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Post by baslp on Oct 2, 2020 20:14:40 GMT
Hello. This may be a dumb question— can I snip the thin metal lines that connect pieces on a die cut? I ordered a borderline die and thought I could use them separately. Any advice would be appreciated.
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Post by tc on Oct 2, 2020 20:21:23 GMT
I snip mine and then my DH painstakingly files them down with his metal files for me. :-)
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Post by baslp on Oct 2, 2020 20:42:17 GMT
Great. That is what I want to do too! Why do they connect these???
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PaperAngel
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,352
Jun 27, 2014 23:04:06 GMT
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Post by PaperAngel on Oct 3, 2020 1:52:50 GMT
Why do they connect these??? Cost. Die manufacturers produce the individual dies connected in sheets. Snipping/filing the connectors is an extra step, time, & money. Personally, I find this industry practice unacceptable & refuse to purchase at full price any set where the dies are connected, since I view them as incomplete/not ready for use; they must be dirt cheep for me to even consider buying them. |
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Deleted
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May 17, 2024 20:56:14 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2020 5:31:55 GMT
Why do they connect these??? Cost. Die manufacturers produce the individual dies connected in sheets. Snipping/filing the connectors is an extra step, time, & money. Personally, I find this industry practice unacceptable & refuse to purchase at full price any set where the dies are connected, since I view them as incomplete/not ready for use; they must be dirt cheep for me to even consider buying them. Same. I've purchased super cheap dies on Amazon and yet they manage to properly snip them apart AND sand them smooth. |
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Post by freeatlast on Oct 3, 2020 9:43:59 GMT
Yes, you can definitely snip them apart.
The only caution I would offer is to be careful not to cut apart dies that are meant to be connected. Examples would be a die that cuts both the inside and outside of a wreath or one that cuts the exterior of a mug as well as the interior of the handle . Usually the metal connectors are thicker if they are not meant to be cut apart, but not always.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,147 
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Post by scrapnnana on Oct 3, 2020 12:38:48 GMT
I cut them apart, but I recommend small snips made specifically for it. I had been using my jewelry snips, and I regret it. They did the job, but they were damaged. I finally bought snips from My Favorite Things made just for cutting dies apart.
I buy dies based on one thing: how much I like the dies and whether the cost is reasonable.
I was shocked when I received Altenew dies for the first time and had to cut them apart. Several well known companies do this now. I don’t like it, but it’s not a deal breaker for me.
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Post by hop2 on Oct 3, 2020 13:42:49 GMT
Why do they connect these??? Cost. Die manufacturers produce the individual dies connected in sheets. Snipping/filing the connectors is an extra step, time, & money. Personally, I find this industry practice unacceptable & refuse to purchase at full price any set where the dies are connected, since I view them as incomplete/not ready for use; they must be dirt cheep for me to even consider buying them. Yeah I’m angry when I get a set that’s not snipped. Well, not a discount set but a $20 + set it pisses me off. Enough so that I don’t buy them many times. My tools should be ready to use period and tool that expensive definitely be ready to use. |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 17, 2024 20:56:14 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2020 13:54:23 GMT
Cost. Die manufacturers produce the individual dies connected in sheets. Snipping/filing the connectors is an extra step, time, & money. Personally, I find this industry practice unacceptable & refuse to purchase at full price any set where the dies are connected, since I view them as incomplete/not ready for use; they must be dirt cheep for me to even consider buying them. Yeah I’m angry when I get a set that’s not snipped. Well, not a discount set but a $20 + set it pisses me off. Enough so that I don’t buy them many times. My tools should be ready to use period and tool that expensive definitely be ready to use. That's why I won't buy any of the expensive ones that don't come ready to use - looking at you "My Favorite Things". The MFT die that I bought that was expensive and had to be finished by me put me off these for good. I didn't have snips. So I had to get snips to use a tool I'd paid good money for. No thanks. Now, I either buy nested shape dies on Amazon - WAY cheaper AND pre-finished! Or, I use my Silhouette to cut one-time-only types of shapes. |
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Post by hop2 on Oct 3, 2020 14:04:36 GMT
Yeah I’m angry when I get a set that’s not snipped. Well, not a discount set but a $20 + set it pisses me off. Enough so that I don’t buy them many times. My tools should be ready to use period and tool that expensive definitely be ready to use. That's why I won't buy any of the expensive ones that don't come ready to use - looking at you "My Favorite Things". The MFT die that I bought that was expensive and had to be finished by me put me off these for good. I didn't have snips. So I had to get snips to use a tool I'd paid good money for. No thanks. Now, I either buy nested shape dies on Amazon - WAY cheaper AND pre-finished! Or, I use my Silhouette to cut one-time-only types of shapes. That what I figure, if I can buy a reasonably priced set at a place like Gina Marie designs or coco & Reno then why can’t I buy the ready to use from expensive name brand manufacturers. |
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Post by baslp on Oct 3, 2020 18:44:04 GMT
Thanks again for all the work no .. just ordered the snip tool.
