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boy, am I disappointed with the Martha Stewart Border Punches, they do not go through SU card stock without being forced. I wish she had an open phone line on her show, as I would call her and complain. There was an 800 number to call but some say that when they get the replacement punches, they to are defective.
I've only had one punch that was defective. But I returned it no problem and the replacement one I got has been perfect. I use pretty much only SU or heavyweight cardstock and other than that one punch I've never had an issue with them and I've got about a dozen MS punches!
Oh and I've bought them from both Michaels and WalMart - the only difference being the color (white from Michaels and green from WM).
Martha Stewart punches are made by EK Success - EK makes Stampin' Up!'s punches as well as a ton under their own name.
I have a couple of the MS border punches, and although I had read in the past on this forum about others having problems with them punching through cardstock, I had not experienced that. BUT I just got the fence border punch recently. It cut through my white (non SU) cardstock with ease. But when I tried to punch through SU cardstock - geez! I almost had to stand on it to get it to punch. And I was punching almost 100 of these things one day. By the time I was done, I had a blister on my hand from pushing on the handle so hard. I don't know if it's because that punch is so intricate or I just got a bad one. I have considered exchanging it to see if I can get one that works better.
I returned one punch to M. I & the salesperson tried the same punch before I would exchange it. It did not even work on register paper. Took a different punch.
I haven't had any trouble getting her border punches to go through SU! card stock. Guess I have been lucky.
It's those lousy Fiskars border punches that I can not get to go through ANY card stock. I just broke the only one I had and I actually was GLAD to be rid of it!:twisted:
I was sick of just having it sitting there and not being used.
Someone please tell me why are they so popular?:confused: Are people just using the Fiskars on patterned paper?
__________________ "The smallest feline is a masterpiece".... Leonardo da Vince
I haven't had any trouble getting her border punches to go through SU! card stock. Guess I have been lucky.
It's those lousy Fiskars border punches that I can not get to go through ANY card stock. I just broke the only one I had and I actually was GLAD to be rid of it!:twisted:
I was sick of just having it sitting there and not being used.
Someone please tell me why are they so popular?:confused: Are people just using the Fiskars on patterned paper?
I've got one of the Fiskars border punches (the scalloped one with the holes in each scallop) and I've never had a problem with it. It's been used on heavyweight CS ever time without a problem!
Hmmmmmm, I'm not quite sure about the "defective" thing. Of course, since it's broken already, I can't tell if it was the rotten apple in the barrel, so to speak.
But I do know this. My firend also broke 2 of them and our stamping teacher broke one in class. She is a SU! demo , so she uses SU! card stock of course. She broke HERS while she was trying to show my friend (the one who broke 2 of them) and I how to use them! LOL! I guess our "group" is doomed where these are concerned.
:-D It was actually pretty funny to see. There we were, with my friend saying how she couldn't get them to work and that she broke them. Then the teacher tries to show us and she breaks her own! You should have seen her face! Priceless!:-D LOL!
__________________ "The smallest feline is a masterpiece".... Leonardo da Vince
I've had quite a few MS border punches and Fiskers border punches. Can only use light-weight paper with all. And-----out of the blue----they'll 'freeze up."
Wouldn't buy any again (either brand). Overpriced, and don't consistently work.
I have only one MS and a bunch of fiskars and have not had problems with any of them, I only use Bazzill cardstock though, although it is heavy cardstock.
Fiskars - hate to say it but they stink. All around. Don't know why. Really wanna support them but............
Martha - works best on paper and light cardstock. The more detailed and intricate the design - the worse it is on cardstock. Stick to paper. Sounds unfair, I know, they should work great on everything. But her designs are so beautiful..........I'm torn!!!!!
I have Fiskars, MS, & EK Success punches and I haven't had any problem punching through any type of cardstock - yet. I have some 130lb Neena cardstock I haven't tried them on yet.
i just bought the MS fence punch, It is fantastic! I use PTI cardstock which is quite thick and it works Great. If it did stick I put in my freezer overnight and its fine the next morning.
I just broke my second lace doily punch. The first one seized up on me, and then cracked after I tried the freezer suggestion (so be cautious with that one) I had the 2nd one about 6 months before it broke. The plastic casing over the metal punch part cracked, and the whole top fell apart. (Use caution if you lean on that part of the punch with one hand while closing the handle with the other) I just contacted customer service at martha stewart. It's a shame, because I love her punch designs, but I don't think I'll get another one unless that's what they offer me.
Mmmm you see i love them and it breaks my heart to say it but i have a few and none of them will punch through heavy cardstock! I have to buy the same or as close to colours of lightweight card and papers so i can use my punches, i've nearly broke my lace doliy trying to get it through card, and if i lean on the top and the handle it gets so far then stops and i can't get no further. I love the look of them so much but i'm so so dissapointed in them as for fiskars well don't get me started on them!! i've thrown so many away it's unreal, not to mention MS and Fiskars are not great for people like me that suffer with painfull hands, they could be designed a bit better, and definatly be stronger..............so why oh why do i still want them all?
