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Post by gale w on Sept 20, 2018 23:25:57 GMT
Not the electronic kind but the big shot, cuttlebug, etc. I have some older self healing mats I don't use anymore so I think I'm going to try this. Maybe I won't keep getting the marks from all the scars on the cutting pads on my die cuts. youtu.be/5usLpyC3pbY
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Post by DawnMcD on Sept 21, 2018 4:44:31 GMT
I just watch a video on this too. I am going to give it a try!
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dald222
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,602
Jun 27, 2014 0:50:15 GMT
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Post by dald222 on Sept 21, 2018 6:03:06 GMT
I never thought to do that
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 15, 2024 3:33:58 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2018 9:38:42 GMT
I have been using the self healing mats for a few months now. I really love it. My thin dies cut out so intricate and smooth. There are times I am still relying on the regular plates. This could be user error so any tips or help I am all ears. My steel rule dies seem to work better with the plates. That could be the material I am using. I tend to use thick materials with my steel rule dies. Some of my very intricate dies still do better with my magnetic plate. I think that is the way the die is made and not the way the mats behave. I have some intricate dies that cut perfectly and all the parts come out so easy just using the self healing mats. Then I have two dies that don't do well with the mats at all. That is why I am thinking it is the die itself. I forgot to add I am using the Sizzix Vintaj. I really love the self healing mats & I am so happy I don't have to keep replacing plates.
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kitbop
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,392
Jun 28, 2014 21:14:36 GMT
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Post by kitbop on Sept 21, 2018 12:41:48 GMT
Wow, this is exciting! I would have expected the mat surface to be too "soft" for cutting, so I'm glad to see it in action. My self-healing desk mat is TOAST - no lines left, really old - so I think I'll head to the surplus store today for a new one, and use the old one for my big shot! I too hate the warping plates and "cracking" noise Thanks gale w
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nicolep
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,080
Jan 26, 2016 16:10:43 GMT
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Post by nicolep on Sept 21, 2018 13:22:01 GMT
This is a great idea! kitbop I hate that cracking noise too! It makes me think they're going to crack and fly all over the place lol. DawnMcD LOVE your new avy! Beautiful!
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Post by DawnMcD on Sept 21, 2018 13:58:31 GMT
Some of my very intricate dies still do better with my magnetic plate. I think that is the way the die is made and not the way the mats behave. I have some intricate dies that cut perfectly and all the parts come out so easy just using the self healing mats. Then I have two dies that don't do well with the mats at all. That is why I am thinking it is the die itself. I forgot to add I am using the Sizzix Vintaj. I really love the self healing mats & I am so happy I don't have to keep replacing plates. On the video I watched the woman folded a sheet of cheap cardstock in half then put 1 or 2 folded sheets of printer paper inside as a shim when she cut really intricate dies. Maybe give that a try?
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GiantsFan
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,294
Site Supporter
Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
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Post by GiantsFan on Sept 21, 2018 15:17:56 GMT
Thanks gale w for sharing this.
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Post by joblackford on Sept 21, 2018 20:21:44 GMT
Very interesting... YouTube has been suggesting this video to me for ages but I didn't really know if it would be of much value to me. But yeah, I am interested in that. Good job YT. I'm not sure what kind of shimming it's going to take to get it to work in my BigShot but I'll give it a go.
Like everyone else I despise the cracking sounds and how quickly the plates get scarred. (BTW I have noticed the the cracking sounds are worse if I have a square shaped die squared up on the plate. If I twist it so it goes in one corner at a time it seems to go through smoother and without the evil sounds.)
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Post by KelleeM on Sept 21, 2018 20:44:43 GMT
Interesting. Most of my die cutting is with Sizzlits and the scarring on the plates makes me crazy. Definitely going to give this a try.
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Post by wendifful on Sept 21, 2018 20:59:48 GMT
I must be the weird one because I enjoy the cracking noise! It makes me feel like my dies are doing a good job. I'm surprised that this works, because my old Epic 6 came with a cutting mat that was made out of the same material as a self-healing mat. It got warped very quickly, as opposed to the plastic plates, which do warp, but which take longer to do it. I think I'll stick with my plastic plates but it's awesome this is working for everyone!
