According to a YouTube video I watched it may be because I have chosen my pressure as more with each cut. Generally youll be using the blue LightGrip mat or the green StandardGrip mat. If you are looking to cut much thicker materials, or even have a better experience cutting materials like chipboard above, you might want to look into getting a Cricut Maker with the Knife Blade, as seen below. If you use these links to buy something, we may earn a commission, but it doesn't cost you anything. The knife blade does deep cuts. This is intensely frustrating and as far as I can tell, nothing has been done to rectify it for people who have the wrong blades. I started my passion for sewing and craft when I was a little girl and it developed into a degree in Historical and Performance costume. We have found that sometimes people change out their blades for a brand new one and then decide to hold onto the old one just in case. You dont want to waste material or ruin a special craft project that youve been working hard to create! Also, when I Google replacement blades for the Maker, the aforementioned blades are really all that come up. So I decided to put together my own research to find out a few things and break it fown for you to help you make your blades last longer and have enough time to save to buy a new one. It was previously called the Premium German Carbide blade, but is now just referred to as Fine-Point.. This has caused problems for so many Cricut users. How to Apply HTV on. Your Download limit has been reached - Upgrade to our best value year membership tier today and get ultimate access to our site! Weve had a few instances where weve added more pressure when using a fresh blade and it actually has cut through the backing of our vinyl. Some does some does not. These three blades do not not need to be calibrated. Hope this helps! If you feel your blade cannot be cleaned and reused, replace it. This will help scrape off any remaning fibers and glue and will sharpen the blade as it goes. If it doesnt cut all the way through. This is also only for use with the Maker. You will need to buy this blade and housing separately. thanks, Judy, I have an Explore Air and want to cut lightweight cork and balsa/bass wood. For example, fabric scissors should not be used on anythign but fabric as they require ultimate sharpness to be able to cut the weave of fabric. Where Can You Buy Replacement Blades?4. Can I do that with the Deep Cut blade? IMPORTANT: Apparently there was a large round of Cricut blades that were too long (*cue screaming at the sky*). Since new Cricut machines include the housing for this blade, it is unlikely you will need to buy a new housing, but if you are having serious cut issues, replacing your housing is an option. Layering HTV How to Layer Glitter, Neon, & Metallic Heat. Not sure how to change your rotary blade? The Cricut blade is the most essential part of the machine, it is the part that cuts and scores your designs and it the main key to a fast and simple production line and should be replaced often. The following video with show you how to easily change the Cricut Knife Blade, which is only for use with the Cricut Maker. We have had it a couple of times where it just hasnt liked what we were trying to do. If youve been using more pressure in your projects for about two months with the same blade though, you are probably starting to see that youre getting some mediocre results. Place the new protective cap and blade onto the Rotary Blade housing. The last way to ensure the life of your Cricut blade is long and fruitful is to change your blade for specific materials. Theyre not expensive and it is really worth it when it comes to getting the best cuts and not wasting material. You can buy the pink blades and use them in your silver/gold FinePoint housing and vice versa. Unless youre having issues with your silver housing and blade, theres really no need to upgrade to the gold housing and blade. Some blades are designed for specific materials and projects. Waisting alot of vinyl. Then click the Go button on your Maker and it will cut some test lines. We have started putting in new blades a lot more often because we want to make sure were getting those really great cuts. Crystal, HLMS Community Manager, Hi, I f I have a knife blade, do I still need the deep cut blade? The changing cap is designed to keep your fingers away from the actual bladeeven if its dull, it could easily cut you! In the Calibration screen, there are three options: Calibrate your Rotary Blade, calibrate your Knife Blade and calibrate your printer for Print Then Cut. The last way you may notice that your blade needs replacing is your machine may make a groaning style sound when the blade is cutting. That being said, I have used old green mats in the past to cut felt using the Rotary Blade. What blades cut what? These questions apply to all of the different Cricut blades. When you first use your Cricut Rotary Blade, you need to calibrate it the first time to use it. How Often Should You Replace Your Cricut Blade? This allows for a more stable material, which makes it easier to cut. It may be hard to see on your printer paper, so hold it up to the light and bend your mat just a but. