Showing posts with label hints tips and tricks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hints tips and tricks. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Get Better Cuts on your Cutting Machine (Klik-n-kut KNK, Pazzle, Wishblade, Silhouette, Cricut, Craft Robo)

I posted this on in the forums over at VDBC, but thought I'd pop it up here too.
For Intricate SMALL CUTS:
* Cut SLOW!! I go all the way down to 50 on my KNK Groove sometimes & it makes a big difference.
* Use your "best cutting" paper on the tricky cuts.
* Keep your matt clean, nice & sticky. I stress clean...makes a huge difference for me. I Goo Gone mine & re-spray with Krylon Easy Tack respositionable.
* If you are having trouble with a cut, enlarge it a bit if possible & see if that helps.
* (KNK specific) If you didn't get the flatbeds, use photo boxes. I got mine at Hobby Lobby for 50% off & they are the perfect size. This is important because it keeps your matt from pulling down & will really help you get good cuts. You can also use shoe boxes...just have to have the right size. You also can keep your cutter "odds & ends" in them.
* Make sure you reduce & clean up the nodes if you designed the file. If you purchased it from VDBC, it should already be good.
*from Ginger* On the intricate or lacey like cuts the slow works best but also make sure your blade is sharp. Not dull or rounded on the end.
*from Pam in SD* I use an ink brayer (like for stamping) when I put my paper on the cutting mat, to make good contact, really works great when the mat is almost worn out.
* Don't always start the cut at the same spot. I move my paper around on the matt & reset the origin so my matt doesn't get totally worn out in the same spot.

KNK SPECIFIC: Remember to change your overcut & trailing blade when you are cutting something really big or really small & intricate.
*settings came from Char I believe* regular cuts: overcut 25, trailing blade 5
Small, curvy type cuts: overcut 20, trailing blade 15. Large objects, square type shapes 9" x 9" or more: overcut 55, trailing blade 5. Mixed objects, 5" or smaller: overcut 10, trailing blade 5.