scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,130 
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Post by scrapnnana on Jul 26, 2017 19:32:12 GMT
I had basically retired my Cuttlebug. For some reason, I held onto it when we moved, mostly because it is more portable than the Big Kick. I haven't used it in a long time, though....at least a couple of years.
At the last convention I went to, I bought a thin die and coordinating stamp set that I really liked. I have put the die through my Big Kick many times trying to get a clean cut. No matter how much I shimmed, positioned, angled, whatever, it would not cut completely.
Finally, out of curiosity and because I could not think of anything else to do, today I pulled out my Cuttlebug, after trying unsuccessfully to get a clean cut using this die with my Big Kick several times. One pass with the Cuttlebug. Perfect cut, no shims.
So I pulled out another die, this one extremely detailed that I had also struggled with cutting cleanly using my Big Kick. Using the Cuttlebug, it cut almost clean with no shim, but one piece of lightweight cardstock for a shim worked.
My Cuttlebug is one of the original ones, and it has been a workhorse, but I was surprised that it did better on the thin dies than my Big Kick.
And because someone will wonder, yes, I double checked multiple times to be sure I was using the right combination of plates on the Big Kick. More than once.
I had assumed the dies were defective. I had bought them at convention and wasn't sure if I could return them. I'm glad now that I just tried my old Cuttlebug instead of returning them. They are awesome dies. They just don't work well in my Big Kick for some reason. I had even bought a new Big Kick, because my older one seemed to have gotten a big loose. It didn't solve the problem.
I have heard that newer Cuttlebugs are not as well made as the older ones, so I don't know if the same would be true of the newer Cuttlebugs. I'm not sure they still even make or sell the Cuttlebug anymore. I'm so glad I kept my old one, though. From now on, I will use it solely for cutting my thin dies.
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Post by scrappinheather on Jul 26, 2017 20:53:11 GMT
Did you use the precision base plate? I'm a big kick newbie but that is made to work with the wafer thin dies. It's extra and doesn't come with the machine but it should solve the problem
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,130
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Post by scrapnnana on Jul 26, 2017 22:04:12 GMT
No, I don't have that. The multi-purpose platform is "supposed" to let you cut the wafer thin dies. I first got a Big Kick at least 4 or 5 years ago because it seemed more stable than my Cuttlebug, and I had a coupon. I have used it for a long time, but only seemed to have issues with the thin dies relatively recently. I honestly thought my older Big Kick had loosened a bit, which is one reason I bought a new one. Now I'm just frustrated with the people who make Big Kick.
I think it's ridiculous that I need to order something new to allow me to cut my thin dies, especially when the package and instructions *claim* that the Big Kick can cut the thin dies, but I may break down and buy one. My Cuttlebug can handle them just fine without my having to buy anything special, but I do like that the Big Kick is more stable on a table.
Thanks for the tip. I've been die-cutting for a lot of years, and I learned something new from you today.
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Post by scrapperal on Jul 26, 2017 22:42:58 GMT
This is so interesting! I have a Cuttlebug and recently bought a Big Shot (but it is still in the box  ). The reason I bought a Big Shot is because some of my longer dies were warped by my Cuttlebug and also didn't cut through. But when I ran them through my friends Big Shot, a perfect cut! And this is why we have to have multiple die cutting machines.  |
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,130
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Post by scrapnnana on Jul 26, 2017 23:56:17 GMT
This is so interesting! I have a Cuttlebug and recently bought a Big Shot (but it is still in the box ). The reason I bought a Big Shot is because some of my longer dies were warped by my Cuttlebug and also didn't cut through. But when I ran them through my friends Big Shot, a perfect cut! And this is why we have to have multiple die cutting machines. Indeed it is! That's funny, though. I haven't had any warping with my longer dies in the Cuttlebug. |
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Post by joblackford on Jul 27, 2017 1:48:52 GMT
Interesting... I have had the Cuttlebug on my maybe shopping list for a while. I really liked that it is so compact. I don't have any good space to store a Big Shot/Kick or whatever. I had looked at the Platinum die cutter because it seemed to have the sturdiness of the Big machines but it has fold up wings like the Cuttlebug. Not many people seem to have it though, so I'm wary of it buying it.
Honestly, the green color of the Cuttlebug put me off it. I really hate that color. But now Joanns and Michaels etc have new Cuttlebugs in soft pink or mint green. One's an exclusive one at J's - I think it's the pink color, a lot like my rose gold iPhone, and it was all I could do not to grab one off the shelf. Compact AND pretty?! If they could just add cheaper into the mix it'd be all mine.