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Check this out>>> How to Replace Your Rotary Blade in Your Cricut Maker. What can I cut plastic type materials with on my cricut maker Use code "FLASH30" and save $30 on your best value membership today! Brother CS6000i Review [Personal Experience] Too basic or just right? So, be careful with that when you change blades and hold off on increasing the pressure for a while. If two or more lines are about the same, just choose one. The Knife Blade another Cricut Maker-specific blade (it cannot be used in the Cricut Explore). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I'm Cori and I'm so glad you've decided to stop by and make stuff with me! Removing the housing from your Cricut machine. The Bonded Fabric Blade8. When you replace the blade, the housing remains calibrated. Of course, it makes sense that the more often you use your Cricut die-cutting machine, the more you will need to change your blade. The blade holder design is the same on both machines. In your machine you will see that there are two accessory compartments. Colour code each blade or mark so you remember which is which. Read our full disclosure policy here. While thats HIGHLY unlikely, it could be part of the issue. You can also use the dropdown menu on the left and click on the Calibration tool. Can I Use Non-Cricut Blades in My Cricut?5. The Cricut Rotary Blade comes with the Cricut Maker and is Cricut Maker-specific (it cannot be used in the Cricut Explore). How Do You Know When to Replace Your Cricut Blade?3. The following process is thesame for both the Cricut Maker and the Explore Air 2 machines. The Cricut Knife Blade is designed to cut materials much thicker than anything else the Cricut Explore has been able to cut before, even with the Deep Cut blade. Id try a couple of things first calibrate your Cricut. 2. Then click the Go button on your Maker and it will cut some test lines. There is a tonne of information about Cricut machines and how to fix them and different projects but there isnt much information on when a Cricut blade should be changed. This is definitely a case of youll know it when you see it. If your blade stops cutting cleanly. Do this repeatedly for around 30-50 times. Okay! I wouldnt put bargain basement blades in my machine (youre going to end up changing them more often than is probably worth it), but I have used blades from other companies with no problems, including these Cricut blades. Be sure to pin it so you can refer back to it whenever you need to! Before we go into the actual blades, lets tackle a few frequently asked questions about Cricut blades. Ive written extensively about the Cricut Rotary Blade, but here is a basic overview. Step 2: Remove the entire blade housing from the clamp. Also, if you are cutting mostly thicker materials, your blade will become dull quicker, whereas if you are only using thinner materials, it will last a lot longer. If like me you use your Cricut to make a variety of projects from vinyl to cardstock then your blade might be fine cutting one but not the other. The premium Fine-Point Blade is a little stronger and more durable than the silver housing and blade, though I cut for years with the silver version and it worked great. If two or more lines are about the same, just choose one. Hey Linda, its the worst when a cut doesnt go right and you end up wasting materials! You can also play around with Custom Material Settings to use the blade to experiment with all sorts of materials. B What range of materials you are using, if you are using the same blade for vinyl, paper, cardstock and more then it may dull your blade faster. This post and the photos within it may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. Depending on your Cricut machine, youll have a selection of blades to help you get the best cut for your materials! Step 3: Press down the button on top of the blade housing. Replacing the blade is the same for all three of these blades. The best blade for cutting balsa or bass wood is going to be the knife blade, which is specific to the Maker. Hi Leanne, Please leave any questions or comments down below. Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links provided for your convenience. This hand-lettered Read More, Celebrate the warmest season of the year with Read More, 2020 HeyLetsMakeStuff.com | Privacy Policy. Use separate blades for different materials to make them last longer. The silver housing is the older version, which has been recently replaced with the premium gold housing. My blog is full of things to help you create a life you love: easy crafts, fun printables, SVG files for cutting on your Cricut, DIY home and decor ideas, and so much more. You may notice that its not cutting through all the way and youre not getting those perfect cut lines, so weeding just gets trickier. The housing on the Deep-Cut Blade is black. If you havent already, insert your Knife Blade into Clamp B of your Cricut Maker. The Cricut Knife Blade (Maker-Only)11. Im considering to buy only one if the two. However, if you use your machine more frequently, you may need to change it after a few weeks. 