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Post by amyl on Sept 18, 2021 12:00:41 GMT
Hi Everyone! I’m seriously considering biting the bullet (or requesting Amazon gift cards for my birthday) on this machine. So my questions are for those of who who have one!
1. Do you consider it worth the hefty price tag?
2. Thoughts on the 125 vs the 85? It appears the primary difference is the size of the screen. Also a difference is cutting thickness. I would really be using to cut stamped images and maybe the occasional vinyl image.
3. Anything else?
Thanks in advance. I know The Peas will have the answers!
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Post by 950nancy on Sept 18, 2021 14:58:41 GMT
I like mine, but I am a tool junkie. It takes a bit to learn and the lighting of your room can have some effect on how it cuts. Since I already have a Cricut and Silhouette, I didn't really need it, but it does a good job of cutting out stamps.
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scrappymeg
Full Member
Posts: 317
Sept 18, 2020 22:59:35 GMT
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Post by scrappymeg on Sept 18, 2021 15:08:38 GMT
Hi Everyone! I’m seriously considering biting the bullet (or requesting Amazon gift cards for my birthday) on this machine. So my questions are for those of who who have one! 1. Do you consider it worth the hefty price tag? 2. Thoughts on the 125 vs the 85? It appears the primary difference is the size of the screen. Also a difference is cutting thickness. I would really be using to cut stamped images and maybe the occasional vinyl image. 3. Anything else? Thanks in advance. I know The Peas will have the answers! I've only had my Scan N'Cut since May and haven't had much time to play with it for various reasons, but I really love it so far. 1) Is it worth the price tag? It is expensive so I was very hesitant to order - but the answer here will depend on how much you actually use it. I am not good at fussy cutting, so the fact it can cut patterned paper makes it worth it to me (I have a Silhouette, and I know it can do this with the pixscan mat, but I've had lots of issues trying to make it work). I have had some issues with the offset not being even (but I just realized I never calibrated my machine, so that may be why....) - but even then, I don't mind tidying up the die cut with a few cuts myself. Yesterday, the machine cut out 30+ little butterflies from a Paige Evans sheet and it made me so happy, lol. I would never have attempted to cut those out by hand. Also, regarding price, I don't know if you have another cutting machine, but the Scan N'Cut can cut a lot of other materials, so it's not like it will have to be a one-trick tool necessarily. As I mentioned I have a Silhouette (and a Cricut....yeah, I'm kind of obsessed with cutting machines  ) so I tend to use those machines for vinyl and other materials, but I could probably just get by with the Scan N'Cut. Again, for me, being able to easily cut images out of patterned paper really allows me to do much more with those types of paper, and that makes it a worthy addition to my craft room. 2) I have the 125. I knew the smaller screen would bug me, but I know for others that would not be worth the extra $100 or whatever the difference is, so that's just a personal preference. I don't think there are any other major differences. According to Brother, they both cut up to 3 mm in thickness. Good luck with whatever you decide! |
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angel97701
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,552
Jun 26, 2014 2:04:25 GMT
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Post by angel97701 on Sept 18, 2021 15:16:00 GMT
I LOVE my Scan n Cut. I use it all the time for titles, stamped images, specially die cuts, and.so on. I do not use it to scan 12 x 12 though bc the true scan size is slightly smaller. I would suggest the Alanda Crafts (Australian) for video courses to get you up and running really quickly on the learning curve. I buy the more sophisticated cut files from the Silhouette Design store plus great fonts for titles. For some of the more obscure files I shop Etsy. Go as big as you can afford, the larger machines have more preloaded files.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,446 
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Post by scrapnnana on Sept 18, 2021 17:48:09 GMT
The Scan N Cut is great for cutting out stamps that have a solid outline. If there is an artistic break in the outer line (which happens with some stamps), you can end up with your stamped image cut in ways you don’t appreciate. Coloring the image before cutting helps, as does using a fine tip pen to fill in gaps.
Most stamps that I buy have that solid outline, so I don’t need to buy the matching dies for those. The Scan N Cut has paid for itself and then some since I no longer feel that I need the matching dies from most companies. That cost can add up extremely fast. However, if you buy a lot of Heartfelt Creations, the Scan N Cut tends to cut those stamped images to ribbons, unless you leave a wider border around your stamped images. I like mine cut without a white border.