Re: the precision base plate, I'm annoyed at any machine that doesn't come with the basic pieces you need to use it properly. The dies are expensive enough. I don't want to find that I need to get a special plate to be able to use them.
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Post by artisticscrapper on Jul 27, 2017 1:50:50 GMT
After a great deal of use the plates will warp somewhat no matter which machine you use so that may be the reason. You also could try using a shim. One or two pieces of cardstock can make all the difference.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,130
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Post by scrapnnana on Jul 27, 2017 2:50:33 GMT
Yes, I suppose using warped plates could warp the dies. I always keep extra plates on hand, though. Maybe that is why my long, thin dies have not warped. I am careful to use straighter, newer plates with my thin dies, both long and short.
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Post by AngieandSnoopy on Jul 27, 2017 2:54:24 GMT
That is odd, I have a friend that got a Big Shot because she had intricate dies that would NOT cut in the Cuttlebug but cut perfectly with nothing extra in the Big Shot. I know several people that say the intricate dies work better in the Big Shot and don't use the precision plate.
I have a Big Shot and it cuts the intricate dies just fine with nothing but the multipurpose platform and 2 cutting mats.
The best thing I got for intricate dies is the Sizzix Die Brush & Foam pad and the Spellbinders Tool N 1. Funny thing is, BOTH use the same brush and Sizzix sells the extra brushes and foam pad in a 3 pack of brushes and 1 foam pad.
I got the Spellbinders first earlier this year and when I found out Sizzix also had a brush and they showed laying it over the foam pad, well, works better. I have both since I'm always misplacing one. I like the design of the Sizzix better because it is more comfortable to use. If you have the Tool N 1, just lay the die over a foamy sheet, works very well.
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Deleted
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May 5, 2024 5:52:28 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2017 7:09:08 GMT
scrapnnana Cuttlebug is still being made. Version 3 is out now and it is really nice. I am thinking of upgrading. I still have my workhorse original Cuttlebug too. I do have some problems with it because it is old and I have used it a lot. The problems are due to age. I do agree I think it cuts thin rule dies better. I have the Sizzix Vintaj too and it can really smash my dies. It doesn't hurt the die but the machine is so powerful the cuts don't come out as smooth. To be fair the Vintaj was made for jewelry. That could have some bearing. I did buy the Vintaj for heavier materials since I do make jewelry with it. I saw a video awhile back another girl was having the same issue with her Vintaj. She had a CB too and had great results from that machine. I think the Vintaj is calibrated differently than the other Sizzix Big Shot machines. I agree I do not want to buy a bunch of extra items to make by Big Shot work. I did buy the adapter for thin dies since I have the new platform. I am not that impressed. I rather buy dies than accessories for the machine. I use my Cuttlebug plates in my Big Shot and I get good results from cutting. I don't know if that will help any. I use the Cuttlebug sandwiches for cutting.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,130
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Post by scrapnnana on Jul 27, 2017 13:03:37 GMT
Thanks, Amayalylac, I tried using my Cuttlebug cutting plates in the Big Kick, and it still didn't cut as well as the Cuttlebug. Like you, I would rather buy dies than another plate. The fact that they have it for sale is an "admission" of sorts on their part that the multi purpose platform isn't always sufficient IMO, but it still bugs me.
I keep wondering if it is user error on my part, but I can't figure out the problem, and I don't want to waste any more time playing around with solutions for now. I may try again later, but for now I'm just glad that the intricate dies work in my Cuttlebug.
The funny thing is that the die I was having such issues with cutting is not even an intricate die. It's just a simple pocket with a window. I could not get a clean cut at all using my Big Kick, so I thought it was a defective die, yet it cuts beautifully in the Cuttlebug with no shims, and the intricate dies only need a cardstock shim.
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scrappington
Pearl Clutcher
in Canada
Posts: 3,139
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Post by scrappington on Jul 27, 2017 17:34:19 GMT
Do you use your big kick a lot over the years?
The machines get loose.
Maybe because your cuttle bug has been neglected its still really tight, hence cutting better?
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,130
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Post by scrapnnana on Jul 27, 2017 20:15:45 GMT
Actually, my Cuttlebug has had far more use than my older Big Kick, and a whole lot more than the new Big Kick.
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). The reason I bought a Big Shot is because some of my longer dies were warped by my Cuttlebug and also didn't cut through. But when I ran them through my friends Big Shot, a perfect cut! And this is why we have to have multiple die cutting machines. 
