Do embossing folders wear out?
 

I'm new to embossing and I just bought my first embosser. One of the embossing folders that I love has been discontinued, but some are still available on ebay. Should I buy another to stick aside for later?

In other words, do embossing folders wear out and need occasional replacement?

Thanks!

I'm curious about this, too; I would never thought of it, but it's a valid question!

I don't think I've used any of mine enough to merit enough time passing.

Used mine a lot and they seem fine.

I use my favorites often so I do have a spare D'Vine Swirls and Swiss Dots. The only place I think might wear out is the hinge portions if your are not careful - bending it back and forth roughly. That being said, I was embossing an oversize piece of paper and watching that the embossing was covering all the piece and rolled it through my machine and kinda bent the sides because it was going through crooked. It is still in one piece and I still use it but it isn't 'pretty'.

Use your folders and enjoy the wonderful texture it adds to whatever you are embossing.

I don't know if they wear out but if it were me and I loved a discontinued embossing folder and it was in my budget, I'd buy the one on eBay as a backup because I know if I didn't buy it and my embossing folder wore out or I broke it I'd be really mad at myself for not getting the backup LOL

I did break the hinge on one of mine but it still works just fine. I repaired it with packing tape.

When I worked at Archiver's, we had a make and take card that used embossing folders. I think we cranked out 100's of pieces with the same folder and it did eventually come apart, but still usable. If it does become "unhinged", you can tape it back together or just line it up front to back and let it roll!! They should last a long time. Since that day I have been obsessed with them because they do last a long time and don't wear out. More bang for one's buck!

Thank you all for the advice, I appreciate it!

Which embossing folder are you looking for?

Just thinking too - if they do come unhinged and you're not able to repair or align them correctly, you could use either side alone as a texture plate. I have used some of my folders open when I didn't want a deep impression.

I have some embossing folders that I have used a gazillion times and they seem fine - all except for my most favourite one that (as others have said) where the hinge is wearing out. I am so glad that you posted this question as it has given me the push to buy a spare. Personally, I think if you love a folder that is discontinued, buy a spare. You could always sell it later on if you don't end up needing it.

I am with JoBear...I have several that have easily made several hundred trips thru the Cuttlebug or Big Shot and they are just fine. Even if you do use it to death and need to bury it...there are so mant companies making these noe that there is bound to be one like or similar to your fav.
Blessings

I never thought to use them open for a lighter impression. What a great idea! Some are so deep that they split the paper!

A light spritz of water to soften the fibers of the paper will help with the cracking.

embossing folders
 

I place a piece of wax paper inside any embossing folder that is prone to cause the paper to split. Adds enough of a buffer but I do like the idea of spritzing CS with water. Thank you all for your helpful tips!!

The secret is to buy lots of them so you DON'T wear any ONE out! lol. I love how easy they are to work them and the fact that you don't have to figure out the "sandwich" to be able to use them correctly. I just bought 1 yesterday to add to the many I have already. lol

Some of mine I have had for years and have used them a lot such as swiss dots and it is still in great condition. But I would have to agree, it would be the hinge that would wear out (if it even did) but still would be very usable. I guess it would come down to what someone else said, if it is in your budget, why not get it.

i broke the bottom corner off of my favorite Spellbinder Bark folder. I was considering trying to tape the piece back on with packing tape, but wondered if it actually still emboss through the tape. Hate to buy a new one ....

Somehow I managed to actually bend one side of one of my favorite embossing folders. All I did was run it back through by BigKick and it flattened it out with not problem. It works just fine. I've purposely taken an embossing folder apart so that I can use it on larger pieces of paper. As far as I'm concerned, the embossing folders are pretty indestructible.

For all of you who are concerned about a broken hinge -- remember that Tim Holtz deliberately cuts his folders apart so that he can fit his oversized tags in. Of course, he can get as many copies of his favourite folder as he wants!

Same thing happened to me and my swiss dots. Did the packing tape thing and it's been working fine for well over a year.

Oh, that's good to know - I had wondered if the 2 parts might move in the machine if you tried to fix the folder.

You should contact Spellbinders' customer service. They are wonderful!
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I used my Swiss Dots EF so much that it permanently warped and was really hard to use. My paper kept shifting inside the folder when I carried it to my machine because it wasn't flat. It was a huge PITA and ended up replacing it.

But I agree with poster above that there are so many companies out there that makes EFs, you can always find something similar (or even better) if/when yours breaks years later.

Did you try running it through upside down so that the roller would press on the bent part and push it back down? Seems to me it should work after time to re-flatten your folder, but since none of mine have done that (as I have a separate set of "B" plates for embossing that are perfectly flat and use the one with cuts for dies only---and those I keep flipping over to prevent the bend that the cut creates).

just going to throw something in the mix here... took a class where you took little Vintaj metal pieces and put them in the embossing folders and ran them through the Big Shot, then used the Tim Holtz inks or Vintaj inks and colors them, used their glaze to seal them. You can make really cool jewelry or art pieces.

Now the Teacher has been doing this a long time and has had no problem with the folders, but she is not a paper crafter. I had a lot of fun in this class and worked on another project when I got home. What I found out later, was that while it didn't matter working with the metal, when I used the same embossing folders for cardstock, the places where the metal pieces were, the embossing was lighter on the cardstock. (clear as mud...lol)

The whole face of the cardstock would be embossed, but where the circle of Vintaj piece was, that circle would be not as embossed as much.... it's like the metal flatted it a little..... so with the Embossing Folders that I would use for Metal, I would buy one for metal and one for paper....

I saw a stencil run through to emboss it and then used the stencil again to add color where you wanted. Kind of cool.

Sounds interesting, but not sure I'm understanding it. What kind of stencil was used and how was the color applied--to the stencil? to the folder?

Stencils
 

It was a floral stencil, so when she ran it through the machine (no folder) it raised the flower part. She then placed the stencil so that she could color in the stencil raised flower. Made it really pop out. No you don't really need the stencil to color the raised portion but this way you didn't have to worry so much about having a heavy hand.

Got it! Thanks for the clarification. Have done this with stencils before, but it was at the time the only way we had to dry emboss was to use a stylus and a light box with the stencil. Thanks again.