1. Inside the housing is a magnet which will pull the blade inside. But as a general rule of thumb go for anything from 3 6 months up to 1 year. This is also such a big help when it comes to the weeding process and especially with those intricate die-cutting craft projects. There are a few signs you probably are already away of and one of them has probably happened leading you to search for a solution. You only need to keep in mind that there are specific tools that can only be used with the Maker, while the Maker can use all the same blades as the Explore. Those sweet words that every crafter loves to hear: Free, How To Change A Cricut Blade Cricut Maker & Explore Air 2, How To Change Cricut Explore Air 2 Blades, Review: Supacolor Heat Transfers using Pro Worlds Online Designer, Experience Based: Best Portable Heat Press [2022! We are all great friends and are always having a blast when we are together- you will see this on camera especially during live streams! How to Replace Your Rotary Blade in Your Cricut Maker. Also put a piece of white printer paper on a cutting mat, aligning it with the top left corner. If youre having issues cutting a larger designs vs a smaller design on the same settings, it may be something technical. Choose Rotary Blade here. In the Calibration screen, there are three options: Calibrate your Rotary Blade, calibrate your Knife Blade and calibrate your printer for Print Then Cut. How To Clean A Cricut Mat & Make It Last Longer, Black Friday + Cyber Monday 2022 | Cricut, Craft & Heat Press Deals, Free Fonts For Cricut: Where To Find The Best Free Cricut Fonts, If you are having trouble weeding your projects because of the cut lines, If you find yourself changing the default pressure to more on multiple projects, If you are using the correct settings but your Cricut is not completely cutting through the material, If your machine is not cutting intricate designs well, The types of materials you cut with your machine. Here is a tutorial from Cricut themselves on how to change the tension of your machine. The *bad* blades have a gray cap. A Cricut blade can go full for a number of reasons, some are easy to fix and some are a little more tricky. Is your mat sticky? The knife blade and the rotary blade are different, see the videos at the end of this post for instructions on how to change these blades. The rotary blade housing is not interchangeable with other blades. The Cricut Bonded Fabric Blade is an add-on blade that works with both the Cricut Explore and the Cricut Maker (though if youre cutting fabric on your Maker, I recommend the Rotary Blade). We love telling you guys to use more pressure when cutting with your Cricut machine. That way you dont get your other mats covered in threads. This means, at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. All Rights Reserved. Remove the protective cover from the new blade (the rubbery plastic piece). The Knife Blade is designed to be used with the purple StrongGrip mat. Carefully set aside. If you move your housing to a different machine, or use a different housing in your machine, you will need to re-calibrate your Rotary Blade. An important tip to keep in mind is that if youre getting ready to cut a brand new material, and especially if its a more expensive one, a test cut on a small scrap can be really helpful. Sometimes even new blades wear very quickly. Cricut says the FabricGrip mat is made of a stronger, more dense material that will withstand the pressure of the rotary cutting process. Check out these additional posts on the newest Cricut Maker blades! Its designed to be stronger than the Fine-Point Blade and uses a different angle and depth-of-cut to cut thicker materials. Small nicks and scratches of damage on the blade wouldnt quite disrupt a cut on paper but might be noticeable on vinyl. judy, Hi Judy, This actually solved a problem I was having with my Cricut Makerit wasnt cutting through cardstock even after I replaced the blade, so I swapped out the housing and that solved the problem. Yes, you can cut plastic materials, including laminated materials. Click individual links for my tutorials on these materials. How Do You Know When to Replace Your Cricut Blade? Are you wondering when you should replace your Cricut blade? The Cricut Wavy Blade (Maker-Only)12. A craft and sewing blog owned by Helen Harrison. If you have a Maker with the knife blade, you do not need the deep cut blade. Often that will work and you wont need to replace your blade quite yet. They can help you troubleshoot. This doesnt always mean that you need to replace the blade, first try cleaning the blade in a tin foil ball. If the paper shifts at all during cutting, it could tear it. I started this blog as a way to share what I new and learnt about sewing, machines and everything in between. Im sorry thats happening. There is no