Before you jump into the comparison, let me tell you where this is coming from.
I’m the office administrator for a 32-person custom fabrication and engraving shop. I manage all equipment and supply ordering—roughly $280,000 a year across 8 vendors—and I report to both operations and finance. I’m not a laser engineer. I’m the person who builds the comparison spreadsheet and then has to explain the purchase to the finance team.
When I took over purchasing in 2020, I found a vendor with a great price. The only problem: they couldn’t provide a proper invoice. Finance rejected the expense, and our department ate $2,400. Ever since, I compare the whole cost picture, not just the base price.
Here’s the comparison framework that worked for us:
- Laser type — what the machine actually uses, and what that means for the materials you cut.
- Total setup cost — including the smoke purifier, filters, and venting.
- Real size vs real value — biggest plasma cutter versus economic plasma cutter.
If you’re searching “xtool” and trying to choose between the S1, a CO2 machine, and the Metalfab, this is how I sorted it out.
1. What is the xTool S1 laser type?
The xTool S1 laser type is diode. To be more precise, it’s a blue diode module, roughly 450nm, with a 40W output in a sealed enclosure. A lot of people assume it’s CO2 because it can cut wood and acrylic. It isn’t. That distinction drives the whole decision.
Comparing the S1 to a CO2 machine like the xTool P2 is the first fork:
- Diode (S1): Great for wood, leather, paper, and coated metal marking. No laser tube to replace. Smaller footprint, and the sealed design makes it easier to place in a normal workshop.
- CO2 (P2): Better for clear acrylic, glass, and some materials that diode lasers can’t handle. More cutting power for certain jobs, but the machine costs more and the tube is a consumable part.
The conclusion that surprised me: for most small shops, the S1’s laser type is not a compromise—it’s the right tool. If you run clear acrylic or glass every week, buy the CO2. If you don’t, the S1 is often the smarter first machine.
Know the laser type before you fall in love with the model number.
2. xTool smoke purifier price: the line item people skip
When I searched “xtool smoke purifier price,” I didn’t get one clean answer. The price depends on the machine and whether replacement filters are bundled. I want to say our quote for the P2 smoke purifier ran around $500–700, but I’d have to pull the folder to be sure. Don’t quote me on that; xTool updates bundles quickly (as of early 2025, at least).
The important thing for a comparison is the total setup cost. The S1 can be vented out a window if you have a window. The P2 needs airflow or filtration. The base price doesn’t include the purifier, duct kit, or filters. That’s not hidden in the manual, but it’s easy to overlook when you’re excited about a new machine.
So glad I asked about the P2’s venting before committing. Almost ordered it for a room with no exterior wall and no window. That would have been a problem (ugh).
Then I almost made a different mistake. I knew I should verify filter life and replacement cost, but I thought, “what are the odds we burn through filters that fast?” Well, the odds caught up with me during a client demo week. The shop smelled like burnt acrylic and I spent the next day explaining why.
The transparent-cost rule I now use: ask what’s NOT included before asking what the price is. The vendor who lists all fees upfront—even if the total looks higher—usually costs less in the end.
Add smoke purifier, filters, and ducting to every xTool comparison. Then compare prices.
3. Biggest plasma cutter vs economic plasma cutter: the Metalfab reality
Let’s deal with “biggest plasma cutter.” As far as I know, the biggest plasma-capable machine xTool sells is the Metalfab. But the Metalfab is not a giant industrial plasma table. It’s a benchtop metal fabrication tool that combines plasma cutting, fiber laser, and welding. If your shop regularly cuts full sheets of thick steel, you’re shopping in a different category.
The surprising part came when I looked at the cost model. The Metalfab ended up being the “economic plasma cutter” for us, but not because its plasma function was the cheapest way to cut steel. It was economic because we also needed fiber laser capability. Buying a separate plasma cutter and a separate fiber laser would have cost more, taken up more floor space, and required two different workflows.
One purchasing note: per FTC guidance (ftc.gov), terms like “biggest” and “economic” need to mean something specific when they show up in ads. So I asked xTool for spec sheets and written definitions of “biggest.” That’s not rude. That’s the job.
If you need capacity, buy the biggest. If you need flexibility, buy the economic combo.
4. A quick note about “when can I exercise after CO2 laser”
This article gets some traffic from people asking “when can i exercise after co2 laser” in the medical/beauty sense. I can’t answer that, and you shouldn’t take recovery advice from an equipment buying guide. Ask your dermatologist.
If you meant a CO2 laser cutter, the practical answer is different: after the cut is done, the lid is closed, the exhaust or purifier has run for a few minutes, and the honeycomb bed has cooled, you can move around and lift parts. No opening the lid until the smoke clears. That’s not about exercise—it’s about not breathing burnt acrylic.
5. So which xTool should you buy?
Here’s the scenario-based version I wish someone had given me:
- Choose the S1 if your shop mostly cuts wood, leather, plastics, and coated metal—and you want a sealed, lower-maintenance first machine.
- Choose a CO2 model like the P2 if clear acrylic, glass, and material versatility are a regular part of your week, and you’ve budgeted for the smoke purifier.
- Choose the Metalfab if you’re a small fab shop that needs plasma plus fiber laser function without dedicating a separate machine bay.
One last honest buyer note: I had about a week to place our order before the approved spend lapsed. Normally I would've had the head of production sign off on specs, but there was no time. I went with the S1 because the total cost was the easiest to explain to finance—not just the base price. The xTool S1 laser type, the xTool smoke purifier price, and the biggest vs economic plasma decision all come down to the same thing: know what’s included.
There’s something satisfying about a spreadsheet where every line item is accounted for. Buy the machine whose real price you can defend in a budget review. That machine is different for different shops—and that’s okay.
Transparent numbers are the only numbers I trust.
