Hi there
So I finally managed to get my big shot machine and it was truly a task. It isn't sold anywhere locally (believe me I've looked!) and after watching maybe hundreds of videos I decided it was time to make my first cut.
Watcing that beautiful unmarred cutting plate suddenly become tainted was almost painful but so far so good.
I decided I would use all the advice given to preserve them for eternity (me being seriously ridiculous) however maybe at my 5th cut disaster struck.
No it did not break...it BOWED!!! AND NOT BY A LITTLE!!!
Back to me watching a tonne of videos on how to fix my precious cuttung pads.
After watching a bunch of videos on youtube about baking it and scalding it I knew I definitely had to use heat but like hell I was gonna bake it and run the risk if it being destroyed!
Finally here's my hack. (I have no idea if it was discovered before)
Let me preface this by saying I have no idea if there's any damage caused by this method.
Take your heat gun (I used the Nicole embossing heat gun) and blast away at that cutting plate (on a heat friendly surface preferably) with the bowed side up. Keep moving the gun all over the surface not forgetting the ends.
After about ten minutes it will go almost flat.
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Too much heat will warp the eventually making them unusable. Just flip them over and after a few cuts they will go back. I'm still using my original plates that are 7+ years old. I just flip them over every couple of cuts and also switch up the top and bottom.
ReplyDeleteOh I've been trying the flip over method but it didnt budge. Heat was a last resort but so far so good ☺
DeleteI keep one un marred on the bottom and the top one I use to cut into, my thin dies facing up to cut into the paper. I turn and flip each time. Eventually the cut lines will start appearing on your paper so just use a scrap piece in between your card stock and plate to avoid that. I use copy paper. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI do as well. When I cut my die face up is when it bowed. Thankfully so far it's working good as new.
DeleteAfter seriously bowing my first set of cutting pads, I designated one top pad and one bottom pad. Then I put a piece of Washi tape on one side of each plate. When running them through machine, I alternate washi side up/washi side down. Or if I lose track and notice the bottom plate is bowing, I turn it over so that it is like a boat. Use it a few times and it will straighten. If the top plate bows, I turn it so that it is like a hat. Use it a few times and it will straighten. The system has worked well for 2 years and I have not had to throw away any pads.
ReplyDeleteThank you all so much :)
ReplyDelete