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Post by freeatlast on Sept 21, 2018 22:47:53 GMT
I'm going to give this a try. Thanks, gale w!
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Post by medennis4 on Sept 22, 2018 1:18:23 GMT
Wow! I’m going to give this a try, too! TFS
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Post by anniefb on Sept 22, 2018 3:08:55 GMT
Very interesting. Never thought to do this. I have an old mat somewhere that I might pull out and try it out with.
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Post by artisticscrapper on Sept 22, 2018 3:49:30 GMT
I don’t have any self healing mats since craft knives and I don’t get along. I’l wait for the Peas’ reviews and if you all give it the thumbs up I’ll buy some mats and give it a try.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 15, 2024 3:33:58 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2018 7:08:48 GMT
I wanted to add one more tip. I love to sew too. Sewists revive their cutting mats by soaking them in warm water with a little dish soap, & vinegar. I have been doing this for years to take care of my mat. I have been using this on my "Sizzix Self Healing" mats and it does take out the cutting indention's. You will still have the indention's but it is a lot smoother. You can get a lot of life out of using a self-healing mat. This is not my web site. I found a tutorial for you all- www.nationalquilterscircle.com/article/caring-for-your-self-healing-cutting-mat/
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eastcoastpea
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,252
Jun 27, 2014 13:05:28 GMT
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Post by eastcoastpea on Sept 22, 2018 12:07:29 GMT
Nice tips. I think I'll try them. TFS.
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basketdiva
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,617
Jun 26, 2014 11:45:09 GMT
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Post by basketdiva on Sept 22, 2018 14:10:01 GMT
I've eliminated the marks on my dies by recycling junk mail.I place a small piece of scrap paper on top of the paper and then the die.
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Post by Basket1lady on Sept 23, 2018 6:07:55 GMT
I must be the weird one because I enjoy the cracking noise! It makes me feel like my dies are doing a good job. I'm surprised that this works, because my old Epic 6 came with a cutting mat that was made out of the same material as a self-healing mat. It got warped very quickly, as opposed to the plastic plates, which do warp, but which take longer to do it. I think I'll stick with my plastic plates but it's awesome this is working for everyone!This was my thought as well. Exactly! Those horrible Epic 6s (Quickcut machine from about 2010). Epic Fail! What a mess those self healing mats were. We waited months and months for them when the original hard cutting plates were ruined the first time you ran them though a machine. You could only use them about 20 times before the mats were to curled to really be usable. So then you had to bake the mats in an oven at 250 degrees to flatten them out. I had about 5-6 mats and was baking the darn things daily so that I could get my work done (I was on a QK design team.) I had to buy my machine myself and it made me so mad that they didn't ops check the machines before they released them. I went over to a Big Shot and never looked back. The self healing mats seem to be working for this lady. I wonder if it's because her mats are thicker? The E6 mats were pretty flexible--certainly more flexible than an Omnigrid mat.
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Post by wendifful on Sept 23, 2018 17:17:35 GMT
I must be the weird one because I enjoy the cracking noise! It makes me feel like my dies are doing a good job. I'm surprised that this works, because my old Epic 6 came with a cutting mat that was made out of the same material as a self-healing mat. It got warped very quickly, as opposed to the plastic plates, which do warp, but which take longer to do it. I think I'll stick with my plastic plates but it's awesome this is working for everyone!This was my thought as well. Exactly! Those horrible Epic 6s (Quickcut machine from about 2010). Epic Fail! What a mess those self healing mats were. We waited months and months for them when the original hard cutting plates were ruined the first time you ran them though a machine. You could only use them about 20 times before the mats were to curled to really be usable. So then you had to bake the mats in an oven at 250 degrees to flatten them out. I had about 5-6 mats and was baking the darn things daily so that I could get my work done (I was on a QK design team.) I had to buy my machine myself and it made me so mad that they didn't ops check the machines before they released them. I went over to a Big Shot and never looked back. The self healing mats seem to be working for this lady. I wonder if it's because her mats are thicker? The E6 mats were pretty flexible--certainly more flexible than an Omnigrid mat. I'm glad to know it wasn't just me that had that experience!
