Page 122 - THE INDEPENDENT

Troubleshooting
Some helpful guidance for common problems you may encounter
• Place your machine on a sturdy, even surface. Avoid wobbly tables!
• If your machine is manual, make sure that it isn’t too far away from you. It is easier to crank the machine when it is close to you.
• Ensure that you are using the correct ‘sandwich’ for the machine. Different brands have different sandwiches.
• Some machines include a magnetic sheet. It’s great to keep the die from moving whilst going through machine and it acts as a shim too. Just make sure that you put your sandwich with the die flat down, otherwise you will cut into the magnetic sheet. It’s not the end of the world, sometimes you can just put the die cut back into
the sheet, otherwise you will have a lovely fridge magnet! The sheets are available to buy, so you might want to have a spare.
• If you have an intricate die to cut, place the die towards the edge of the machine. The pressure in the centre is ever so slightly less.
• If that doesn’t help, rotate the die and put through again. It may take a couple of goes.
If a die is being stubborn, there are some aids to get that die to cut:
Shims
• This could just be a piece of copier paper, put this on top of the die, before you put the cutting plate on the sandwich.
• Try Patch Shims for those die cuts that are almost there. Just tear a piece of paper about the right size, no straight edges, and put it onto the place where it is needed.
• Alternatively, invest in a set of Kit ’N’ Caboodle Shims. The 8 shims vary in thicknesses from 50 microns (0.03mm) to 350 microns. It allows you to create the perfect thickness for your exact die / machine.
Cut Tidy
• Cut Tidy is a fabulous way to cut your intricate dies without getting little pieces of paper everywhere. It also works well with paper, which has previously been difficult to use in intricate dies due to tearing.
• Follow the instructions on the packaging for a tidy, perfect cut.
For a very intricate die, just pop the Cut Tidy on top of the die and card. Top with the cutting plate and run it through the machine.
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