This is my experience of B Plates:
Yes they do mark. The dies cut into them - but are still useable! If they are very marked like mine, you will find that the marks do emboss themselves onto your cardstock if you are cutting apertures for example. To avoid this you can place a piece of scrap paper between the card and the plate.
Yes, they do bend. These are my plates which I have been using for 3 years. You can see that they are only slightly mis-shaped. There are different views on these plates and using them.
1: Always use the same plate when die cutting - I never think about it - I just use the first one I pick up!
2: Never turn them - I do and have done from the beginning because I didn't know anything different!
3. Use the C plate to cut on instead because it's stronger - I have a Cuttlebug Mate (hi Chrissie) who does this so I know it works for she uses her Bug daily. Me, I still cut on the B, but have occasionally cut on the C by mistake! The C plate will also show cut marks.
This is a Cuttlebug alphabet die - they arrive straight, but bend when used and you cannot straighten them. You might if you are a strong armed Cuttler!
Put the die between the plates - you can see why the plates bend!
I only use Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, Nellie Snellen and Joy Craft dies, I have no experience of other makes. I have found that it is the CB dies that do the bending of plates. You get your machine with the freebies and, of course, want to use them - Straight away bendy plates! This is just what happened to me when my machine arrived!! My reaction to this was to turn the plates and although I'm advise I shouldn't, I did and my plates are 3 years old. I leave you to make your own conclusion as to which method you use.
I will mention one other thing about die cutting - sandwiches. I have covered this matter previously and you will find all the info by looking in the labels section on my sidebar. However, when you become familiar with a machine, you find that you give little thought to the sandwich - you just know how to do it! Today I was watching C&C and their pick of the week is Spellbinder dies and when Sheena Douglas used the sandwich slightly differently to me.
She used: A/C/die cut face up/ card/ B. I can see the advantage in this way because when you want to emboss the die you have only have to slide the C plate away. However, using this sandwich you are not sure where your die is cutting unless you use tape to fasten it in place!
I use: A/B/cardstock/die cut face down/C. This way I can see where I'm placing my die, but when embossing I have turn my die over.
For die cutting both sandwiches work, each way has it advantage and disadvantage - it's down to what suit you best.
Please leave me a comment if you would like to add your views. In the meantime - have a good die cutting day!
NB: Chrissie said: "When I first got my Bug I found that the 6x2 dies bent in the machine, but then I read that the dies should be placed cut side up and they don't bend AT ALL!
I find it really useful using them this way too, as when using the Alpha dies as I don't cut out a whole plate at once, just the letters I need. SO I can see where I'm placing the DST covered pieces of card for each letter.
Like you I have B plates for cutting and B plates for embossing. The cutting ones are really banged up but work nevertheless. As you so rightly mention I always use my C plate to cut when using Nesties etc. which stays absolutely flat, but is of course VERY marked. When it gets too bad I'll replace it. After all they wouldn't sell replacements if they were meant to last for ever!"
ikki: I have now tried this way of cutting alphabet dies, AND IT WORKS WELL, and the DST does not stick to the die as it does the other way round! As for the dies, my are bent I wonder if they will straighten. Good advice Chrissie, thanks.
11 comments:
I was advised to turn my B plate, been using it for 6 months no problem. I do have B plates for cutting and another set for embossing though :)
Thank you, ikki, you're a fount of knowledge.
I've always turned my B plates, not knowing any different! They do get bent, but turning them regularly straightens them out. I bought a spare set and use one set for cutting and keep the other set for embossing. I wouldn't cut on the C plate (except by accident!) I also use the ABC sandwich. It seems to make sense to be able to see where you're cutting, and of couse ABC is easy to remember. I don't know why Provocraft didn't make it that way round in the first place!
Thanks for all your tips, Ikki. I find them really helpful.
I use all makes of die in my machine and the plates bend whichever I use however, Provocraft - who make the Cuttlebug - actually recommend that you turn (rotate) the plates and cut on both side and, like you, I do so on a regular basis. If it's recommended by the manufacturer then that's good enough for me! You might want to see a plate that has never been turned here!
To prevent your CB dies from bending you should use them foam side up.
There's lots of advice on the Provocraft site under the CB FAQs and you can't get better from the horses mouth - lol!!
Thanks for this, that was a good tip about using card. I have found myself buying new plates when I probably didn't need to. I bet I can go on using my old plates for a lot longer.
I turn my plates cos thats what I was told to although I sometimes forget,I also cut with my C plate quite a lot but sometimes the nesties stick in it, I think its a little softer than the B plates, I saw one demo when the person out the A plate on the top so I don't think it matters too much as long as the sandwhich isn't too thick.
Tracy
Thankyou Ikki for this particular post. I turn my B plate over as I didn't know any different and because it seemed to flatten out.
I tend to use Sheena's method but will now do as you, A,B,C.
Just got the Fleur De Lis Pendant Die and it is a struggle to remove the card once it has been 'cut'
Any tips would be most welcome
Christine x
I've always turned my b plate - just made sense to do it. I guess it is ultimately whatever you're more comfortable with. Thanks for all the great advice on your blog.
When I first got my Bug I found that the 6x2 dies bent in the machine, but then I read that the dies should be placed cut side up and they don't bend AT ALL!
I find it really useful using them this way too, as when using the Alpha dies as I don't cut out a whole plate at once, just the letters I need. SO I can see where I'm placing the DST covered pieces of card for each letter.
Like you I have B plates for cutting and B plates for embossing. The cutting ones are really banged up but work nevertheless. As you so rightly mention I always use my C plate to cut when using Nesties etc. which stays absolutely flat, but is of course VERY marked. When it gets too bad I'll replace it. After all they wouldn't sell replacements if they were meant to last for ever!
Really interesting post Ikki, thanks!
I use the alphabet and most other Cuttlebug dies cutting side up so that I can see where I'm placing a small piece of paper/card, and some of the other 2" x 6" dies say to use foam/cutting side up. I son't have any bent C'bug dies.
I use Nestabilities and Nellie Snellen's cutting side down, important for cutting an apperture, less important if it's the cut out piece I want to use. These dies have all stayed flat until yesterday when I managed to bend the inner section of the Fleur-de-Lis Nestie.
I use both sides of the B plates and both sides of the C plate for cutting against, all very marked but as yet I've not broken one although I do have a pristine set of B plates for when that day comes!
I'm not to fussed about the order of the sandwich so long as the total is correct and I'm not cutting into the A plate which I always have on the bottom.
Sometimes an embossing folder with the card wrapped around it is too thick for two B plates so I have successfully used the C plate and several thicknesses of card shim plus the A plate.
Brenda
My B plates are bent and I don't rotate them. I generally use them with Nestabilities. Initially, I used the die cut facing down so I can be exact when cutting an apperture. I noticed an annoying partial emboss so I tried using the die cut facing up and the emboss is kept at a minimal this way. I just use a small piece of tape so I know exactly where I'm cutting and to ensure that the die won't shift as I complete my sandwich.
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