Can we talk about manual die cutting?

I was going to suggest a dedicated blade.

The Cuttlebug was my first manual machine and I still have it after almost 10 years. The same machine + the same plates. I've since ditched a lot of the dies from lack of use, but kept the "essentials" like embossing folders and a fantastic set of numbers from PTI. I can definitely see cutting foam to make thickers, but I prefer using felt + fabric if I'm not cutting paper with mine. My Cameo can't do that! Or, if it can, I'm completely unaware and uninterested in learning.

I've had my Cameo for almost 4 years now and I use it in batches when I think about it, but I find it more frustrating than anything. Line it up or the cuts will go out of whack or not cut far enough and then you have to re-cut or it will just act up and mess up an entire freaking roll of glitter iron on material. I know a lot of people who are pros at using their Cameo, and perhaps with practice I could be one of them. I just don't want to make the time to learn. I should just get rid of it, but then I might need to attempt to cut something that's 11" tall... conundrum.

Big shot all the way. I just LOVE mine. I haven't had a single problem with it and I have had it for years. I have seen the scan and cut and all those machines and I am sure they are wonderful, but I just don't feel like hooking my computer to another thing. I had sure cuts a lot with my cricut and never used it The magnetic plate was imo the best invention for the big shot since sliced bread.

Depends on the coupon. I got a big shot for my niece for Christmas and was able to use a 50% M's coupon

Yes, you have to watch the coupons. I want to say I got mine about two years ago and it was about $60. There was a rare 50% off all Sizzix stuff coupon for Michael's and I snagged mine then after sitting on the fence for almost a week. So glad I caved in and bought it because I use it a lot. If you have Hobby Lobby near you, they don't have all the restrictions that Michael's and JoAnn's do.

Oh gosh yes!
I have the cricut with scal too and while a great combination when all I want is a heart or a circle there is no point hooking the computer up and trying to get everything all lined up and in the right place, nope just pull out a die and manually cut.

I have a BigKick and LOVE it! I bought mine years and years ago but use it with all sorts of dies and embossing folders. It is a work horse even though it's old, lol. 

Anyone have any experience with the we r memory keepers evolution advanced die cutter??? I'm a newbie and this is the one I'm looking at.

Edited to add: newbie at manual die cutters! I have a silhouette that I love, but like others have mentioned, it's sometimes a pain to pull out laptop, and mess around with placement and thickness of paper and what not!

I used to have a ton of dies but I purged all the thin dies and kept most of the thicker dies because they are versatile in the things they can cut through. I have alpha dies in case I want to cut chipboard letters.  I also own are the giant, individual alphabet dies (Fun Serif) that Sizzix came out with years ago. those are great for banners, signs and monograms. I have the CB machine.

Gale- I am so envious you have the Hello Kitty version of the Big Shot.

ellewood- You can letterpress using a manual die cutter. www.google.com/search?q=letterpress+big+shot&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8 Your welcome in my enabling help, lol.

I know a lot of people cut foam with the Cameo. It is not something I want to do either. Maybe the new Cameo coming out in September will be a better machine for that. The Cameo machines were never meant to cut foam. Here's the material list from Silhouette's site on what you can and can not cut- www.silhouetteamerica.com/printer-friendly/faq/materials-silhouette-can-cut The Curio can cut foam but not the other machines. You can cut foam on the Cricut though. ProvoCraft built the machine to do that. Here's PC's list- us.cricut.com/home/learn/machines/cut-list

I have seen You Tube videos of ladies who cut out thin Dollar Tree foam using thin dies with their Big Shot.

I bought my Vintaj recently at Hobby Lobby for $60.00 using a coupon. I made sure the cashier went over that coupon with a fine tooth comb and she asked the manager too and he said we can use coupons on the manual die cutting machines. The Vintaj is the same as the Big Shot machines. It is just a name. The machine is marketed for jewelry and beading artists. I picked that machine because I love birds and there are birds on the machine. I am one of "Those" girls who likes pretty machines.

I have the Sizzix Vintaj and the Cuttlebug. I love both of them. The Sizzix machine is more versatile. I use my Cuttlebug mainly for paper crafting. I use my Vintaj for mixed media. I like to make jewelry using my Vintaj. I cut fabric, metals, plastic, leather, foam, sandpaper, cork with my machines. I do have two electronic cutters- The Cameo & the Cricut Explore. A manual machine does a lot more for heavy duty work. I love to emboss too. Be warned the Big Shot takes up space. The Cuttlebug folds up nicely. If you don't have room to store a Big Shot then a Cuttlebug might be better for your needs.

Try ebay for Sizzix Sizzlits or Cuttlebug alpha die sets. I also have the Sizzix alpha strips in various sizes and design.  I don't see much of what I have on ebay. 

Thanks for this. I think I'd go with the Pro.

I have a Vagabond, and unless I am using embossing folders, I never use the multipurpose platform.  Instead I use the magnetic platform, which works really well to hold the wafer thin dies in place.  Also use a metal shim with those dies.