definitive answer unfortunately as it all depends on two things; A how often you are using your machine, daily, weekly or every so often. The Cricut Fine-Point Blade is the standard blade that comes in both the Cricut Explore and the Cricut Maker. These are the main reasons we are going to cover below. In this post, Ill go over all of the different blades you may use with your Explore or Maker, including their different uses, how to tell them apart, and how to change the blades themselves! If you purchase something through the link, I may receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. If you need to learn more about your Cricut blades, youll find this post really informative: Cricut Blades and Tools Explained. Unfortunately, you need the knife blade and housing. Once you have selected your overlap and clicked continue, the calibration is complete and you can use your Knife Blade! Or laminate thickness plastic The Cricut Rotary Blade (Maker-Only)10. There are a couple of ways in which you can make the life of your blade longer and sharper. The next way is t sharpen and clean your Cricut blade, start by removing your housing with your blade in from the machine. Thanks. As a general rule of thumb, you should replace your circuit blade every 6 months 1 year. The Cricut blades can be used on both Explore and Maker machines, no problem. It may be hard to see on your printer paper, so hold it up to the light and bend your mat just a bit. Once you unload your mat, you want to find the cut lines that overlap the most. If you havent ever touched your settings or you have and never changed them back, this could be a reason for your blade becoming dull. The list of fabrics you can cut is practically endless. Step 5: Place the new blade inside the housing with the sharp end sticking out of the housing. With so many supply chain issues youre, Free Fonts For Cricut! You can see the examples in the screenshot below. Note that there are no replacement blades for the Cricut Wavy Blade or the Cricut Perforation Bladeif you need a replacement (however unlikely) youll have to buy a new tool tip. Step 1: Open the B (B for blade) accessory clamp in your Cricut machine. Can I Use Non-Cricut Blades in My Cricut? If your Cricut machine is no longer cutting well, or you are having trouble weeding your designs, then its probably time to change the blade. If it leaves tiny rips in your material. I went to buy a knife blade but could only get the replacement kit. Heres a link to purchase the knife blade on Cricutswebsite:https://cricut.com/en_us/knife-blade-drive-housing.html. Load up your mat with a sheet of tin foil and cut away remember you may need to adjust your tension as to not cut your mat or cut too deeply. Before your replace your blade, try replacing your mat. Its important to keep an eye on the cuts youre getting and change out that blade as soon as you start seeing signs of it wearing down and getting dull. It is smaller than the housings for other Cricut machine blades, and they are not interchangeable. If you havent already, insert your Rotary Blade into Clamp B of your Cricut Maker. Just me?). When you first use your Cricut Knife Blade, you need to calibrate it the first time to use it. You can see the examples in the screenshot below. Hope this helps, We have experienced this a few times and at first thought nothing off it. Use separate blades for different materials to make them last longer. There is no rule to this at all. Thanks! Remove your Knife Blade housing from your Cricut Maker. Once you have selected your overlap and clicked continue, the calibration is complete and you can use your Rotary Blade! You can use code MAKESTUFF2020 to save 10% on most materials and supplies at cricut.com. Its easy, but be careful not to cut yourself. Place the white changing cap completely over the old blade and sleeve on the Knife Blade housing. Design Space will prompt you to calibrate the first time you use your Rotary Blade. This means you may need to clean out the blade several times during the same project. Pick any design and let the blade glide through the tin foil. Now lets take a look at each of the individual blades. Copyright 2022, Hey, Let's Make Stuff. Then place back in the housing. Here is a tutorial from Cricut themselves on how to change the tension of your machine, here is a tutorial by Cricut on how to do this. The process is actually exactly the same for the Cricut Explore Air 2. This is just a basic overview. Today Ill be showing you step-by-step how to change a premium fine point blade in your Cricut Maker and Explore Air 2 machines. Cricut Joy only has one blade and it is a fine point blade. Thats really all there is to it happy cutting! Crystal, HLMS Community Manager. I would definitely use default pressure when you can. 4. Place the changing cap (with the sleeve inside) over the new blade. Today were answering one of our most asked questions via email and on our Youtube channel and that is When To Change Your Cricut Blades. When it comes to deciding when to change your Cricut blades, youll need to figure