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Post by grammadee on Oct 4, 2020 2:59:25 GMT
Yes, you can definitely snip them apart. The only caution I would offer is to be careful not to cut apart dies that are meant to be connected. Examples would be a die that cuts both the inside and outside of a wreath or one that cuts the exterior of a mug as well as the interior of the handle . Usually the metal connectors are thicker if they are not meant to be cut apart, but not always. That's a good reason to leave them together.
They are also easier to store and find when they are all one piece. I don't cut them apart unless one piece is inside another shape and I want that outside shape. I would rather make 3 or 4 passes, cutting all the pieces in different colours than hunt for each tiny die I would need for a set.
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Post by cmpeter on Oct 4, 2020 4:14:09 GMT
I just snip them. Never knew so many folks felt so strongly about them being connected. I mostly stamp and almost all die sets that coordinate with clear rubber stamps are connected. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a set of coordinating dies that weren’t connected. Nest dies,frames, etc generally aren’t connected.
I use my scan and cut, so it’s rare that I buy the dies now. But, it never bothers me if they are connected.
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Post by impearia on Oct 4, 2020 4:55:10 GMT
Yes, you can definitely snip them apart. The only caution I would offer is to be careful not to cut apart dies that are meant to be connected. Examples would be a die that cuts both the inside and outside of a wreath or one that cuts the exterior of a mug as well as the interior of the handle . Usually the metal connectors are thicker if they are not meant to be cut apart, but not always. That's a good reason to leave them together.
They are also easier to store and find when they are all one piece. I don't cut them apart unless one piece is inside another shape and I want that outside shape. I would rather make 3 or 4 passes, cutting all the pieces in different colours than hunt for each tiny die I would need for a set.
Oh this is good advise for a newbie...I have a Silhouette, but for my birthday my kids is getting me a small manual die cutter (after all these years!) because I want to be able to easily cut certain shapes like labels...I noticed some of the Lawn Fawn dies I had on my list had the small connective pieces. I will keep them there I guess unless they are inside and will affect the design. I hate searching for tiny pieces. |
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Post by impearia on Oct 4, 2020 4:57:55 GMT
double post
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Post by marg on Oct 8, 2020 1:37:25 GMT
I just snip them. Never knew so many folks felt so strongly about them being connected. I mostly stamp and almost all die sets that coordinate with clear rubber stamps are connected. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a set of coordinating dies that weren’t connected. Nest dies,frames, etc generally aren’t connected. I use my scan and cut, so it’s rare that I buy the dies now. But, it never bothers me if they are connected. It doesn't bother me, either. I never really thought about it, I just bought what I needed and liked. Dies are really freaking expensive, though - I hate paying for them in general. I have a scan and cut which is great but sometimes I just need the dies. |
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Post by hmp on Oct 12, 2020 21:42:43 GMT
I just spent 2 hours filing down the ridges left after I snipped connecting lines. I have more filing to do. If I don’t file my hands end up scratched & bloody. I try to avoid buying this style but this company got me by using a deceptive photo that showed all the pieces cut apart. Aaaaaargh
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Kerri W
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,769
Location: Kentucky
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Post by Kerri W on Oct 13, 2020 15:07:37 GMT
It hasn't occurred to me to be irritated about having to snip the dies. I also haven't ever been injured by dies that I've snipped apart. I guess if I had I might have a different opinion.
