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Post by justcindy on Nov 23, 2019 17:56:41 GMT
Hey guys! I've had and used the crap out of my cameo...I've had it since Christmas 2011! The past several projects I've used it for, it's given me fits. BORING DETAILS AHEAD, SKIP IF YOU WANT: I wasted SO MUCH stupid HTV trying to make a couple of tshirts for my daughter, and that stuff isn't as cheap as scrapbook paper!  And while a couple of problems were user error, ( I was rusty at cutting the HTV) there were so many times it would skip around the design and not cut the entire design, or the vinyl would slip in the rollers and end up crooked (I almost took it apart, thinking debris or something hidden was caught somewhere and was knocking it off course). Last night it took me 4 tries to get a usable cut design out of plain cardstock! New blade, new mat, double check settings, the whole thing. SO FRUSTRATING. it looked like the design had been stretched out and was being cut wonky, and the whole design wouldn't get cut. UGHHHH. SHORT VERSION: I'm wondering if its time to replace my 9 year old Cameo 3.....it isn't dead yet but been having weird problems and wasting lots of materials and patience. An awesome looking pre-black friday deal was recently posted here and with all the weird problems I've been having, made me start wondering if it's time....or am I just subconsciously wanting the new one? |
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Post by streetscrapper on Nov 23, 2019 18:57:51 GMT
I'm probably not the best person in the world to give advice on whether or not to buy something because you want it subconsciously, but in my opinion, if you have had yours for 9 years, it's definitely time for a new one! Heck I sold my original Cameo for the Cameo 3 for no other reason other than I wanted it! The only reason I'm not running out to purchase the Cameo 4 is because I just spent a bundle on sublimation supplies and I'm saving for a new heat press. Otherwise I can assure you, I'd already have it! Once Christmas is over, I get my heat press and my credit cards cools off, there's a pretty good chance that I'll be looking for the best price on a Cameo 4! Go for it!!
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Post by anniefb on Nov 23, 2019 19:01:22 GMT
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,130 
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Post by scrapnnana on Nov 23, 2019 19:40:48 GMT
Although it sounds like you’ve gotten your money’s worth out of it, I want to make a suggestion before you buy a new machine:
Lessen the pressure, slow down the speed (way down), and cut twice.
I had trouble getting a clean cut for a project last week. I finally changed those three settings, and I got a perfect cut. I was using the same paper, same mat, same blade, and changing the three settings made all the difference. Oh, and I was using a nearly new Cameo 3 (I just bought it in September or October), and I have years of experience with electronic cutters. The problems I had where I couldn’t get a clean cut were definitely not the machine. I suspect it was my card stock.
Some papers are more dense, some are more fragile, and some have absorbed humidity. HTV can slip if not cut on a mat (I always cut mine and put it on the cutting mat, rather than cutting from the roll). If you have cuts or gouges in the cutting strip, and you don’t use a mat, it can mess up your vinyl/HTV cut. Little things can make a difference. You could buy a new machine and still have the same frustrating issues.
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Post by oldgardengirl on Nov 24, 2019 0:55:10 GMT
Hey guys! I've had and used the crap out of my cameo...I've had it since Christmas 2011! The past several projects I've used it for, it's given me fits. BORING DETAILS AHEAD, SKIP IF YOU WANT: I wasted SO MUCH stupid HTV trying to make a couple of tshirts for my daughter, and that stuff isn't as cheap as scrapbook paper! And while a couple of problems were user error, ( I was rusty at cutting the HTV) there were so many times it would skip around the design and not cut the entire design, or the vinyl would slip in the rollers and end up crooked (I almost took it apart, thinking debris or something hidden was caught somewhere and was knocking it off course). Last night it took me 4 tries to get a usable cut design out of plain cardstock! New blade, new mat, double check settings, the whole thing. SO FRUSTRATING. it looked like the design had been stretched out and was being cut wonky, and the whole design wouldn't get cut. UGHHHH. SHORT VERSION: I'm wondering if its time to replace my 9 year old Cameo 3.....it isn't dead yet but been having weird problems and wasting lots of materials and patience. An awesome looking pre-black friday deal was recently posted here and with all the weird problems I've been having, made me start wondering if it's time....or am I just subconsciously wanting the new one? Have you thought about a cricut? I have a Cricut explore air 2 and a Cameo, and I think the Cricut is so much less finnicky about settings. Sometimes the Cameo just wont cut right no matter what settings. |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 4, 2024 8:58:41 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2019 1:07:38 GMT
I have just upgraded from an original Cameo to the Cameo 4. I have had a few teething issues (the autoblade was/is faulty straight out of the box) but on the whole I am so glad that I upgraded! I was having huge connection issues with my previous machine, even before the Windows upgrade that caused all the big problems. No such problems with this new machine.
