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Which one should I get the Grand Calibur or Big Shot. Pros and Cons of both would be appreciated. I am finally upgrading from the old original Sizzix red machine. What is the biggest size dies a big shot will take?
Thanks for any help here!
If you want to use any of the thick steel rule dies, the Big Shot will handle most any kind of die except those specifically made for machine with a wider opening. (I.e. Big Shot Pro, etc.)
The Grand Caliber is a Spellbinder machine so is made specifically to cut their thin dies. Yes, the opening is wider but cannot accommodate the thick dies.
I have both but use the BS more because it is more versatile. Yes, you might have to buy a metal shim to cut the more detail dies but having a machine that will cut most companies dies is a big plus for me. I am finding the new extended platform useful to cut multiple dies at one time - one of the selling points of the GC. I prefer the extended platform with the clip on 'Tab 2' over the extended multipurpose platform because the clearance (a little over 27") for using the MP with the flip tabs is too large for my crafting area. The extended platform came with my Vagabond and the extended multipurpose platform came with my new BS (wore out the first BS) but the EP can be purchased separately.
Another vote for Big Shot. I have the Pro- I wanted a 'once & forever' upgrade, I was fed up with dies getting bigger than my machine would handle!
The Big Shot takes all dies up to the BIGZ dies,( but not the BS Pro ones), including the ones that were for the Original Red Sizzix machine.
This little Video on the Sizzix site may help you decide between machines.
Another vote for the 'Big Shot!!!" This past summer I was also deciding on the Grand Calibur or the Big Shot, and I ended up going with the Big Shot. No regrets here!!
One thing to consider is the 'footprint'. The Big Shot has a nice solid flat base, so won't move about whilst you are cranking.(14 1/4") When I was looking at the various machines, I happened to go to a Craft Fair. One of the ladies at a retailer was using a Grand Calibur, and it does not have a very wide base.(6 1/4") She did seem to struggle to balance it all as she was feeding the plates through- needed one hand to hold the machine steady, one to crank the machine, and her body to help balance the plates as they went through, then swap to grab the plates as they came out the other side. Definitely seemed like she needed a second pair of hands, lol! Seeing it in use struck it off my possibilities list.
I have both machines but I use my Grand Calibur the most. Mostly because it does suction to the counter top in my crafty room and because the plates are so big. I also don't have many steel-rule dies so the GC is more practical for me. If you have alot of steel-rule dies, then the Grand Calibur is probably not for you because you can't use those dies in that machine. Good luck and let us know what you decide!!
do you mean some of the thin dies won't work in the Grand Calibur? I'm also thinking of going with the GC, for the size of its plate & footprint (very small crafting space)...thought the only restriction was the thicker block type dies.
Steel rule dies are the thick dies (Sizzix Original, Bigz, Bigz XL, Movers and Shapers, and possibly other names). Here's a good explanation from Sizzix: Sizzix Steel Rule Dies in a Big Shot Video
You may want to cut a piece of copy paper the size of the footprint of each machine you're considering to be sure you're not picturing the Big Shot as larger than it actually is.
Another great thing about the BigShot and steel rule dies is that the steel rule dies will cut thicker material if that's something you'd like to be able to do. We're talking chipboard, matboard, etc.
I have a bigshot and a vagabond (which is basically an electric bigshot) and THEY ROCK !!!
__________________ "May your mind whirl joyful cartwheels of creativity." - Jonathan Lockwood Huie.
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