Comments on: Upcycling advice: how to punch out discs? http://www.recyclethis.co.uk/20100204/upcycling-advice-how-to-punch-out-discs Creative ideas for reusing and recycling random stuff Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:39:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Kara http://www.recyclethis.co.uk/20100204/upcycling-advice-how-to-punch-out-discs/comment-page-1#comment-1021839 Kara Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:26:17 +0000 http://www.recyclethis.co.uk/?p=2165#comment-1021839 The die cutter I use is from a school surplus sale and looks like the original Sizzix cutter: http://www.sizzix.com/category/Original+Sizzix+Machine except a bit bigger. The condition of the interchangeable dies is very important when you work with used equipment, and some of the dies I bought had to be sharpened a bit to cut anything but paper. It cuts non-rigid plastics to about 2.5 mm and half-hard sheet metals like copper and aluminum to 1.5 mm, although I'll warn you it depends on brute strength. Some scrapbooking shops may also still have similar ones. The die cutter I use is from a school surplus sale and looks like the original Sizzix cutter: http://www.sizzix.com/category/Original+Sizzix+Machine except a bit bigger. The condition of the interchangeable dies is very important when you work with used equipment, and some of the dies I bought had to be sharpened a bit to cut anything but paper. It cuts non-rigid plastics to about 2.5 mm and half-hard sheet metals like copper and aluminum to 1.5 mm, although I’ll warn you it depends on brute strength. Some scrapbooking shops may also still have similar ones.

]]> By: alison bailey smith http://www.recyclethis.co.uk/20100204/upcycling-advice-how-to-punch-out-discs/comment-page-1#comment-1021784 alison bailey smith Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:22:55 +0000 http://www.recyclethis.co.uk/?p=2165#comment-1021784 Hello again, further to the details I told Kenny by email. If you are forcing a punch to work harder that it is meant to by cutting plastics etc, try to go for a simple design, circle is perfect. It can't cope with any details. Here are the details of the lever punch CP-A Mega Punch Aid Carla Craft (lever) http://www.crafttownhobbylandusa.com/proddetail.php?prod=MegaPunch Punches 40 mm disc 45mm scalloped edge disc I bought mine locally and I think the lever was between £15 and £20 and the punches about £9.99 each. Alison Hello again, further to the details I told Kenny by email. If you are forcing a punch to work harder that it is meant to by cutting plastics etc, try to go for a simple design, circle is perfect. It can’t cope with any details.

Here are the details of the lever punch

CP-A Mega Punch Aid Carla Craft (lever) http://www.crafttownhobbylandusa.com/proddetail.php?prod=MegaPunch

Punches
40 mm disc
45mm scalloped edge disc

I bought mine locally and I think the lever was between £15 and £20 and the punches about £9.99 each.
Alison

]]> By: kenny http://www.recyclethis.co.uk/20100204/upcycling-advice-how-to-punch-out-discs/comment-page-1#comment-1021745 kenny Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:26:23 +0000 http://www.recyclethis.co.uk/?p=2165#comment-1021745 kmorrison@shawlandsacademy.glasgow.sch.uk Hey Kara, any particular die cutter system you'd recommend? kmorrison@shawlandsacademy.glasgow.sch.uk

Hey Kara, any particular die cutter system you’d recommend?

]]> By: kenny http://www.recyclethis.co.uk/20100204/upcycling-advice-how-to-punch-out-discs/comment-page-1#comment-1021744 kenny Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:22:35 +0000 http://www.recyclethis.co.uk/?p=2165#comment-1021744 Thanks. Yes, I've seen ones like that over here too but unfortunately it's just circles I need! Thanks. Yes, I’ve seen ones like that over here too but unfortunately it’s just circles I need!

]]> By: alison bailey smith http://www.recyclethis.co.uk/20100204/upcycling-advice-how-to-punch-out-discs/comment-page-1#comment-1021698 alison bailey smith Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:49:16 +0000 http://www.recyclethis.co.uk/?p=2165#comment-1021698 I have had a great deal of luck with the X-cut range and also another range that has a heavy duty lever that you fit various punches into and I do have a round one for this. Don't go with anything too light weight as it will not cut. A die punch/cutter onto a hard but absorbent surface may do it too. I have wrecked a punch by using it for too thick card so it may be something you have to factor in as you experiment. I am planning to take the punch to pieces and rig up something so I can use it with a hammer so at least it is not £10 down the drain. If the pressure is directly above where the cutting is then it seems to work better or the heavy duty lever system. I have had a great deal of luck with the X-cut range and also another range that has a heavy duty lever that you fit various punches into and I do have a round one for this. Don’t go with anything too light weight as it will not cut. A die punch/cutter onto a hard but absorbent surface may do it too.

I have wrecked a punch by using it for too thick card so it may be something you have to factor in as you experiment. I am planning to take the punch to pieces and rig up something so I can use it with a hammer so at least it is not £10 down the drain.

If the pressure is directly above where the cutting is then it seems to work better or the heavy duty lever system.

]]> By: Kara http://www.recyclethis.co.uk/20100204/upcycling-advice-how-to-punch-out-discs/comment-page-1#comment-1021465 Kara Fri, 05 Feb 2010 01:48:15 +0000 http://www.recyclethis.co.uk/?p=2165#comment-1021465 If you're going to be doing a lot of circles or any other shape, it's worth investing in a die cutter. Many of them are sturdy enough to punch through light sheet metal and fairly heavy plastics, as well as cardboard and fabric. If you starch fabric before punching, or if it's a tightly woven fabric, there is minimal fraying while stitching or gluing. If you're only working with fabric or other lightweight materials, scrapbooking punches are less expensive and come in a huge range of sizes. If you’re going to be doing a lot of circles or any other shape, it’s worth investing in a die cutter. Many of them are sturdy enough to punch through light sheet metal and fairly heavy plastics, as well as cardboard and fabric. If you starch fabric before punching, or if it’s a tightly woven fabric, there is minimal fraying while stitching or gluing. If you’re only working with fabric or other lightweight materials, scrapbooking punches are less expensive and come in a huge range of sizes.

]]> By: HuntingWabbits http://www.recyclethis.co.uk/20100204/upcycling-advice-how-to-punch-out-discs/comment-page-1#comment-1021449 HuntingWabbits Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:51:19 +0000 http://www.recyclethis.co.uk/?p=2165#comment-1021449 http://img.alibaba.com/photo/217965847/Craft_Paper_Punch.jpg They have punches like these at craft stores in the US, like Michael's. They cut out really nice shapes, butterflies, flowers, hearts, dragonflies, I've even seen a howling wolf one. Not sure about circles though. http://img.alibaba.com/photo/217965847/Craft_Paper_Punch.jpg
They have punches like these at craft stores in the US, like Michael’s. They cut out really nice shapes, butterflies, flowers, hearts, dragonflies, I’ve even seen a howling wolf one. Not sure about circles though.

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