I need to make decision, can anybody pls help?

[Sil]

Hi guys

I've been searching for the information to buy Pazzle but recently I heard also Craft Robo Pro II, Klik-N-Kut, too. Can anyone tell me what a significant difference about three of them?

Your reply would be very much appreciated, please help.

Thanks muchly
Sil

[Paperthreads]

What Pazzles machine were you looking into, they have the Mini, Mighty and Pro?

It makes a difference to know what we are comparing it to!

Also, what are your plans with the machine? What types of things to you plan on doing? What types of media do you like to use the most? How much usage are you planning? How computer savvy are you?

All these will help in getting information to you!

You can instant message me if you want. My Yahoo id is paperthreads.

Or you can just post this information here, and I'll reply back!

[tjarman]

I would like to see this post continue on the boards. I've done my own research on the machines (CraftRobo Pro, Pazzle Mighty-the middle model, and the KNK). I've had and used my WB for a year now and just am dying to cut fun foam (the only reason I still have my Quickutz tool, but have not used it since buying the WB). I'm actually leaning towards the KNK based on what I get for the price. That is, I get more cutting force for the money. I know the KNK will cut fun foam, and I think the others do too - just not sure. But again, for the price of the KNK, I'm getting the capabilities I'm currently looking for. The larger cutting area is another factor, but the machines I'm looking at are all comparable.

Anyways, I would just like to see this thread continue to make sure I have all the info I need.

[Paperthreads]

Ok....based on what you're saying your needs are, and based on my knowledge of the machines, I can make recommendations, but ultimately it boils down to personal needs.

1. Will it cut foam? All three machines cut foam. I don't think any of the machines have an advantage on this one way or the other.

2. Will it cut Heavy Cardstock? Again...all three machines cut cardstock. The KNK and Pazzles have similar blade systems, while the manufacture blade system on the CRPRO II varies slightly. These machines will all handle various thickness of cardstocks.

3. Will it cut CHIPBOARD? All of the machines will also handle light weight chipboard. It is not uncommon for you to need to do a couple of passes to cut chipboard or other thicker materials. This is just something we scrapbookers don't "like" to do....we are an impatient lot, we want to cut once and run! With the KNK Studio, you can specify the number of "passes" you want the machine to make with cutting, so there is no need to copy and paste the graphic over itself. I am not familiar with this capability in either the Pazzles program nor the CRPro. Someone that has either of those machines will have to pipe up if this is incorrect! I would have to say that the KNK has a slight advantage on this, because it has more downward force...500 grams.

Here's the thing about chipboard....think of how you are currently cutting it??? Even the steel rule die cuts can't handle the thicker chipboard. They state on their media guides that they can cut poster board/chipboard, and paperwood (which is a thickness of heavy cardstock.) None of these cutter options can cut that thick chipboard. Heck, even my hubby, who has fairly stong hands, has a difficult time cutting through a heavy chipboard with a box cutter, and even then, he's had to swip with the box cutter several times to make it through....and...I have totally given up on using a serrated knife for this stuff :) The problem isn't necessarily the thickness (although the blades aren't long enough to accomodate that thickness anyway!)..the problem with the thick chipboard is the DENSITY. Because it can cut that thin chipboard easily, and the cutting speed is much faster than you are used to in the smaller machines, then, logically, you can cut 2-3 of the same piece with precision, and then glue them together to get the thicker chipboard effect that you want.

4. What type of cutting area do they have? All of the machines will cut 12". The KNK will cut 13". The length it will cut is only limited by your media and program! I believe they will all go as long as 3 feet. I have never needed to cut anything this long, so can't speak from any experience!

5. What about Ease of use for the software? I can't answer this specifically for all of them.....but I can make some broad generalizations...
Based on what I have read, if I owned a Craft Robo Pro II, I would continue to do all my designing in Illustrator, and then cutting from there! The CR PRO software just doesn't have enough flexibility on what you can do with the program. You can do basics with it, and those basics are easy to learn....but it's very limiting.

The Pazzles Program (also known as WinPC Sign Letter) can do welded words easier, and others have found it to be a wonderful program to work with. I have the program, but find Illustrator to be much easier....what's that saying...you can't teach an old dog new tricks??? LOL. I use the WinPC program only to do file conversions for my files that I sell. I don't use it much more than that. I do not like the fact that I have to have that "dongle" plugged in to use the software. I have it installed on 2 computers, and there have been a couple of times that I wasn't able to use the program on my laptop because I left that darn dongle at home! That is very frustrating!

The KNK Studio. I can't tell you a whole lot about it yet, except it seems to be a VERY powerful program. I haven't even touched the surface of it, I'm trying to learn it, and get over my love affair with Illustrator (again, teaching this old dog new tricks!)...but it's coming along! I can definitely see some benefits to the program. I like that I can use any of my Illustrator files. I have also gotten to understand the autovector process a little bit better. (I can actually understand what exactly the "threshold" is, I knew the basics, but understand it in more detail!) The software program and machine do not have the best documentation at this time, but since the machine just shipped last week...that's to be expected!

I can tell you...the KNK machine itself is very heavy duty! I don't worry about it breaking down on me so much as I worried about my Wishblade. My wishblade seemed to be all plastic, and very flexible at that! This one I don't worry about it! It is much sturdier! I can't report on the other two machines, as I don't have one on one experience with the machines.

Any other questions? Post them here...and we can continue to hash it out!

[Penmore]

I've been searching the Internet trying to find out how thick is chipboard so I can plan my projects.

I'm not close to a craft shop so can't pop down and buy some so can somebody please help me with the answer to this question.

How thick is chipboard (in mm please).

Thanks,

Peter

[mcanne007]

Hi Peter;

I have a piece of chipboard that I measured it is 2.5 mm. But, at the craft store that I purchased it they had some thicker and some thinner. You could try an on-line scrapbook store to see what they have. I guess it all depends on the project you are doing how thick you want it to be.

Anne

[Penmore]

Hi Peter;

I have a piece of chipboard that I measured it is 2.5 mm. But, at the craft store that I purchased it they had some thicker and some thinner. You could try an on-line scrapbook store to see what they have. I guess it all depends on the project you are doing how thick you want it to be.

Anne

2.5mm is quite thick but the post above suggest that the KNK machine will cut it:

2. Will it cut Heavy Cardstock? Again...all three machines cut cardstock. The KNK and Pazzles have similar blade systems, while the manufacture blade system on the CRPRO II varies slightly. These machines will all handle various thickness of cardstocks.

If that is the case then I can use the 2.5 mm and thinner chipboard and cut it on a KNK machine. Perhaps PaperThreads will confirm that. :)

Peter

[Shirley803]

I am not Paperthreads (Michelle) but basically, if it is bendable, it is cuttable! It will take more passes for thicker chipboard, but it will cut!