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I am thinking about getting a die cutting machine. A few years back I purchased a Brother Scan n Cut, mainly because I wanted to scan my own drawings to make stencils. I also figured that I could scan any stamped image and cut it out. I seem to be having problems with it, but I will save that for another post....
I can also see the point of having a die cutting machine, with there being so many stamp sets that have coordinating dies. My big question is at the moment: Can all brands of dies be used in all brands of machines?
The most popular manual die cutting machines will take metal thin dies (like most companies sell to coordinated with stamps). If you're wanting to cut thicker materials like fabric, felt, etc you'll mostly need dies with a wooden base like the Bigz dies from Sizzix and not all machines take those. There are also small machines like the Sidekick that won't take wide dies or folders.
Kathy...I have a BigShot and I use all brands of wafer-thin dies in it with no problems. It also embosses. Occasionally a piece of paper as a shim will make a die cut better if needed. And there are options as to the type of platform.
Your choice of machine could be electric or not. It could be narrow, standard width (6 inches), or wide (handles 8-1/2" wide paper). Any of them will handle the types of dies that you refer to.
I'd agree about the Big Shot, it will cut Bigz dies, wafer thin dies and take embossing folders.
I would also say to go as large as you can afford & have room for. If you buy something small like a Sidekick, in a year or so you may want to use embossing folders, and you'd need a bigger machine. Sort of future - proof yourself.
There is a Big Shot foldable, that is like the old Cuttlebug- the platform folds up against the machine, so you have a full size die cutter with a smaller footprint.
I own a Big Shot and a Baby Blue from Tattered Lace. The Baby Blue only handles up to 3" wide, but most of my dies fall into that category, so it gets the most use with dies (it's also very tiny and cute, lol). Embossing is done in the Big Shot, as are the larger dies. I like the idea of the Big Shot foldaway, so if I was buying a new machine I may go that route, but I'm content with what I have.
One thing to keep in mind is the 6 inch opening on many machines including the Big Shot. That size is fine in many instances but it is a restriction that often keeps me from making larger cards.
I have been looking at machines as mine is old and does not work as well anymore. I will be replacing it with a Spellbinder Platinum (the larger 8 1/2 opening) probably as I have heard lots of rave reviews.
Kathy, if you still have your scan n cut, you would be saving a fortune on what you would spend on dies to match stamped images. I haven't seen another post from you regarding issues you've had, but it's really worth trying because lots of stamped images can be cut out at no cost to you.
Feeling Like I Need a Die Cutting Machine
