Dies That Are Attached To Each Other

[Bonnie1962C]

I just received a Die from Lawn Fawn called Puffy Cloud Borders. The three dies are attached by little "nibs". I was wondering if I'm to use them as is, or if I'm supposed to cut them with scissors. I never encountered dies like this before. Do I use regular scissors or a special pair. I have a pair of scissors that cuts rubber but nothing else. Thanks for any help you can offer.

Bonnie

[fifiwesfan]

Hi Bonnie,

Your best bet is to use wire snips then file down the nibs.

I use something like this to snip:

https://www.amazon.com/C2G-Cables-38.../dp/B0009FUXWG

Hope this helps,
fifi

[Bonnie1962C]

Thanks fifi, I have those wire cutters, mini ones anyway. Thanks for answering so quickly!

Bonnie

[Mrs Noofy]

Yep...what fifiwesfan says. Go to hubby's work bench and borrow a pair until you can get your own. LoL

[jkaymac]

Another hint for you....make sure when using the snips that you hold the dies close to flat surface (like the table top). These dies can fly off. It can take a long time to find that missing die when goes on a flight. Ask me how I know....

[stamphappy1650]

I cut apart the majority of my dies but I have a few sets that are a bunch of small pieces and I leave them attached to each other. I just put paper on the one image I want. I figure that I might not loose one if they are attached.

I use my button shank remover because I can get really close to the die to make the cuts.

[Bonnie1962C]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkaymac

Another hint for you....make sure when using the snips that you hold the dies close to flat surface (like the table top). These dies can fly off. It can take a long time to find that missing die when goes on a flight. Ask me how I know....

LOL. Will do.

[iamvics]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bonnie1962C

LOL. Will do.

I hold mine in a clear plastic bag. It catches everything.

[snowcountry311]

I use a nail file to clean it all up.after snipping

[Scrapjanny]

I snip them as I need them. The rest remain attached. I wish they would come already snipped, though.

[fifiwesfan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by stamphappy1650

I use my button shank remover because I can get really close to the die to make the cuts.

I have one of these - never used - and I'm going to try it!

Thanks!

[prairiecrafter]

After I snip the ones I need they are placed on a magnet sheet and into an Avery Elle pocket for storage. If I have a stamp set that matches put that in the same pocket.

[jkaymac]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamvics

I hold mine in a clear plastic bag. It catches everything.

Thank you! That had not occurred to me. I will definitely do this.

[grateful2bsaved]

Quote:

Originally Posted by stamphappy1650

I use my button shank remover because I can get really close to the die to make the cuts.

Off to Amazon to buy a button shank remover. Thanks!


P.S.: I ruined a pair of good scissors the other day because I was too lazy to go into the garage and look for wire cutters or something else to use. I've learned my lesson.

[Scrapychick]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamvics

I hold mine in a clear plastic bag. It catches everything.

This is brilliant.............I'm going to do this from now on!!

[iamvics]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scrapychick

This is brilliant.............I'm going to do this from now on!!

I use this trick when working with anything I don't want to lose, too. It was a lifesaver when I was putting the tiny screws back in the battery cover of my grandson's remote!

[javagirl984]

My boyfriend has some sort of snips that he uses to separate the ones I get. He saw me one day trying to separate some and was concerned about the sharp points. So he took over. Now I just hand them over to him when he is at my house and he takes care of them for me. :o) He uses some sort of snips for metal and a file.

[HOBBYSUE]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamvics

I hold mine in a clear plastic bag. It catches everything.

What a great idea!!! Thanks for sharing

[Rebecca Ednie]

I have a few tips. Many may be repeats as I don't have time to read all the posts.

You want to buy some flush cutters also known as wire snips. Regular cutters won't cut as close as flush cutters. Make sure the flat Die is against the Die.

don't use your expensive jewelry snips, buy a cheap pair just for dies. Dies are steel and much harder than jewelry wire. You will nick and dull your good snips.

I find that it helps to cut the metal twice, once close to each die. In fact, I actually nip the metal with my snips on the Die itself. They tend to slide a bit so if you overlap the edge of the Die a bit, you will get the closest cut. Sometimes I don't need any filing at all the the edge is near perfectly smooth.

If the angle of the cut isn't ideal and your snips don't fit, rather than snip in the middle or bending them back and forth to separate, try twisting one Die a quarter turn. Sometimes you can get your snips in better that way. And doing all the easiest, most accessible cuts of a large bunch of dies can help too.

Use a fine diamond file to get rid of the nubs. You can get one for about $6 CAN at any hardware store. Save it for dies only and don't use it for jewelry as it will dull more quickly just like the snips. I hold the file in my non-dominant hand and my Die in my dominant hand. I move the Die back and forth on the file rather than the file back and forth on the Die. It helps the file not slip off the edge of the Die and hurt your fingers. Also the Die is smaller so you have more control.

Consider keeping tiny dies together. You can always save the extra pieces or cut a scrap just to the size of the Die you want to use. Of course some dies come with smaller ones inside of larger ones so they have to be separated.

Hope this helps.

[Kathleen Mc]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamvics

I hold mine in a clear plastic bag. It catches everything.

Now that's just being very clever.😀

[Wonder Chica]

So glad this question was asked...I started purchasing dies from other companies (other than SU!) and a lot of dies come together...I've ruined my scissors trying to cut apart the dies...will look into the wire snaps or the button shank remover, as well as the fine diamond file. Thanks, very helpful.