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Post by Leone on Sept 23, 2018 17:58:29 GMT
I’m going to try this on my Gemini. Why not? The warping and cracking is a real problem. I just had an acrylic plate crack on me after very few uses.
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Post by 950nancy on Dec 31, 2018 3:17:42 GMT
Not sure how I missed this thread. Ran into a lady yesterday in TM and she shared the trick with me. I bought a small pink self healing mat that can be cut into three different mats for my different machines. $9.99. I have a Big Shot, a Vagabond, a Gemini JR, and a Grand Calibur.
Does anyone have the "recipe" for using the self healing mats for these machines. I have seen a few videos on YT and they are all a bit different.
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scrappington
Pearl Clutcher
in Canada
Posts: 3,139
Jun 26, 2014 14:43:10 GMT
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Post by scrappington on Dec 31, 2018 4:01:17 GMT
I've eliminated the marks on my dies by recycling junk mail.I place a small piece of scrap paper on top of the paper and then the die. Is your scrap paper right up against die as it cuts first. Or is it after
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scrappington
Pearl Clutcher
in Canada
Posts: 3,139
Jun 26, 2014 14:43:10 GMT
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Post by scrappington on Dec 31, 2018 4:01:45 GMT
So did anyone try this?
Any thoughts
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Post by Embri on Dec 31, 2018 10:57:06 GMT
Mat thickness is critical; not every brand of self-healing mat is the same height. I've been using something similar, but not quite the same, in my die cutting machines since I got them - old kitchen cutting boards. They do curl eventually but no cracking and they keep the base plates on my old Wizard and Sizzix cut-free. Going on about a year and a half now with my original plates. As for permanent shims, I've been using magnetic self-adhesive sheets. Double duty in adjusting the sandwich height and holding dies.
Certainly don't regret not having to shell out over and over for overpriced replacement parts.
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Post by Leone on Dec 31, 2018 13:38:03 GMT
What is the best tool to cut the mats? Will scissors work?
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Post by LisaDV on Dec 31, 2018 16:22:42 GMT
@galew, thanks for posting. Watching this thread for how it's working for the peas.
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Post by joblackford on Jan 1, 2019 1:05:31 GMT
Does anyone have the "recipe" for using the self healing mats for these machines. I have seen a few videos on YT and they are all a bit different. I ordered the Olfa 6x8" mat after reading about this here, and then by chance I came across another identical one in a craft room I was clearing out very soon after. Took that home too. It turns out 2 of these mats stacked together give me the perfect thickness in my Big Shot (used on the standard platform). It's a little tiny bit stiff rolling in, compared to the original acrylic plate, but I've been cutting a lot in the last couple of months and it's been working really well. (I was glad because I wasn't looking forward to trying to get the right thickness with shims) There's some warping but not as much as the original plate had. I need to try the maintenance amayalylac mentioned, just to keep everything clean and smoother, but so far, so good.
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basketdiva
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,617
Jun 26, 2014 11:45:09 GMT
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Post by basketdiva on Jan 1, 2019 5:55:42 GMT
I've eliminated the marks on my dies by recycling junk mail.I place a small piece of scrap paper on top of the paper and then the die. Is your scrap paper right up against die as it cuts first. Or is it after i put the scrap paper on top of the die and then the top plate. The scrap paper is the same size or bigger than the piece of card stock to keep the entire piece scratch free.
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kitbop
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,392
Jun 28, 2014 21:14:36 GMT
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Post by kitbop on Jan 9, 2019 2:09:14 GMT
I bought a new green cutting mat today - $19 for the 18x24" - finally giving me the chance to cut up my old one (the lines have worn off) to try in my Big Shot.
- I used my Tim Holtz shears (the micro-serated, big ones). It was tough and my son and husband literally lent me a hand! - my sandwich is: 1. all purpose platform 2. thin chipboard sheet (like cereal box) as a shim 3. piece of selectum mat 4. paper to be cut 5. thin die, face down 6. upper big shot (clear acrylic) plate - it cut beautifully. One pass, detailed words.
I'm a happy camper. This old green mat will make about 8 cutting pads, and I only have to use 1 of the Big Shot plates but it won't get all the cut lines on it. So I think it will save me a lot of money while making nice cuts!
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