Tips on buying a die-cutter?

[hlsweb]

Hiya

I bought the big shot back in May and love it. Very simple to use, however it is not very portable. I also bought its little brother the tag a long in September which is portable.

I looked at everything at the time and dont regret buying it. It takes different sizes of dies and it really depends what you need the machine for in order to give you the best advice. If you are only going to use it for certain things it may be too much for you.

I have not heard good things about the Xyron, it is very limited in its uses.

My supplier has now stopped stocking Ellison and Sizzix as they now supply me with the new Double Do which they believe is much better than the old machines and the dies are cheaper.

Why not email me on crafts@helshop.co.uk and let me know what you want to use it for and I will give you what advice I can including cheapest place to buy depending on what you need.

If us crafters cant help each other out what is the point!!

Helen

[Hip Chick]

I had a Sizzix machine a whilte bakc - loved it.

I have just purchased a Bog Shot, love it too BUT, the thin cuts are not worth the plastic they are made from.

Firstly if you try to use card over about 190gsm, the card sticks to the die cutter and you have to pull it away,worse still, you end up having to use your scissors to cut out the bits the die cutter has missed. Works great on paper, just not on decent card. I tried using 330gsm and the machine just laughed at me!

Secondly, I pressed out around 50 shapes from one die, now the die is of no use whats so ever. You can see the metal in the die and its sharp.

While saying this, I would still highly recommend the Big Shot over the Sizzix machine (only due to weight), the Big Shot is brill and fab as long as you are using Thick Cut Dies or Sizzix Dies.

[OaktreeCraft]

I had a Sizzix machine a whilte bakc - loved it.

I have just purchased a Bog Shot, love it too BUT, the thin cuts are not worth the plastic they are made from.

Firstly if you try to use card over about 190gsm, the card sticks to the die cutter and you have to pull it away,worse still, you end up having to use your scissors to cut out the bits the die cutter has missed. Works great on paper, just not on decent card. I tried using 330gsm and the machine just laughed at me!.

Hy
The Thin Cuts were made for exactly that, Thin Cuts, i had problems too with the paper sticking to the die but solved it in one foul sweep.
I bought some sticky backed foam and cut a square shape the exact size of the die, then just ran it through my Big Shot. I peeled the excess off and the foam sits quite proud on the die now, so when paper is cut on the die it is easier to lift off, try it.
Also i have found that if i cut the clear plastic sheet to the exact size of the die it lasts longer and dosn't curl up as much.I can provide this plastic sheeting if anyone is interested ? it is not the type people have reccomended from places like B&Q as the stuff they sell cracks going through the machine and is of little or no use.

[sweetsandmemories]

Thanks to everyone for the replies, they have been really helpful.
Just one little question - what is the difference (if any) between the red sizzix machine and the big shot machine?

[Hip Chick]

Hiya

Nothing really apart from with a Big Shot you do not need a convertor to use Sizzix Dies.

With the Big Shot, their Thick Cut Dies are the same size as the sizzix die!

My only moan is with the thin cuts, but as pointed out they are meant to be thin and then maybe I shouldn't be using 190+gram card...

ALSO... You can use Wooden Dies with the Big Shot.

Having had both machines, I really do like it.

Hope this helps

[sweetsandmemories]

Well I've decided to go for the original red Sizzix machine to start with. Got quite a good deal on the 'other side', machine with 24 die-cuts for £100. (At least I think it was a good deal!!!!)
If I get to grips with it and decide in the future to go for the Big Shot, I can always sell the first one.

Angie
Crafty Craftz

[snagz]

Only just got to this thread...late as usual LOL
But if it's crafting hints and tips you're after or advice on equipment etc.
there is a specialist forum of very talented crafters at:
www.auntysforum.com
friendly bunch and always willing to share their know how.

[cepher0]

I have only just seen this thread so i'm sorry if my little tip comes a bit late for some of you

This tip is for anyone who is using a sizzix die cutter or the equivalent type of cutter.....

NEVER use the plastic cutting pad that comes with the cutter, it will blunt your dies so they won't last you long, i know cutting cooking foil will sharpen them up for a short while but it's not for long....

What you need to do is...cut a 4½" strip off the long side of a self-healing cutting mat....then cut some MDF or something similar to the same size and put underneath the 4½" mat strip, build it up to the same height as the plastic pad, it will be a bit of trial and error for a few go's so please be patient while you are building this up, use scrap paper etc...then THROW AWAY the plastic pad !!!

Now when you use your dies the blades will 'sink' slightly into the self-healing mat and they will never be blunted, this also gives your dies cuts a gently rounded edge instead of a raw one.


I have been using this way of cutting for almost 4 years now and have never had to sharpen or replace a die...it really does work !!! another 'bonus' is, depending on the size of the self-healing mat you use, you can set up as many dies as will fit along the length of it which means you can cut up to 4/6 sizzix dies at one time and all the 'spare' left over bits can be used on a Sidekick or Quickcutz cutter, or even for punches if it's only paper you are cutting

I hope this helps a lot of you save ££££s in new dies and plastic cutting mats

Take care All
Hugs, Cepher0

[inchworm]

Only just got to this thread...late as usual LOL
But if it's crafting hints and tips you're after or advice on equipment etc.
there is a specialist forum of very talented crafters at:
www.auntysforum.com
friendly bunch and always willing to share their know how.

I'm a member of this fantastic forum, it really is THE best place to go for advice, hints & tips, challenges and swaps (circle journals, ATC's, toppers, inchies...the list goes on and on)
we love to welcome new members and we love to see others work and creations, even if you lose your crafting mojo for a while theres still LOADS to do, games, jokes, bingo, quizzes and above all chatting!

go on... join up, it's free and I promise you that you'll love it there.



*waves to Rich*

[inchworm]

hehehehehehehe... forgot to say......

I have the original sizzix machine and use a converter/adapters to use my quickutz and thin cuts dies.
I recently had a cricut machine, which is brilliant!
you get the 'basic george' cartridge with the machine and can cut text and shapes from 1" to 5" high, you can cut block shadows so that the letters above contrast with the shadow beneath
It is rather pricey... mine cost £180 off ebay... but as it cuts everything with ease (you can adjust the tension for thicker paper and card) i love it
I wanted to buy a complete alphabet for my sizzix but when I realised how much that could cost (and you only get the alphabet in one size) then it made sense for me to buy the cricut instead.
I'm currentle waiting for delivery of a new cartridge for my machine from america, as most sellers in the uk charge double, sometimes treble what I have just paid for a cartridge.