out the right time for you and your crafting. Another way to know if you blade needs replacing is if it struggles on certain materials. Your email address will not be published. The Cricut Fine-Point Blade6. Over time blades can wear down and still work but not on certain materials. A solution is to have a blade for paper (the original blade) and a new blade for vinyl. Hi Donna, The Cricut Perforation Blade (Maker-Only), Ive written extensively about the Cricut Rotary Blade, start here if you really want to do a deep dive on the Knife Blade, Personalized Ice Cooler with Your Cricut + Ice Cooler SVG Files. We are here to inspire and support you in your crafting journey! This is the same for changing the deep point blade, and you can also use the following method to clean your blade as well. ], 23 Cricut Christmas Ideas for 2022 Iron On & Adhesive, The Ultimate Seasonal Heat Press and Cricut Craft Calendar, You Should Use HTV on Wood! Heres the big secret: the Bonded Fabric Blade is exactly the same as the FinePoint blade, but pink. However, you can adjust settings (and be sure to use a deep cut mat) to try and cut through those materials with your deep cut blade. Basically the pink Bonded Fabric Blade is your fabric scissors. Reserving fabric tools for fabric cutting prolongs their fabric-cutting life! Using the included screwdriver, remove the screw from the Rotary Blade housing and set aside. Make sure to read my 10 Things To Know About the Knife Blade post for more information about actually cutting with the Knife Blade. Yes! Can I do this with my deep cut blade. The Bonded Fabric blade is color coordinated with the pink FabricGrip mat to help remind you that pink is for fabric. A pretty long while, if youre not cutting anything crazy with your blade. If you start having difficulty weeding your vinyl, it might just be time to change your blade. Crystal, HLMS Community Manager, I have the Explore Air and would like to cut thin cork and balsa or bass wood. Throw the dull blade away safely. Like the Rotary blade, you should only need to calibrate your Knife Blade the first time you use it. This pushes out the blade. Certain blades (like the knife blade, for example) only work on the Cricut Maker machine. We hold NOTHING back for our yearly members and want you to have the best experience possible. After all, cutting with a dull blade can really affect the quality of your die-cutting craft projects. Again we used the cleaning methods above to see if it was a build up of glue from the vinyl or just age. And this video shows step by step how to change the Cricut Rotary Blade. Cricut blades are the same, so if you use paper on a blade and then try use fabric you may struggle after so long the blade will be dull to the paper standards and not able to cut fabric in a clean cut. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. How Long Will My Cricut Blade Last?2. I am wondering if I could swap the blades and use the knife blade in the rotary housing? Some people trade out their blade every couple of months and some have had their blades for 1 year. Find out more here. Twist the changing cap counterclockwise to unscrew the sleeve from the housing. That being said, if you find that your cuts are not cutting cleanly, re-calibrating your Knife Blade may help. Some materials are particularly messy and may shed. Gently push the plunger at the top of the housing and drop the old blade into a small container or paper towel to dispose of it (I most often put it in the plastic container the new blade comes in for disposal). This process is also the same for the fine point blade, premium fine point blade, deep point and deep cut blade. Theres no magic number for how many cuts you can do with a blade. Replacing Basic Cricut Blades9. If youve been accustomed to using more pressure and now youve put in a fresh blade, you may have to hold off using more pressure for the first few weeks. Step 7: Close the lever of the clamp so that the housing is locked into place. That being said, the FinePoint/Bonded Fabric blades and housings are interchangeable. This blade comes installed in your machine. It does not have a number engraved on it like some of the other Cricut Maker tools. There is a similarly labeled deep-cut blade housing that is blue, but that is for the older Cricut Expression machinesdont buy it for your Explore or Maker. If youre cutting with it quite often, you might need to move that up to every six weeks. You will need to experiment with the cut setting on some test material so you know what setting will cut all the way through your paper and lamination. This way the blades dont get dull or pick up any glue or fibers from the other materials which will help to keep them sharper for longer. Also, have you made sure your blade is sharp? There is. If your blade isnt dull or having any trouble then dont change it. Cricuts thinking with making the same blade in two colors is that you dont use your fabric scissors on paper (anyone else have a mom who would shoot you the look if you used her fabric scissors on construction paper?