My issue is that my wire cutters are often times too big to get into the tight spaces to make the snip. I found a teeny tiny pair of cutters, about 2" tall, at Michael's in the jewelry section the other day. Perfect size for those snug spots!
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pinklady
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,538
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Post by pinklady on Oct 13, 2020 17:48:05 GMT
Wow, I never knew so many people hated connected dies. It's a non-issue for me. I purchased these small cutters from Harbor Freight for under $5. They work great. I can get really close so there is no filing needed. www.harborfreight.com/micro-flush-cutter-90708.html |
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Post by hmp on Oct 14, 2020 19:30:00 GMT
I will try those Harbor Freight cutters. My current cutters are small but won’t allow a close trim so I still need to file.
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Post by hop2 on Oct 14, 2020 20:34:34 GMT
Wow, I never knew so many people hated connected dies. It's a non-issue for me. I purchased these small cutters from Harbor Freight for under $5. They work great. I can get really close so there is no filing needed. www.harborfreight.com/micro-flush-cutter-90708.htmlUnless there’s a reason for them to be connected and they are going to stay connected and be stored connected ( like the stamps are all in the same order/layout those I like ) it is ‘unfinished’ in my opinion. I should have to cut & file high priced tools. It especially irks me when it is a die that is for a stamp set but the dies are all inside each other and it obviously has to be taken apart. |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 17, 2024 20:56:14 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2020 1:01:53 GMT
Wow, I never knew so many people hated connected dies. It's a non-issue for me. I purchased these small cutters from Harbor Freight for under $5. They work great. I can get really close so there is no filing needed. www.harborfreight.com/micro-flush-cutter-90708.htmlUnless there’s a reason for them to be connected and they are going to stay connected and be stored connected ( like the stamps are all in the same order/layout those I like ) it is ‘unfinished’ in my opinion. I should have to cut & file high priced tools. It especially irks me when it is a die that is for a stamp set but the dies are all inside each other and it obviously has to be taken apart. Same. To me, it'd be like me buying a bunch of needles or pins and then having to snip them apart. No thanks. I'm paying for a finished tool, I'd like to get a finished tool. |
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Post by hop2 on Oct 15, 2020 1:30:28 GMT
Unless there’s a reason for them to be connected and they are going to stay connected and be stored connected ( like the stamps are all in the same order/layout those I like ) it is ‘unfinished’ in my opinion. I should have to cut & file high priced tools. It especially irks me when it is a die that is for a stamp set but the dies are all inside each other and it obviously has to be taken apart. Same. To me, it'd be like me buying a bunch of needles or pins and then having to snip them apart. No thanks. I'm paying for a finished tool, I'd like to get a finished tool. Why do I never see my mistakes/typos until someone else quotes them That should say shouldnt 😜 |
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Post by gale w on Oct 15, 2020 3:18:19 GMT
I also didn't know they were so hated. I never really thought about it. If they're connected I snip them apart. I don't bother to file. I buy them based on whether or not I like them but I rarely pay full price anyway.
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Post by songbird on Oct 16, 2020 18:18:08 GMT
Unless I need to snip them apart, I leave them connected because they store better and I have less chance of losing one. It is sometimes hard to get into the tiny spaces but I’ve managed so far and just do an extra snip if it’s too sharp.
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Post by gale w on Oct 16, 2020 19:37:56 GMT
Unless I need to snip them apart, I leave them connected because they store better and I have less chance of losing one. It is sometimes hard to get into the tiny spaces but I’ve managed so far and just do an extra snip if it’s too sharp. I started out doing that. But if I stamp two or more things on a sheet of cs, I end up having to loose cut them out and then deal with trying to line up dies (that have other dies stuck to them) on a smaller piece of cs. Plus the extra wear on my cutting pads when the unused, but stuck, dies go through without needing to. |
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Post by artisticscrapper on Oct 18, 2020 1:50:22 GMT
I totally hate that. Some cut aparts are really difficult to snip due to the tiny space between the dies. And even when I cut and file there’s always a slight sharp remnant. A few companies don’t require people to do that extra work and use a slightly sticky tape to hold the dies to the cardboard and others put them in a pouch. Dies aren’t cheap so it really Irritates me that I have to finish their manufacturing process.
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