Big Shot Pro Rabbit Hole

[stampinstacy2010]

For those of you who own the Big Shot Pro, does it truly do a good job of cutting many intricate dies at once? For instance, if you were cutting pieces for your Christmas cards, and you had the entire platform full of intricate dies, would it be able to cut them all with two passes through? How about with multiple embossing folders?

I saw a Big Shot Pro die that I really wanted, but I certainly can't buy a $300 machine for just one die, right? Right?


Thanks for your input.

[JBgreendawn]

I have that machine, and when I am doing a very intricate background ( full sized die) I tend to have the wax paper and the metal shim going for the real booger ones and I dont try to do other dies at that cut.

the simple ones like say skinny banners or what not, yes I will tape the cardstock to the die I am going to use and cut multiple things at once.


I have never tried to do multiple embossing folders but, I dont see why not?
( I need to use those more and thin them out)


I bought this machine because, I wanted some of the pro dies and I did want one machine that would cut everything I had. none of this flip from this little machine to this slightly larger machine that only cuts thin things type situations.
For me I was really glad I moved to this.


if you can hold out until closer to Christmas they (Sizzix) usually have "package" sets with either extra plates and or dies with it at a good price.

[stampinstacy2010]

Can anyone weigh in on how the Pro performs with a platform full of small to medium sized intricate dies?

[Rachelrose]

If you want to use Pro dies, then that's one thing. I assume they require the Pro.

If you want to cut multiple intricate dies and don't want to crank your arm sore, there's always the Vagabond. Yes, you can't many dies at once, but then all you have to do is stand there and press a button and watch the thing. As many times as you need to.

Just a thought.

[stampin stacy]

I can't answer your original question but iike JBgreendawn said they often have great sale prices around the holidays. I came close to purchasing a wider machine myself this past year because husband hates A2 size cards and honestly I get tired of them myself sometimes. I had a lot in my "cart" already so I didn't purchase one and I've regretted it ever since. That regret was increased by the purchase of a set of Heartfelt border dies a few weeks later, they are too wide to fit through my machine except one way. Pretty much killed some of the ways/reasons I had purchased them for.

[stampinstacy2010]

Off topic, but since it's my topic...



Three SCS members named "Stacy" all in one thread!

[BashfulStamper]

I'm not a "Stacy", LOL, but I do have a Sizzix Pro.

Okay, so here's my honest opinion, after a lot of use, but not a whole of "experimentation" to see what it's capable of... just some overall thoughts that might help someone.

I made the leap when my regular Big Shot died. My hubby took it apart (in an attempt to fix it), and said that I had literally worn the thing out. I do feel like, given how much it got used, that I got my money's worth. But I didn't want to "wear out" another one. And I do a LOT of die-cutting.

I LOVE my Big Shot Pro - zero regrets on the purchase. It takes up a lot of real estate, and it's not something you're going to want to move around. But it cuts more cleanly than any other die-cutter I've used. I feel like it's "easier"... but I'm not sure if it's really all that much quicker. I thought it would be, but...

I use a lot of thin dies, and you really can't cut more than one at a time, of a particular design - limitations of the die, not the machine. Yes, you can carefully place a number of different dies with paper onto the machine and run them through together, but that isn't quite the timesaver that you would think. You have to take your time and make sure everything is carefully lined up, or taped down. I've already almost ruined one thin die because it "shifted" onto another die as I was running my sandwich through the machine. Even when I get a good cut, it takes a while to get all the teeny tiny pieces out of the dies. The tendency for things to shift (probably my fault) causes some bad cuts (cutting off the edge of the paper). In other words, trying to speed up the process sometimes leads to more mess-ups and more work. It's not unusual for me to go back to running them through one at a time.

Also, if you want to cut a whole bunch of stuff, you'll need to use the larger platform, and the larger cutting plates. While I do often use the larger platform, I almost always use the regular Big Shot cutting plates - they're easier to manage, and less expensive to replace.

I love my Pro because it's a heavy-duty workhorse. I don't think I can kill this one. But I can't say that it's a huge timesaver, or better for multiples. JMHO, YMMV, and all that jazz.

[gregzgurl]

Devil's advocate post here: I went the exact OPPOSITE way - got a "Baby Blue" from Tattered Lace. I got aggravated pulling out the Big Shot (no real estate available for a permanent "station") every time I needed to cut something little (which is the case more often than not). I can grab the Baby Blue quick and crank the die through, then stick the thing back on the shelf out of the way - even though it takes up VERY little space! If you're looking for a timesaver for small dies, this gets my vote. If you're doing big things, then the other posters' ideas on the Pro are a better bet...

[JBgreendawn]

The normal pro cut pads will hold an entire 12" square sheet without cutting it.
(so, it has a big footprint and you will not be moving this around in your space)

Which didn't phase me because, I stand up and walk around the table to play, I have mine on top of my 12" paper racks hubs built me years ago so, its probably 30 inches long and 16" deep? and waist height for me to turn the handle. I have not measured the paper racks that is a guess on how big the top of it is, that the machine is sitting on.

[stampin stacy]

I don't move my reg BS around. I get up and go over to it when I need to use it, so size wouldn't be a problem for me once I figure out where it's 'home' would be.


... more of a miracle is that we all seem to spell Stacy correctly! ;)

[JBgreendawn]

another thought about intricate booger dies... ( I have two that make me cringe)

with this cut pad being this size, it gives you room to slide the taped die/paper 90 degrees and run it through again. I tend to get better cuts if I am going through the rollers at a corner of the die rather than straight lined up like in a row.
does that make sense?

with smaller machines you don't have the room to turn the dies to different angles.

[stampinstacy2010]

Ladies, thank you for all of the information you've provided. I've read and re-read most of the other older threads here about the Pro, and you've each provided new or additional information to consider.

[shazsilverwolf]

i too bought a Pro a while back, and yes, it will emboss a number of folders at the same time. As for the intricate dies, I do find that like the smaller machines, there is less pressure from the rollers in the centre, at least on mine, so I try to put intricate dies around the edges, but it will cut more than one this way. Also, agree with JBgreendawn, the larger platform gives you room to change the orientation of dies.
I have a whole post on my blog, HERE,about it, including, sizes, weight, etc.