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Post by joblackford on Sept 18, 2021 20:46:44 GMT
I would recommend trying to get it discounted on Black Friday, or some time like that. Number 1 piece of advice: DO NOT be fooled into getting the wifi transfer thing - it's an extra $40 or so for a code to have the privilege of turning on the wifi capability that's turned off in all of the machines, which is just sucky. Thumb drives are cheap and work just as well, and especially if you use it primarily to scan stamps and cut directly, the wifi is completely unnecessary. The only people I think need the wifi are people who use it every day for a business. I'm not sure about current models because mine is a few years old but I do find myself peering at the screen trying to see if the scanned lines are going to mess up my images, trying to get the framing function in the right place, etc etc. So if your eyes are bad and you can afford it, a bigger screen might be worth the money. It is not intuitive. The menus and processes on the machine and the free online software might be intuitive for Japanese speakers/thinkers, but I find them difficult. I've had the same issue with other Brother products. You can learn them and figure them out but they're not obvious. I still often press the wrong button when it's ready to cut. The save function online says something like "overwrite project" or something that makes it sound like you're going to lose what you've done instead of saving it. Be prepared to put in some effort to learn how things work. That said, it works really well for cutting out stamped images and saves tons of money on matching dies. I tend not to use it unless I have a bunch of things to cut because I don't have much space and it's quite loud - sometimes scissors are just easier (I'm lazy and seriously space challenged). But for big projects and complicated outlines it's amazing. There are certain stamps it just can't see properly, even with a pencil outline to fill in the gaps, but it works at least 80% of the time on the things I ask it to do. I would never have cut all these out by hand: http://instagram.com/p/CP3wzOIJ8rP |
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scrappymeg
Full Member
Posts: 317
Sept 18, 2020 22:59:35 GMT
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Post by scrappymeg on Sept 18, 2021 21:11:20 GMT
I would recommend trying to get it discounted on Black Friday, or some time like that. Number 1 piece of advice: DO NOT be fooled into getting the wifi transfer thing - it's an extra $40 or so for a code to have the privilege of turning on the wifi capability that's turned off in all of the machines, which is just sucky. Thumb drives are cheap and work just as well, and especially if you use it primarily to scan stamps and cut directly, the wifi is completely unnecessary. The only people I think need the wifi are people who use it every day for a business. I'm not sure about current models because mine is a few years old but I do find myself peering at the screen trying to see if the scanned lines are going to mess up my images, trying to get the framing function in the right place, etc etc. So if your eyes are bad and you can afford it, a bigger screen might be worth the money. It is not intuitive. The menus and processes on the machine and the free online software might be intuitive for Japanese speakers/thinkers, but I find them difficult. I've had the same issue with other Brother products. You can learn them and figure them out but they're not obvious. I still often press the wrong button when it's ready to cut. The save function online says something like "overwrite project" or something that makes it sound like you're going to lose what you've done instead of saving it. Be prepared to put in some effort to learn how things work. That said, it works really well for cutting out stamped images and saves tons of money on matching dies. I tend not to use it unless I have a bunch of things to cut because I don't have much space and it's quite loud - sometimes scissors are just easier (I'm lazy and seriously space challenged). But for big projects and complicated outlines it's amazing. There are certain stamps it just can't see properly, even with a pencil outline to fill in the gaps, but it works at least 80% of the time on the things I ask it to do. I would never have cut all these out by hand: http://instagr.am/p/CP3wzOIJ8rP Re: the wireless issue. I don't think this is a problem with the models OP is looking at. The 85 and 125 DX models have it included, no extra purchase necessary (thank goodness, because it's ridiculous that it was an add-on at all, but I digress...)  I do feel like I need a magnifying glass at times to check the cut lines, that's for sure, lol. I also agree, it is not very intuitive, and because I don't use it all that frequently, I feel like I have to "relearn" it every time I use it. However, there are a couple of good resources on YouTube and Facebook to help people get started. Love those beautiful die-cuts joblackford, your coloring looks amazing! |
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,446
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Post by scrapnnana on Sept 18, 2021 22:22:41 GMT
Beautiful coloring, joblackford. I should have mentioned in my previous post that I have the CM350. I bought it about three and a half years ago, but that small screen does have a zoom function so that I can see the cut lines. I’m not familiar with the models listed by the OP, so I don’t know how the newer models compare to mine. I used to keep up with the electronic cutters, but not so much anymore. |
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Post by MARIBETHR on Sept 19, 2021 1:28:44 GMT
Hey amyl , I am in the same position, really want to invest in this machine for cutting stamps and purchased SVG files. Having the same issue of making a good decision. Interested in the comments you are receiving. I am interested in the SDX85 (mostly because of the price difference, I don't think the small screen will bother me and I don't need to cut anything other than cardstock). |
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Post by scrappyem on Sept 19, 2021 1:59:58 GMT
I love mine, when I use it. My biggest problem is I don't use it often enough and have to relearn it every time. I keep thinking about upgrading to the newer version that has the self adjusting blade but I don't use it often enough to justify spending the money to upgrade, or so I keep telling myself. I do wonder if I would use it more if it wasn't so fussy.
