Die Cutting Vinyl - Simple Question

[binx]

Is it possible to easily and cleanly cut vinyl with dies and a hand-cranked die machine like a Big Shot? Or do you need one of the electronic machines (Cricut, Cameo, etc)?

[HeatherHolbrook]

I've tried and it didn't work too well, since the die doesn't really have a cutting blade it works on pressure so it didn't come out cleanly. But it can't hurt to try, I'm sure that machine pressure and die shape could vary results.
Some companies have steel rule dies and those should work.

[J7Ries]

Someone else asked this question awhile back. I tried it out (with several kind of vinyl) and posted some pictures on that thread:

Cutting vinyl with a manual cutter? by Stampin' Sooz at Splitcoaststampers

I’m guessing that just like with paper, some dies will work better than others. If you were trying to cut something intricate, you might have trouble getting the vinyl attach to the final surface neatly and correctly shaped. But solid shapes, or maybe letters would probably work pretty well.

[binx]

Thank you. I checked out the previous thread and read about wafer-thin vs. steel-ruled. I had a serious question about that. I wanted to do monograms and have oodles of alphas in wafer-thin and only one or two in steel-ruled. Sizzix sells a sizable alpha set in steel-ruled for a couple hundred bucks - yikes. I need to do some of my own experimenting before deciding on that purchase! I'd really like to think I can do what I need with that I have and not make that investment.

[shazsilverwolf]

My best suggestion if you want to do this as a side business or such is to invest in ne of the Digital Cutters- The Silhouette range will do this easily, and are a very good price. The Brother Scan N Cut does it too, but is a lot more expensive.

In fact the comment you made about the cost of a Steel Rule Alpha is what prompted me to buy my first one many years ago. The Silhouette cost me just under the cost of one Alpha die set,as back then there were only Steel Rule ones, and allowed me to cut Sentiments/words etc in any size I wanted, in any font on my PC.
I've not tried vinyl with thin dies, but have tried OHP film, which is similar, and they wont go though, as they crush their way through, rather than cut.

[Rebecca Ednie]

I just watched a video by It’s me, JD and she was able to do it with wafer dies. Check her out on YT. She’s a hoot as well.

[vgmiller100]

I just tried this past weekend using my Big Shot with adhesive vinyl. I used an intricate scroll thin die and it worked great. A little difficult to get the paper sheet off the back but I did get it off. You either need fingernails or a craft pick.