Hugs
Tizzy xxxx
I've had nothing but defective punches and returned them all to Mike's.
Oh no, not happy to hear this. I just bought my FIRST MS punch last night. Haven't used it yet but I'll be sure to try it out this weekend and see how it does.
I bought the spider web corner/border and the loopy set as well.. I only use Stampin' Up! cardstock and haven't had any issues at all. I have lots of cards on my blog and in my gallery that I posted using the punches. They are a lot of fun!
MY BLOG *on my blog I usually post two pictures of the cards.
I just bought a Monarch butterfly double punch - it doesn't quite punch the entire butterfly out of the cardstock - there are a couple of "chads" at the tip of the wings....I'm really disappointed because I love the punch.
I just bought a Monarch butterfly double punch - it doesn't quite punch the entire butterfly out of the cardstock - there are a couple of "chads" at the tip of the wings....I'm really disappointed because I love the punch.
Teri
Should have investigated before I posted this - I found out from the franticstamper website that this is normal....!
I bought two lace doily MS punches...one from Wal-Mart's and then one from Michael's using my coupon. I was so happy to have saved 40% off the price, but the one from Michael's didn't work and I had to return it. I love the patterns of MS punches, but I hesitate to buy more. I expect better quality from MS and Fiskars!
__________________ Never underestimate the value of the little moment.
I will never waste another cent on the MS punches. I personally think they are useless. I bought 2 of them. Only used them on DSP and now none of the work. They are in the garbage where they belong. One was exchanged and the replacement quit working.
The other was just garbage from when I first bought it. It worked not the greatest for a bit and then nothing.
I'm really surprised to read this. I have 50 of them and never had a problem. I have maybe 2 that are hard to punch so I just sit them on my desk and push the handle. I have at least a couple of the double punches and a few of the embossing ones. I only use SU! card stock or PTI white. I've only had to return 1. I have also purchased the majority from Mike's, a few from Frantic Stamper and maybe 3-5 from WM. My 5.5yo also plays with some of them and hasn't had any problems.
I just bought a Monarch butterfly double punch - it doesn't quite punch the entire butterfly out of the cardstock - there are a couple of "chads" at the tip of the wings....I'm really disappointed because I love the punch.
Teri
I have this butterfly punch as well, and at first I thought it was defective, but after reading the instructions on the box, it says that you need to detach it from the paper after punching, or something like that. I'm thinking there must be a reason for it, just not sure what. I've found that it punches fine and I just have to gently remove the shape from the cardstock and sometimes smooth the detached edge a tiny bit. For me, the more annoying thing is having to clean out all the little pieces from the inside before using it again...
oh no, sounds like there are some bad apples in the MS punch barrel. I just ordered the lace doily one this morning! Will just have to cross my fingers and pray that mine is fine. I'm not in the States so I don't know if returns will be possible... :\
Wow! I've got a dozen of the border punches and about that many of the single punches of MS and I've not had any problems! YAY for me but BOO for y'all with the problems. I'm sure quality assurance isn't their number one priority there. Which stinks!
So, *knocks on wood*, I'll keep buying them until I get a whole big bucket of fail punches. I LOVE them!
I've had several MS punches and never had a problem until today. The lace doily stamp worked just fine two days ago and today.....no go. Won't hardly go through typing paper and is making a weird noise as well. I guess I'll try to return to M's and see what they say.
__________________ Ann Here is my oily blog! CLICK HERE Certified Copic Instructor - Local ClassesI love cars, stamping and essential oils!
There's another thread somewhere here on SCS that talks about using graphite powder to condition your MS punches. You can buy the graphite powder at an automotive store or the automotive department at the bigger stores. It comes in a tube and has a very small opening. Sprinkle just a touch on your punch mechanics and give it a whirl with scrap paper. The ladies swear by it. I'm going to get some this weekend and try it. HTH
There's another thread somewhere here on SCS that talks about using graphite powder to condition your MS punches. You can buy the graphite powder at an automotive store or the automotive department at the bigger stores. It comes in a tube and has a very small opening. Sprinkle just a touch on your punch mechanics and give it a whirl with scrap paper. The ladies swear by it. I'm going to get some this weekend and try it. HTH
Interesting tip, but isn't that messy? Sounds like the graphite would get into the mechanism and create an ongoing problem of dirtying the paper. Don't know, just wondering. Do you have a link to that thread?
Supposedly not if you "clean" it by punching through scrap paper first. Look for the response from "Linda in St. Louis" toward the bottom of this thread.
martha stewart punches
