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I am thinking of getting myself a Xyron machine for Christmas. I'm not sure which to buy. I'll be doing basic card making/scrapbooking items with it. Any suggestions on which to buy? Also, should I buy a specific adhesive refill? It seems there are several out there (top, bottom, etc.) Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
I think it depends on the size paper you plan to use with it. I have the Xyron 900 because I wanted it to handle letter size sheets. It has several different cartridges you can get for it, but I primarily use the permanent adhesive. Then I also have the little create-a-sticker Xyron 150 - I got it before the 900 just to try it out at a low price-point.
I have the same as Scoopy! AND I LOVE and use both!!! If you can find a special where they give you the little sticker maker one along with the big one it really is wonderful to have. If you can only get one I'd go for the big one, because the little ones really limit what you can run through it. If you only need something small you can always "save up" and run more than one little thing through the big one simultaneously and avoid wasting all that good sticky stuff this way
I'd determine first if you believe you will need to apply adhesive or lamination to full size sheets of card stock that are 8 1/2 x 11 or larger.
If that is the case, I'd recommend the 900 or the 1200.
If that is not the case, I love my 510. I also own the 850 (precursor to the 900, and now no longer manufactured, but refills are readily available for it), and I also own the 150 (the little orange "X" shaped one).
I love all 3, use all 3.
I'm no help, am I? LOL! ;)
__________________ Julie Ebersole (JulieHRR once upon a time . . . )julieebersole.com"So shines a good deed in a weary world." -Willy Wonka
I have the 900 series one and LOVE it! I use it a lot to make "stickers." I haven't used it for other purposes yet. I make a lot of personalized stickers for my first grade students. They just love it when you make something personal just for them. I also use it to make SU! cardstock stickers to organize and label my cardmaking/scrapbooking "junque." It helps to see where to put the thing in its home when I have a little cardstock dot next to the slot, or compartment it belongs in. I don't use the laminating products for this because I use the heat laminator at my school for those needs. (Yes, I laminate a lot of stuff!) So, I am not aware of how well that product works out. Anyway, it is worth the buy! I bought mine at Joann's with a 50% coupon. I also buy the adhesive rolls that way. Also, did you know you can use Joann coupons at Michaels and the same with using Michaels coupons at Joanns? Plus, I get another 10% off with my teacher card at Joanns. Teachers get 10% off everything, even sales items, at Joanns. All you need is proof (like a paycheck stub), go to Joanns and ask for the teacher discount card. It is good for a year. In fact, August is the time to sign up for it! I have done it for years! --Jeannie
The 900 costs a little more up front, but is cheaper in the long run.
One foot of 9" wide adhesive for the 900 is only about .80, but one foot of 5" adhesive is 1.00.
So lets compare the cost of a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 card front with both machines
510 would cost ~.50
900 would cost ~.30 if run through by itself so 4 1/4 " of adhesive
900 would cost ~ .20 if you run through 2 at the same time using 5 1/2" of adhesive
I take my 900 and run full sheets of cardstock through it and keep them in folder. Then when I want to cut a piece for a layer I cut it from them. Since I use AC Moore coupons to get the refills for $15 for 40' I find it actually cheaper to xyron my paper than to use mono.
I first bought the 250, and it was great; I still use it ALL the time.
Then for Christmas my Mom surprised me and bought me the 900. I am acutally surprised at how often I use it. I use it for laminating, magnets, and adhesive. The thing is, you can run a few pieces together at the same time, like if you want to make a set of magnets, for example, or if you are making bookmarks and have 5 you want to laminate, you can put them all through together, so there's no waste.
I *love* the Xyrons for a great bond, if you use a lot of embellishments or metal on a card or something for scrapbooking, you don't want to run the risk of mono or other adhesive falling apart.
I like the little one (250) for ribbon, and I run buttons through it too. It's great for doing some techniques too, like the Pearly Window, or if you want to adhere glitter to the full front of something.
So, I'd get both! The 250 really isn't that expensive (I think it was less than $20), and it's worth it. You can get the refills for both cheap at Hobby Lobby. Mabye buy the 250 now, and get the big 900 for Christmas.
__________________
You don't have to take on the world, just get on its good side.
You can run buttons through these things? Or is it just the little X one? I am also looking into getting one for my birthday..maybe..and I am so confused at all the wonderful choices. Thanks BakerJoe for this great subject and thanks to all for offering their help.
Thanks to all for their posts. Okay, what the heck -- it's for Christmas so I'll get both! I'll get the 900 and the little X. I'm sure with three kids, I'll have plenty of use for them! Thanks!
I really like the 510 size. Actually, I have TWO of them. I bought the first one from QVC and love it to pieces. Then I saw one on clearance at a local Pamida store. After a few months I brought it up to the sales clerk to see what the actual clearance price was. $7.50! What?!! It came with just one cartridge of permanent adhesive stuff... but STILL!! WOW! So now I have a backup. (This was almost two years ago.)
I have the Xyron 250 and the 900 and love them both!!! They are great when you are doing lettering, like sizzix and you don't have to glue every letter down, just run it thru the Xyron and it is sooo much faster and easier. I think it is well with the purchase!
Brenda Coon
CTMH Consultant
I have the 150, 510 and 900 and I love all of them - I am a laminate addict, so I use the double-sided laminate cartridges, and the permanent adhesive cartridges.
GREAT for using to make serendipity squares and SO many other neat things...
Xyron Machines
