us cutter

[auntdooz]

I am looking into purchasing another cutter. Have had scal since 2009, I purchased an ecraft, sent it back...hated it. Now I am looking at us cutters. The one I am interested in comes with SCAL pro. Will the files I currently have (scut files) work with SCAL pro and does anyone have this type of machine? Pros or Cons would be greatly appreciated. I have searched this forum and us cutters.

TIA

Liz

[mitsim]

SCAL and SCAL pro with both read all of your SVG files and your SCUT files, so you should be good to. I don't have that machine, and haven't read much about them. So, good luck! Did you look at the Cameo and the Eclips also? Happy hunting.

[newbiecat]

Know that US cutters produce a lot of commercial cutters and it depends as always what type and range of media you are cutting and how large it is

Also very important is what support either directly from the seller or via a forum is available post buying - since usually you simply dont know what it is you dont know till you get the machine

good luck
Pandora

[Jax]

Well before you go out and buy one, what do you plan to do wtih the machine?

I found making a list of what you want the machine to do is really the key. Many here are crafters but depending on the material you plan to cut, will depend on what machine is right for you.

Back in the day most machines were very expensive, that is why many turned to the Cricut. Great machine for it's time and since you, at the time, could bypass the cartridge system by using 3rd party software, it was the "perfect" machine.

Now that you can't do that anylonger, several other companies have come out with their versions and they all have their pluses and minuses...

Let's take me for example. My goals for a machine were vinyl cutting. I spend 95% of my "crafting" cutting vinyl. Sometimes I get a bug to do cardstock projects but very rarely. Now my one thing the machine I picked had to do was cut without using a sticky mat. That way I could cut infinite length vinyl. This was important to me. The Ecraft was the perfect machine, in my mind because it did that. But after reading all the reviews and limitations of the machine I stopped looking. Until one day I looked into the Cameo and saw a video that stated it would cut vinyl without a mat. I got all excited and because of the intricate cut feature of the Cameo this machine became the perfect machine for me. Now it has limitations. It can't cut chipboard and it does have a difficult time with thick card stock. Like I said in the beginning that doesn't matter because I'm mostly going to use it for vinyl cutting.

You have to determine what you want the machine to do and then pick from there.

Hope this helps.

[auntdooz]

Thanks for the input guys, I am still so undecided. I mainly do vinyl (rare occasions I do cardstock or chipboard, but I still have 2 cricuts that can do that, until they break) I have looked at the cameo and was leaning that way until my husband found a US cutter on ebay. It can cut larger projects, like the letters for my son's race car, signs for businesses and so on. My main concern was being able to use my files with whatever new cutter I decided to go with and not end up in the same "mess" with the previous cutters. I kinda felt safe going with the US cutter since it comes with the scal software but the cameo also works with scal. Geesh I wish I could make up my mind!

[dragonlord666]

without wanting to add to your headache of finding a cutter.

have you looked at the silver bullets?
not sure where you are from but they are sold in UK, USA and Oz

hope I can put the links here (if not and they are removed, PM me or if on FB search out the silver bullet groups)

UK: Dawn Grantham http://www.thymegraphics.co.uk/

US: Sherri http://thatsscrapinc.com/

Oz: Jo Babic http://cuttingedgecraft.net.au

Contact your dealer as sometimes they get preloved cutters where people have upgraded to a bigger machine.

Gaz

[Jax]

To agree with dragon..

I've decided my next machine will be a 24" Silver Bullet. For the price and quality I'm seriously thinking that would be my next machine.

I've heard from another site that the person incharge of That's Scrapin is really good. She will explain and support that product personally.

Check the site out. The machine is about the same price from others in it's league but quieter and durable. At least that's what I've heard.

[dragonlord666]

they are quiet - I guess it does depend on what you call quiet.
yes they hum a little now and then and will "sing" when in use (think a quieter version of the old dial up modems )

they sound loud in videos as the mic from the camera is pointing directly at them and amplifying the sound!!

a few people say they are/can be loud but I have used mine at 2am and not one person (inc. someone who can hear a gnat sneeze) said they heard it going. had the embroidery machine going at the same time on occasion too LOL)

If you drop the dealers a email they are happy to arrange a demo if you can get to them.

Gaz

[mitsim]

I agree too. If you can afford it, the Silver bullet is the way to go. It's totally industrial strength, and can cut pretty much anything, even metal. And, it will etch into metal. And, does vinyl and cardstock...anything. Penny Duncan has one, and has done some videos comparing it to other machines. You might check her out on youtube. or talk with her on here, as she's one of the mediators I believe. She can answer any questions you have about it.

[auntdooz]

Thanks guys, I will check those out before I make a decision.


Liz