Cricut Mats......

[karebear1]

OK- AS you all know I just got my Cricut E. It's the first machine of this type I've ever owned, so I'm unsure of a couple of thigns nad need to see what you all think.

The first time I cut letters on cardstock, the blade cut the paper, but the letters didn't release from the paper- it wasn't cut deep enough. I finally figured out that I needed to lower the blade more, so I did- from a 1 to a 3.

The next time I cut, the letters came out perfectly, but there was an engraving of all the letters I had cut on the mat. I didn't think that would be good for the mat, so I set the blade at 2.5 and increased the pressure to high. The next set of letters cut out just fine, but still left an impression or carving behind on the mat- although it is lighter.

Is this normal or should I still be adjusting the blade... the pressure...what??

 

[judykay53]

I'm like you. I just bought one and have never had any kind of machine. Mine is cutting the mat also. If I adjust one way then it doesn't cut through all the way. I'm cutting paper and thin cardstock.

 

[Kim1964]

My blade is set to a depth of 4 pretty much all the time. I adjust pressure depending on thickness of the paper. I ALWAYS use the spatula to get my cutouts off the mat. The cutting does leave an impression on the mat, but it's not particularly deep. For thick stuff, like Bazzill, I set the pressure to high and it works fine.

 

[wdwdancerwannabe]

The blade typically leaves behind marks on the mat. I never adjust the heighth of the blade, but I do adjust the pressure a lot.

I wouldn't be worried about the mat getting damaged...that's what it's for --- but I think that it does wear down the blade a little quicker if it cuts too deep into the mat too often.

A tip that I learned here on the boards that is worth mentioning-----when your mat gets dirty (especially after black card stock) or you have tiny piecesof paper on the mat that are hard to get up - I use a baby wipe and even scrub w/ my finger nail a little....believe it, or not! The sticky comes back!