I thought I would be able to cut thicker chipboard with my Bigz die.

[Rachelrose]

They say if you can cut it with a scissors, you can cut it with a Bigz. But I have some medium weight chipboard, and there's no way it's going to fit through. I used my key guage to check. Too thick. Even corrugated cardboard isn't making it.

I have a Big Shot and a Vagabond. And don't want to break either one.

What's the thickest, most rigid thing you are able to cut? I have a #10 Bigz tag die and wanted to make some fairly rigid tags.

But I may be dreaming...

[iamvics]

I cut chipboard, cardboard, foam sheets, burlap glued to cereal box, etc., with Bigz dies in my Cuttlebug using just two B plates. I would assume the Sizzix machines would be similar.

[Scrapjanny]

I've cut heavy chipboard, plastic (think credit card), thin metal, corrugated cardboard, foam, fabric, acetate, hard plastic packaging, cork sheets, magnetic sheets, and even paper clay with my steel rule dies using my Big Kick and Big Shot (same basic machine). You probably already know, this, but just in case you don't, you only need the 2 plastic cutting plates with the Bigz dies. No multipurpose platform is needed.

[Rachelrose]

I know, I've got the sandwich correct. But it won't go through and it reads as "too thick" on my key guage. Maybe I'll call Sizzix on Monday and ask them what's up. I really thought I was going to able to cut this chipboard.

Maybe it's this die. Maybe there's something amiss and it's thicker than my others.... I'll have to go look.

Thanks for responding.

[Rachelrose]

Not the die, same thickness as my others. And now I see that it does fit inside the A slot in the key guage, and yet when I try to put it through my Vagabond, the sandwich doesn't move forward. I'm afraid to give it a push, in case it gets stuck.

When you cut thicker materials, do you have to push on the sandwich to get it going?

[Rachelrose]

Well, I decided to try it on my Big Shot. It needed a push at the start but then went through.

So, yay. Thick chipboard tags.

I think I will dedicate my BS to cutting these thicker things. Glad I kept it around. I was really worried about jamming my Vagabond.

[Scrapjanny]

Glad you got it to work in your Big Shot. Have fun!

[Sweet RN]

I just tried a SU framelit with chipboard through the BigShot. It went through, but only partially cut. Any other tips?

[iamvics]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweet RN

I just tried a SU framelit with chipboard through the BigShot. It went through, but only partially cut. Any other tips?

Framelits are not made to cut thick materials like chipboard. If you have an outline you can finish with scissors or a craft knife.

[Stampnnatter]

Or you can cut two or more from thinner material and glue them together.

[shazsilverwolf]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweet RN

I just tried a SU framelit with chipboard through the BigShot. It went through, but only partially cut. Any other tips?

The thing is that although we call them cutting dies, the thin steel dies like framelits etc do not actually have a cutting edge. They 'crush' their way through the material instead.So, thicker materials either won't cut, or cut all the way through.I was trying to die cut from OHP film last week to make some stencils, and found the dies would not cut through, took a lot of shims and the Precision baseplate to get it to work.

[lesleybd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rachelrose

I know, I've got the sandwich correct. But it won't go through and it reads as "too thick" on my key guage. Maybe I'll call Sizzix on Monday and ask them what's up. I really thought I was going to able to cut this chipboard.

Maybe it's this die. Maybe there's something amiss and it's thicker than my others.... I'll have to go look.

Thanks for responding.

I don't think the die is the problem it's the Vagabond. You should be able to put it through the Big Shot by adjusting your sandwich?