Julie Fei-Fan Balzer has some online classes to help you get the hang of it. I found those helpful.
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Post by peanutterbutter on Sept 19, 2021 3:28:46 GMT
I really do love mine, and haven't regretted purchasing it all. I'm sure I don't use it to its' full capacity, but I use it to cut out stamped images, images on patterned paper, cut SVG files (I've designed several of my own), cut stencils for screen printing, vinyl for shirts/home dec projects. Okay it sees a fair amount of use LOL. I do have a cricut (expression, nothing newer), and someday when that goes I will probably replace it with a maker, but I will still love and use my scan n cut. The fact that I can put items to be cut on a USB, and change the sizing/design features, weld etc in the machine w/o a computer is huge sometimes for me. I have one of the earlier models so I do not have the autoblade feature - like anything else that seems to have its' plusses and minuses.
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Post by joblackford on Sept 19, 2021 16:03:46 GMT
Beautiful coloring, joblackford . I should have mentioned in my previous post that I have the CM350. I bought it about three and a half years ago, but that small screen does have a zoom function so that I can see the cut lines. I’m not familiar with the models listed by the OP, so I don’t know how the newer models compare to mine. I used to keep up with the electronic cutters, but not so much anymore. Me too - I'm not sure if I have the 350 or maybe one model earlier/crappy? I think I had mine a little while before scrapnnana bought hers, and I also haven't kept up with the new features and models. All of the models have their advantages and disadvantages, I'm sure. Re: the wireless issue. I don't think this is a problem with the models OP is looking at. The 85 and 125 DX models have it included, no extra purchase necessary (thank goodness, because it's ridiculous that it was an add-on at all, but I digress...) I do feel like I need a magnifying glass at times to check the cut lines, that's for sure, lol. I also agree, it is not very intuitive, and because I don't use it all that frequently, I feel like I have to "relearn" it every time I use it. However, there are a couple of good resources on YouTube and Facebook to help people get started. Love those beautiful die-cuts joblackford, your coloring looks amazing! Thank goodness they've quit with the wifi racket. That annoyed me even though I was warned in advance and didn't spend the extra money. I've found lots of helpful info online too, and also think it would be easier to use if I had it set up all the time and used it more regularly. Also, thank you I did coloring for my 100 day project and then cut everything out when I was done. |
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Post by amyl on Sept 19, 2021 19:00:00 GMT
Thank you, everyone! I’m going to bite the bullet more than likely. The hard part will be trying to wait until Black Friday! Amazon has one which is listed as “like new” and it’s guaranteed…. The struggle is real.
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Post by peanutterbutter on Sept 20, 2021 2:45:12 GMT
One more thing - their mats are not great. There are lots of tips out there for re-sticking them. You might want to check those out. Personally, I bit the bullet and ordered the Artistix ones from England - it was worth every penny and shipping for how well they work with no hassle. Also if you go that route, or even when buying new Brother mats for whatever model you choose, make sure you get the right mat for your model. There are the "original" mats, and the ones for the DX models.
