私の名前はJoshEvansで、Lonear Adhesiveという会社を所有しています。私たちは、帽子パッチ材料用の熱活性化接着剤とプレミアムレザーレットを専門としています。時が経つにつれて、私たちは徐々にワンストップショップに進化し、キーチェーン、「缶ダスター」 (「koozie」が商標登録されているため) 、その他のさまざまなクリエイティブアイテムなどのレーザー彫刻可能なブランクを提供しています。その過程で、私たちの接着剤がアクリルでも驚くほどうまく機能することを発見しました。接着剤を使用して、実際にアクリルパッチを帽子パッチに変えることができます。加熱するだけでアクティブになります。私たちが始めた場所からどれだけ離れているかを見るのは信じられないほどです。

LoneStar接着剤を始めるきっかけは何ですか?

To understand how LoneStar came to life, you have to go back to where it all started: with a love for hats and a maker’s mindset.

I've always loved hats. But I kept running into the same issue: either I loved the patch but didn’t like the hat, or I liked the hat but not the patch. Eventually, I thought, “Why not just make my own?” I’ve always been a hands-on, do-it-yourself kind of person. I dabbled in woodworking, tried powder coating for a while, and leaned heavily on YouTube to teach myself new skills. I jokingly say I’m “YouTube certified.”

私はGlowforgeでレーザーを始めましたが、実現したいことには合っていないとすぐに気づきました。そこでThunder Laser Nova 24にアップグレードし、6年経った今も戦車のような頑丈さを保っています。

At first, I was cutting out hat patches and applying them by hand with glue. But anyone who’s ever done that knows the struggle. It’s either too much adhesive or too little, and both make a mess. It was time-consuming and frustrating. I was almost ready to quit.

That’s when I discovered a thermal adhesive that changed everything. It gave us a cleaner, faster way to apply patches and helped us stand out from the competition. I realized others in the laser community were having the same challenges I’d faced, and I had a solution.

That’s how LoneStar Adhesive came to life. We officially launched on July 9th, 2023, and we’ve been growing ever since. Today, our Facebook group has over 30,000 members, a strong, supportive community that feels more like family. Their feedback, even the critical kind, helps us improve, innovate, and stay ahead of the curve.

その意見と問題解決への愛情のおかげで、私たちは機能するだけでなく、他の人の成功にも役立つ製品を作成することができました。それが私たちを動かし続けるものです。

これまでLoneStarブランドを構築する上でお気に入りの部分は何でしたか?

正直なところ、LoneStarを築く中で最も好きなのはコミュニティです。

There’s nothing better than hearing someone say, “Hey, you’ve helped take my business to the next level.” That never gets old. It’s an amazing feeling knowing that something I created is helping people put money in their pockets, support their families, and grow their dreams. Being a part of that, of something bigger than myself, is what keeps me going.

We started the Facebook group pretty early on, and from the beginning, it wasn’t just about products. It was about building a culture. Respect is non-negotiable. If someone can’t treat others with respect, they’re out. Simple as that. Social media can be a mess these days. People say things online they’d never say face to face, and honestly, that’s not the kind of environment I want to create. We built a space where makers can help each other, share ideas, and grow without all the drama.

What really blows my mind is seeing how open things are now. When I started, nobody shared anything. Everything was hush-hush. You had to figure it out all on your own. Now? People from the same town are teaming up, collaborating, and going to trade shows together. It’s a complete shift, and a beautiful one.

I always tell people, I’ll help you as much as I can. I'll point you in the right direction, share what I know. But at some point, you’ve gotta take ownership. If I’m walking you through every step, we’re basically business partners now, right? Might need a cut of those profits! [laughs]

しかし、真剣に、このコミュニティが集まり、お互いをサポートし、繁栄するのを見ると、それはこの旅全体の中で最もやりがいのある部分でした。

レーザーと接着剤から始めたばかりの人にどのようなアドバイスをしますか?

For those who are brand new to lasers and just joining our community, the first thing I always recommend is using the search feature in the Facebook group. Chances are, just about any question you have has already been asked and answered multiple times. Just type in a few keywords and you’ll likely find detailed discussions. That said, even if your question has been asked before, our group is incredibly welcoming and supportive. Most people are happy to answer again and help you out.

Beyond the group, YouTube is an incredible tool. Watch as many videos as you can, follow other makers, and just soak up as much information as possible. That’s what I do anytime I buy a new piece of equipment, whether it’s for work or something simple like a power washer or lawnmower at home. I watch videos, read reviews, and learn the basics before it even arrives. That way, when I finally get my hands on it, I already have a foundation of understanding and feel confident jumping in.

Confidence is key. Laser machines aren’t scary, but they can be intimidating at first. I’ve actually heard from people who let their laser sit unopened for six months because they didn’t know where to start. Meanwhile, I’m the opposite, I’m calling the freight driver asking, “Where’s my machine?” because I want to unbox it the second it hits my driveway.

It’s not just about being comfortable with your machine. You need to be familiar with your materials too. That’s why we worked with Chris Lassio from Thunder Laser to create a custom LightBurn material library. You can upload it directly into LightBurn to get solid baseline settings. This helps avoid wasting time and materials running countless tests and gives you a head start on dialing in your process.

Ultimately, the only way to really learn is to just get in there and do it. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. In fact, I almost always break a new machine within the first couple of hours. But the upside? I learn exactly how it works. Taking it apart, fixing it, understanding it, it’s all part of becoming confident and capable. That kind of hands-on experience is invaluable.

