To shim or not to shim?
Let's face it, not all die-cutting machines are created equal. And like some of us, sag a little, when they get older. And may require a little something to hold us up.
With age and use, the rollers in your die-cut machine may shift a bit and require extra passes through the die-cut machine. This is to be expected.
Our CutUps Dies cut by pressure, not by being sharp. When you roll the "sandwich" through the machine the rollers press the die into the paper and cut it. This means no sharp blades to cut yourself.
Intricate and large dies may additionally require and extra shim or piece of cardstock or two, on top of the bottom mat of the sandwich to help give extra pressure to cut.
You may want to place shims directly under the area that is not cutting. Another alternative is the "Cuttlehug". The Cuttle Hug is a thin metal shim that you place under the bottom mat of the sandwich. It is a shim especially made for the Cuttlehug, but it works great with any other machine that needs a little help. It's a great alternative to buying a new machine.
We found this video by our manufacturer that may help when cutting intricate dies.
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