Admittedly I've only cut paper with this machine so far so I can't speak to how good it is with other materials.
I am about to order a rotary blade now that they're available because I want to make a felt wreath for my Christmas decorations!
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Post by tinksmommy on Nov 24, 2019 1:25:29 GMT
I just bought a Cameo 3 at a great price to replace my Cameo 2. I really wanted the Bluetooth and auto blade but do not need to cut thick materials. The 3 is perfect for my scrappy things.
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dawnnikol
Prolific Pea
'A life without books is a life not lived.' Jay Kristoff
Posts: 7,875
Sept 21, 2015 18:39:25 GMT
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Post by dawnnikol on Dec 15, 2019 15:50:34 GMT
Had to drag this thread back up because I just tried to cut on my Cameo and found out about the connectivity issue with Win 10. So, now my Cameo is just a pile of junk which is super frustrating, especially since I had planned to cut some vinyl for a few more shirts for my upcoming Disney trip.
I saw the work around of the SD card, but seriously? So annoying.
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Post by coloradocropper on Dec 15, 2019 21:19:36 GMT
I just bought a Cameo 3 at a great price to replace my Cameo 2. I really wanted the Bluetooth and auto blade but do not need to cut thick materials. The 3 is perfect for my scrappy things. Where did you get your Cameo 3 |
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Post by coloradocropper on Dec 15, 2019 21:22:39 GMT
I want a good deal on Cameo 3. I don't need all the capabilities of a 4. On the last update, I lost my hip kit and paper issue designs. Still trying to figure that out.
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twinsmomfla99
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,980
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Post by twinsmomfla99 on Dec 15, 2019 23:46:40 GMT
Costco has a Cameo 4 bundle today for $269, which is $60 off. It’s one of the 12-days of Christmas sales (today is Day 12).
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,130
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Post by scrapnnana on Dec 16, 2019 6:14:27 GMT
Had to drag this thread back up because I just tried to cut on my Cameo and found out about the connectivity issue with Win 10. So, now my Cameo is just a pile of junk which is super frustrating, especially since I had planned to cut some vinyl for a few more shirts for my upcoming Disney trip. I saw the work around of the SD card, but seriously? So annoying. This is why I bought the Cameo 3 to replace my original Cameo after the Windows 10 update. They said there was a work around, but I decided that I would rather just buy a new machine. I considered the Cameo 4, but didn’t feel I would be likely to cut balsa or fabric, so I didn’t need the special blades. It was a lot more than the Cameo 3, and if I weren’t going to use the knife and roller blades, it just wasn’t worth the extra cost to me. I have been very happy with my Cameo 3. |
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dawnnikol
Prolific Pea
'A life without books is a life not lived.' Jay Kristoff
Posts: 7,875
Sept 21, 2015 18:39:25 GMT
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Post by dawnnikol on Dec 16, 2019 10:49:09 GMT
Had to drag this thread back up because I just tried to cut on my Cameo and found out about the connectivity issue with Win 10. So, now my Cameo is just a pile of junk which is super frustrating, especially since I had planned to cut some vinyl for a few more shirts for my upcoming Disney trip. I saw the work around of the SD card, but seriously? So annoying. This is why I bought the Cameo 3 to replace my original Cameo after the Windows 10 update. They said there was a work around, but I decided that I would rather just buy a new machine. I considered the Cameo 4, but didn’t feel I would be likely to cut balsa or fabric, so I didn’t need the special blades. It was a lot more than the Cameo 3, and if I weren’t going to use the knife and roller blades, it just wasn’t worth the extra cost to me. I have been very happy with my Cameo 3. Thanks for that information. I did a bit more research and I'm hoping the USB 2.0 additional port hub will work. It was only $6.50, so if it fixes my issue, I'll live with it. If not... meh. |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 4, 2024 8:58:41 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2019 8:35:02 GMT