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angel97701
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,552
Jun 26, 2014 2:04:25 GMT
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Post by angel97701 on Sept 20, 2021 16:35:35 GMT
The Scan N Cut is great for cutting out stamps that have a solid outline. If there is an artistic break in the outer line (which happens with some stamps), you can end up with your stamped image cut in ways you don’t appreciate. Coloring the image before cutting helps, as does using a fine tip pen to fill in gaps. Most stamps that I buy have that solid outline, so I don’t need to buy the matching dies for those. The Scan N Cut has paid for itself and then some since I no longer feel that I need the matching dies from most companies. That cost can add up extremely fast. However, if you buy a lot of Heartfelt Creations, the Scan N Cut tends to cut those stamped images to ribbons, unless you leave a wider border around your stamped images. I like mine cut without a white border. A trick I use on stamps that don't have a solid outline is to pencil in the gaps, then scan and cut. Simply erase the pencil. I do this with stamp images that I use a sentiments or letters for a title that I want an outline for layering.
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Post by papersilly on Sept 20, 2021 21:41:32 GMT
i bought the CM650DX during the height of the pandemic. i bought a very gently used one from of the the Brother authorized dealers. the original owner upgraded after having rarely used the one i bought so lucky me. my machine came with extra mats that that was good.
i have enjoyed using it so far. i only wish i had time to use it more. so far i've cut svgs and some stamped images. i love the tracing feature. i doubt i will ever use it for vinyl or fabric but it's good to know it can.
to make the mat sticky again, i use the Zig 2-way glue pen. it's worked great so far.
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angel97701
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,552
Jun 26, 2014 2:04:25 GMT
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Post by angel97701 on Sept 20, 2021 22:26:37 GMT
I'm home now and I have the SDX225. At first my iMac was too old to use the software for Canvas Workspace, but last spring I upgraded. Been loving it ever since. I've also figured out how to stamp titles (in larger sizes) and die cut the letters, including the "dams" in o's, d's, b's etc. YEAH ME!
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Post by lemondrop on Sept 21, 2021 3:33:26 GMT
The Scan N Cut is great for cutting out stamps that have a solid outline. If there is an artistic break in the outer line (which happens with some stamps), you can end up with your stamped image cut in ways you don’t appreciate. Coloring the image before cutting helps, as does using a fine tip pen to fill in gaps. Most stamps that I buy have that solid outline, so I don’t need to buy the matching dies for those. The Scan N Cut has paid for itself and then some since I no longer feel that I need the matching dies from most companies. That cost can add up extremely fast. However, if you buy a lot of Heartfelt Creations, the Scan N Cut tends to cut those stamped images to ribbons, unless you leave a wider border around your stamped images. I like mine cut without a white border. A trick I use on stamps that don't have a solid outline is to pencil in the gaps, then scan and cut. Simply erase the pencil. I do this with stamp images that I use a sentiments or letters for a title that I want an outline for layering.
That is a GREAT tip!! Thank you! |
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Post by joblackford on Sept 21, 2021 3:44:17 GMT
Thank you, everyone! I’m going to bite the bullet more than likely. The hard part will be trying to wait until Black Friday! Amazon has one which is listed as “like new” and it’s guaranteed…. The struggle is real. If you can get a good price on an open box/warehouse deal now that might be worth it. I've gotten tons of random things on warehouse deals and only one was bad (and I sent that back no problem). Just don't look at prices again once you've bought it! Take it off your wishlist and accept that you got it for a price you were happy with. Especially if you know you'll have more time/energy to use it now compared to December. |
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Post by mrssch on Sept 21, 2021 17:49:34 GMT
Thank you, everyone! I’m going to bite the bullet more than likely. The hard part will be trying to wait until Black Friday! Amazon has one which is listed as “like new” and it’s guaranteed…. The struggle is real. If you can get a good price on an open box/warehouse deal now that might be worth it. I've gotten tons of random things on warehouse deals and only one was bad (and I sent that back no problem). Just don't look at prices again once you've bought it! Take it off your wishlist and accept that you got it for a price you were happy with. Especially if you know you'll have more time/energy to use it now compared to December. I purchased mine on Amazon Warehouse and had no issues. It wasn't a "need" so it was nice to save a bit of money. And it came with a warranty so it made me more comfortable. Now I just need to use it! |
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Post by amyl on Sept 22, 2021 10:54:56 GMT
