (14"x20") can nest parts efficiently from a halved sheet. An LS 3655 (36"x55") can handle a full sheet, but then you're wrestling with a 4x5 foot piece of material for every job. For one-off custom jobs—like laser cut photo frames or intricate plywood laser cutting for models—the smaller bed is faster to load, align, and clean. The time savings on setup for small batches often outweighs the benefit of a full-sheet cut.
Power & Capability: They're More Similar Than You Think
Both machines come with similar CO2 laser tube options (typically 40W to 100W+). The cutting and engraving capability for a given thickness of material is virtually identical on both machines if the wattage is the same. Where the LS 3655 might have an edge is in cutting consistency across a massive bed due to its sturdier frame, but for materials under 1/2", you won't see a difference. A key lesson: Don't confuse bed size with cutting power. A 150W tube in an LS 1420 will cut thicker material than a 60W tube in an LS 3655.
The Hidden Costs of "Big"
This is the part that doesn't make the brochure:
- Space: The LS 3655 needs a serious footprint. You need clear space all around it for loading and maintenance. The LS 1420 can fit in a tight corner.
- Ventilation: A bigger bed often means a more powerful (and louder, more expensive) fume extractor.
- Material Handling: Maneuvering a 36"x55" piece of 1/4" acrylic is a two-person job. A 14"x20" piece is a one-person, 30-second task.
- Power: They have similar electrical requirements, but if you're running the extractor, chiller, and compressor for longer cycles on the big bed, your energy bill notices.
When the LS 3655 Is Actually the Right Answer
I went back and forth between recommending the 1420 or the 3655 for this article. The 1420 offers agility and cost savings, but the 3655 had the raw capability. Ultimately, I'm recommending the 1420 for most readers because that's the right general advice. But you should choose the LS 3655 if:
- Over 50% of your jobs require a bed larger than 14x20 inches. (Not "would be nice," but require).
- You are batch-producing items from full 4x8 sheets with minimal custom variation.
- Your primary material is thin, flexible (like fabric or paper), and benefits from being laid flat in one large piece.
- You have a dedicated, spacious workshop with a material handling system (roller tables, etc.).
A Quick Word on Plasma Cutters (Because People Ask)
You might see "laser cutter" and "plasma cutter" and wonder. They're different tools. A plasma cutter uses superheated gas to melt through electrically conductive metal (steel, aluminum). A CO2 laser like the Boss LS series uses a light beam to vaporize material—great for wood, acrylic, leather, some thin metals. If you're cutting 1/4" steel plate, you need a plasma cutter. If you're engraving wood or cutting acrylic, you need a laser. Don't try to make one machine do the other's job.
The Boundary Conditions (The Honest Part)
This advice assumes you're a small to medium operation. If you're a high-volume shop running three shifts, the math changes—the LS 3655's throughput might justify its cost. Also, if your work is exclusively large-format architectural models or full-size signage, then obviously, you need the big bed. My perspective is from a mixed-job, lower-to-medium volume environment. And even after writing this, I'll second-guess—what if someone buys the 1420 and immediately lands a huge contract for 36" signs? But that's the exception, not the rule. For most people starting or scaling a laser business, the LS 1420 is the workhorse that won't bankrupt your space or your budget.
