Kiss Cut not working

[Laura in IA]

Hi there,

I'm hoping someone will be able to help me. When I first started with vinyl, I was able to do the kiss cut with no problem. I switched blades (and now with every cut, it is cutting thru the vinyl and the backing. I've tried changing blades again, I have tried cutting with the pressure to the lowest setting and blade at 1, but it still goes all the way thru the vinyl and the backing. I've tried with cutting with the blade setting at 3, at 6...and it has made no difference. I've tried taking the blade out and reinserting it and then trying to keep the housing as high as possible when tightening it. I've tried a new mat - I used the same vinyl as when I did my first vinyl projects, so I don't think that is it.

I'm really stumped! What else can I do?

Thanks!

[talanhart]

Try taking the blade out of it's housing and see if anything is caught inside that is keeping the blade from adjusting correctly.

[stuartcalls]

It's surprising what gets caught up in the blade housing.

Make sure your pressure isn't any higher than 3.

[Laura in IA]

I just tried that. Blew air into the housing, nothing came out. Tried cutting again, but it didn't make any difference Set at 1, min pressure. Still cuts through vinyl and the backing.

Would a new blade housing make a difference?

[talanhart]

Do you have the blade housing in the machine with the little dot facing forward?

[Laura in IA]

I don't have a little dot. There is an arrow that indicates the number you are on and a screw between the 2 and 3. Otherwise, I don't see any other indicators on the blade housing.

Maybe this means something...where should the dot be and how should I have it placed?

[talanhart]

I was mistaken, it is little arrow.

[Laura in IA]

Shoot...thought we were close to getting this figured out! LOL

But it made me think - does it matter how the blade goes into the housing? Should the longer edge of the blade be in the front or the back? At this point, does that even matter....that seems so nit-picky! I'm really, really, really stumped!

[GrammyKrausse]

Here is a blade that was dragging and wasn't sure if yours could have a simular problem with the spring mech on the housing. I know that if the mech is stuck it wont cut deep enough for paper but wasn't aware of cutting to deep. Guess if the spring mech was week for some reason it might push to hard. Might be something to think about.
Here is a url for the topic.
http://www.cricut.com/(S(mtufql55qbyy1y55a3kpva55))/messageboard/tm.aspx?m=6212083&mpage=1&#6221853


Sorry I can't get the url to work but it talks about the spring mech not working properly and gets stuck and causes dragging and Provo Craft suggest replacement of the housing.

Looked at the Cricut site a little closer and Provo Craft says they are replacing the complete Cricut Machine. If your's is in warrantee might contact them. I wouldn't tell them about SCAL though, they get touchy.
Good Luck
Grammy