Thank you, everyone! I’m going to bite the bullet more than likely. The hard part will be trying to wait until Black Friday! Amazon has one which is listed as “like new” and it’s guaranteed…. The struggle is real. If you can get a good price on an open box/warehouse deal now that might be worth it. I've gotten tons of random things on warehouse deals and only one was bad (and I sent that back no problem). Just don't look at prices again once you've bought it! Take it off your wishlist and accept that you got it for a price you were happy with. Especially if you know you'll have more time/energy to use it now compared to December. |
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Post by amyl on Sept 22, 2021 10:55:52 GMT
This may be the encouragement I need to take the plunge!!! Thanks?!?! LOL…
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angel97701
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,552
Jun 26, 2014 2:04:25 GMT
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Post by angel97701 on Sept 22, 2021 17:15:21 GMT
This may be the encouragement I need to take the plunge!!! Thanks?!?! LOL… If you sit down and use it right away, and check out the Silhouette store, you will be hooked! Titles, custom die cuts, die cutting stamped images, no more buying dies unless they are really intricate, it is well worth the $$$$, Enjoy! |
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Post by amyl on Sept 22, 2021 20:35:03 GMT
If you can get a good price on an open box/warehouse deal now that might be worth it. I've gotten tons of random things on warehouse deals and only one was bad (and I sent that back no problem). Just don't look at prices again once you've bought it! Take it off your wishlist and accept that you got it for a price you were happy with. Especially if you know you'll have more time/energy to use it now compared to December. I purchased mine on Amazon Warehouse and had no issues. It wasn't a "need" so it was nice to save a bit of money. And it came with a warranty so it made me more comfortable. Now I just need to use it! DONE. Y'all made me do it. Arrives Friday. Now to start watching videos and plan to play on Saturday! |
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scrappymeg
Full Member
Posts: 317
Sept 18, 2020 22:59:35 GMT
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Post by scrappymeg on Sept 22, 2021 21:27:36 GMT
I purchased mine on Amazon Warehouse and had no issues. It wasn't a "need" so it was nice to save a bit of money. And it came with a warranty so it made me more comfortable. Now I just need to use it! DONE. Y'all made me do it. Arrives Friday. Now to start watching videos and plan to play on Saturday! Congrats! I recommend Papered Chef and Balzer Designs on YouTube. They were very helpful. The Papered Chef's videos aren't super "polished" and heavily edited like a lot of videos, but she does a great job of walking people step by step through different techniques. |
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lindas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,303
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Post by lindas on Sept 22, 2021 21:30:51 GMT
After seeing the prices for some of the stamp and die sets at SSS this is a purchase you won’t regret.
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Post by 0612 on Nov 13, 2021 13:42:47 GMT
Thanks everyone that has comment here, as I had been wanting for a really long time now. But just didn’t know if it was worth the price. I only have one week to wait for Black Friday. I might just go ahead and get from Amazon.
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azcrafty
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,950
Jun 28, 2019 20:24:21 GMT
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Post by azcrafty on Nov 13, 2021 14:55:18 GMT
I got mine 2 years ago its the 650 I found it on Offer up . It came with everything and some extras, plus the wifi. It works perfectly. If you buy from sites like this make sure that you meet ppl at a Starbucks where they have plugs. I did bring a paper with stamped images and tried out the machine before buying it. The scanner and than cut.
The seller didn't even know she can do that!
Couple tricks:
*When a stamped image doesn't have the good outline I just stamp one and using a pencil I fill the line in than if that cut well I just fill the page with the cuts and cut them out. Than using my stamp platform and 1 negative space, I just stamp the rest. It works better for me than making sure that the 25 stamped images cut out right.
* last time I cut out some images from a very thin pp it was to flimsy to pop it up so while I still had the cuts on my screen I cut a white cardstock with it. It was very easy to glue the image to the cs and was the perfect piece for my cards.
*you can scan in diecuts resize them and will have it forever
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Post by joblackford on Nov 13, 2021 16:14:51 GMT
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GiantsFan
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,500
Site Supporter
Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
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Post by GiantsFan on Nov 13, 2021 16:31:47 GMT
I'm looking to replace my Cricut Expressions (1st version 12x12 Cricut) and my Silhouette Portrait 1.
Does the ScanNCut only Scan and Cut?
I don't buy patterned paper that needs images cut. I will be using it to cut stamped images, purchased SVG's, and cut letters for random projects.
I was planning to upgrade to the Portrait 3 with a BF sale. Should I be looking at a SNC too?
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) so I tend to use those machines for vinyl and other materials, but I could probably just get by with the Scan N'Cut. Again, for me, being able to easily cut images out of patterned paper really allows me to do much more with those types of paper, and that makes it a worthy addition to my craft room. 