I agree with scrapnnana try her following tips. I also agree with oldgardengirl about the Cricut. It is much easier. Cricut promotes and creates their machines so you can create and not fuss. The Silhouette machines are geared towards more advanced users so they build the machines that you have to fuss with them. I love my Cameo but I even hate the fussing. I am like I just want to cut out a bear not spend two hours fussing with it, ROFL. It's not that bad but you know there are times. Cricut I import the bear, cut out the bear and I have a cute new die cut in less than five minutes. I actually enjoy fussy things but Cricut makes it easier. I notice there tends to be less mistakes. Now, the older legacy machines that is a different story. They were more temperamental than the Cameo line, lol. I do recommend the Cameo a lot. I think it's one of the best machines out there. I think the auto blade is not the best. I think Cricut has the best auto blades. I don't really use auto blade on my Cameo since I use a different blade holder. I have been doing this a long time so I guess I am the auto blade, lol. I watched other people with the auto blade on their Cameo and it is so much fussing. It seems temperamental. Cricut users seem to rarely have that problem. I heard ScannCut's new autoblade system is even more temperamental. I have seen the auto blade on the Cameo drag and skip, if that helps any. Side note- I am not knocking the auto blade on the Cameo or trying to scare anyone away from it. My observation on advanced machines I think they need a little bit more fiddling. |
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Post by oldgardengirl on Dec 29, 2019 5:50:03 GMT
I agree with scrapnnana try her following tips. I also agree with oldgardengirl about the Cricut. It is much easier. Cricut promotes and creates their machines so you can create and not fuss. The Silhouette machines are geared towards more advanced users so they build the machines that you have to fuss with them. I love my Cameo but I even hate the fussing. I am like I just want to cut out a bear not spend two hours fussing with it, ROFL. It's not that bad but you know there are times. Cricut I import the bear, cut out the bear and I have a cute new die cut in less than five minutes. I actually enjoy fussy things but Cricut makes it easier. I notice there tends to be less mistakes. Now, the older legacy machines that is a different story. They were more temperamental than the Cameo line, lol. I do recommend the Cameo a lot. I think it's one of the best machines out there. I think the auto blade is not the best. I think Cricut has the best auto blades. I don't really use auto blade on my Cameo since I use a different blade holder. I have been doing this a long time so I guess I am the auto blade, lol. I watched other people with the auto blade on their Cameo and it is so much fussing. It seems temperamental. Cricut users seem to rarely have that problem. I heard ScannCut's new autoblade system is even more temperamental. I have seen the auto blade on the Cameo drag and skip, if that helps any. Side note- I am not knocking the auto blade on the Cameo or trying to scare anyone away from it. My observation on advanced machines I think they need a little bit more fiddling. I put a deep cut blade (from Amazon, I think it's 65 degrees?) on my Cricut and I practically don't have to even change the cut settings when I change paper now. That was what annoyed me the most. So i went from a Doodlebug patterned paper to a heavier cardstock, to a piece of patterned paper from a Pebbles "project pad" - and cut them all with the same blade on the same paper setting. That made me super happy and made it much easier to cut a bunch of stuff for my Christmas projects without having to do a billion test cuts on different weights of paper. Yay cricut! |
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And while a couple of problems were user error, ( I was rusty at cutting the HTV) there were so many times it would skip around the design and not cut the entire design, or the vinyl would slip in the rollers and end up crooked (I almost took it apart, thinking debris or something hidden was caught somewhere and was knocking it off course). Last night it took me 4 tries to get a usable cut design out of plain cardstock! New blade, new mat, double check settings, the whole thing. SO FRUSTRATING. it looked like the design had been stretched out and was being cut wonky, and the whole design wouldn't get cut. UGHHHH. 