And if you ever need help, we’re here for you. But when posting a question in the group, be detailed. If you say, “My patch isn’t sticking,” make sure to include your heat press settings, the type of material you’re using, what you cleaned it with, and anything else relevant. We're a support group, not detectives! The more information you give, the faster and better we can help you.

だから、知識を吸収し、学習曲線に寄りかかり、始めるのを待たないでください。あなたはあなたをバックアップする準備ができているコミュニティ全体を持っています。

Thunder Laserのどのような機能を最も高く評価しますか?

What I appreciate most about Thunder Laser is the reliability. I know my machine won’t suddenly fail on me, and in the rare event something does go wrong, I know I have support. As both a supplier and a customer, I hold others to the same standards we set for ourselves: be responsive, be dependable, and have your customer’s back.

And Thunder Laser has done just that. Problems never happen at convenient times. It’s always late on a Friday night before a big Saturday delivery. But Thunder has built a strong community, especially through their Facebook group. Their team is willing to go above and beyond, even answering emails at 8 p.m. That kind of support makes all the difference when you're in a crunch.

Nova 24を購入して以来、Thunderがマシンを販売しているだけでなく、パートナーシップを構築していることを見てきました。それが私たちがチームを組んだ理由です。私たちは私たちのウェブサイトでサンダーレーザーマシンを販売しており、彼らは彼らの製品を特集しています。これは、品質、信頼性、顧客の成功への献身という共通の価値観に基づいて構築されたコラボレーションです。

LoneStar製品の彫刻におすすめのサンダーマシンが1台あるとしたら、どちらになりますか?

If there’s one machine I always recommend for engraving our products, it’s the Thunder Bolt series. It’s an all-in-one package. The RF tube delivers incredible detail and reliability, while the machine’s speed is a major time-saver. For what you're paying, it’s honestly one of the best deals out there. I’ve even had people ask, “Why is it so affordable?” But that’s just the value Thunder delivers. You're getting high-end performance without the high-end price tag.

What really sets the Bolt apart is how easy it is to use. You can unbox it, place it on your desk, and be up and running in under an hour. The built-in air assist and exhaust system make setup simple. Just connect the hose, set it outside, and you’re cutting in no time.

マシンは、しゃっくりをせずに1日あたり1,000mmで動作し、誰にも負けないカスタマーサポートに支えられています。彫刻ビジネスを開始または拡大しようとしている人にとって、ボルトは私がお勧めするものです。

レーザービジネスを始める人へのアドバイスは何ですか?

If you’re thinking about starting a business, my biggest piece of advice is simple: make samples and show people what you can do. Don’t wait for customers to come to you. Get out there, connect with local businesses, build relationships, and be proactive. Every product you create is a walking billboard. When someone wears your hat, they’re promoting your brand everywhere they go.

A lot of people worry they won’t make money, but if you’re not making money, you’re likely not trying hard enough. There is so much opportunity out there. You just have to hustle. Think about it: go to any ball game or event, and you’ll see 80–90% of the men wearing hats. And people don’t just own one. Hats wear out, they get sweaty or dirty, and eventually, they need a new one. If you’re not there to offer them that new favorite hat, someone else will be.

Starting out can feel discouraging. I remember when I launched my first hat company, Brimlines. I’d post on Instagram, and it felt like only my mom and sister were liking my stuff. But behind the scenes, word-of-mouth was growing, and that’s the most powerful kind of advertising. A happy customer will spread your name faster and more genuinely than any ad ever could.

結局のところ、ハードワークは重要ですが、品質も重要です。信頼できる、信頼できるプロダクトであなたのビジネスを造りたいと思います。そのため、人々が私たちの接着剤や材料を信頼することを期待しているのと同じように、私たちは彼らの機械を信頼しているため、サンダーレーザーと提携しています。苦労して稼いだお金を投資している場合は、手抜きをしないでください。時の試練に耐え、真のサポートに裏打ちされた製品を選択してください。あなたはただ機器や物資を買うだけではありません。あなたは解決策に賛成しています。

LoneStar接着剤の次は何ですか?

We just bought a sticker machine! If you’ve been part of our group, or are thinking about joining, you probably know how much people love our stickers. No joke, over the past year and ten months, we’ve spent a ridiculous amount on custom stickers. So, I finally said, “Why don’t we just do this ourselves?” Now that we have the machine, once we get it fully dialed in, we’ll be offering custom sticker printing services through our website.

Our customers seriously expect a sticker in every box. If one’s missing, they’ll let us know! But that’s part of what makes this so fun. The banter, the connections, the inspiration we get from our community. Honestly, I don’t even like calling them "customers" anymore. Everyone in our group feels like family.

A lot of our best ideas actually come from this community. For example, I never planned to work with acrylic, but one of our members reached out and told me, “Hey, your adhesive works really well with it.” That led to a great collaboration with Romark (formerly JP Plus) where we now offer exclusive colorways, including a really popular red, white, and blue combo, and some custom mirrored finishes you’ve probably never seen before.

We’re also experimenting with some awesome dual-layered laserable silicone patches. These are designed to match Richardson 112s and our waterproof LSA hats. They’re super easy to work with: laserable, safe, and pre-applied with adhesive on the back. Just peel, engrave, and go.

結局のところ、私は常に物事を社内に保管し、プロセスを合理化し、他のメーカーがお金を稼ぐのを助ける方法を探しています。誰かがビジネスを成長させるのに役立つ製品やツールを提供できれば、それは勝利です。私は、構築を続け、革新を続け、すでに私たちに多くのことを与えてくれたコミュニティに奉仕し続けることに興奮しています。