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What I am talking about is the stray 'hair like' strands on the edges or within the cutout portions of a die cut. How do you get rid of them? I know OP just leave then but they bother me. Have used a soft bristle toothbrush, lint picker upper and tweezers but was hoping someone had a quicker, easier method. Asked this on a SU Paper Doily die thread but it got buried within the responses.
TIA
Last edited by Crafter 4 Life; 03-14-2012 at 09:47 AM..
Reason: Correct punctuation
IF I notice them at all, I just pull or rub them off with my finger. Maybe, if they are very intricate die, it requires more "cleaning" up and my finger technique won't work as well? I
Thanks for the replies. I have a Precision File Set by Basic Grey suggested by the owner of my LSS. It has several tiny files that I have tried but was hoping there was a quicker method. Never going to cut large multiplies of the SU doily die-too time consuming.
Some of the ladies in my craft group think I am too picky but I want to be happy with the end product. I want to give something I would be glad to receive. My thought is, otherwise, why bother buying things to enhance your card/scrapbook page or any project.
Last edited by Crafter 4 Life; 03-14-2012 at 11:33 AM..
Reason: add comment
I have one of those foam square nail buffer/files. I will use it on the outside of a die cut, if it looks kind of ragged and bothers me. Stuff in the middle I just pretend I can't see it. (And without my reading glasses, I can't.)
I consider myself fortunate that most of my family and friends are of a "certain age", so they also probably don't notice tiny things on the cards they receive from me.
__________________ Bugga in OK
"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." Dalai Lama
I use your method of a soft bristle toothbrush. I almost produce several of the same die cut at the same time so I take the stack and take a toothbrush to it. I also "fan out" the stack and brush it. I don't do it one by one. Also I have two toothbrushes. One for colors and one for white/cream/very light shades.
I will use my paper scissors and snip lightly around the edge of the die cut. If there are only a few, I will use my file set and sand them down. But I find scissors easier.
CTMH has a set of 3 thin, long, round files that work perfectly for getting into those difficult areas to smooth edges left by die cuts.
I like to use a lot of flourish cuts and doily type backgrounds in my work, and I know what you mean with the "hairs" that are left. These files are 3 different sizes and do just the trick to make it smooth, and it only takes a few seconds to do the trick! Couldn't live without mine; even use them for the kid cut outs when I'm making a Disney or child's image for a card and you want it just right.
Good luck finding what will work for you. You can go to Close to My Heart's website (www.closetomyheart.com) and look through their catalog to see a picture of the product. It's only $5.95 for the set; it will be near the back....
CTMH has a set of 3 thin, long, round files that work perfectly for getting into those difficult areas to smooth edges left by die cuts.
I like to use a lot of flourish cuts and doily type backgrounds in my work, and I know what you mean with the "hairs" that are left. These files are 3 different sizes and do just the trick to make it smooth, and it only takes a few seconds to do the trick! Couldn't live without mine; even use them for the kid cut outs when I'm making a Disney or child's image for a card and you want it just right.
Good luck finding what will work for you. You can go to Close to My Heart's website (Close To My Heart) and look through their catalog to see a picture of the product. It's only $5.95 for the set; it will be near the back....
These "CTMH Finishing files" look interesting. Who is a CTMH dealer here? How much do they charge for shipping?
__________________ "I have not failed . I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work" --Thomas A. Edison
Thanks everyone for your suggestions. The CTMH files sound like the one in my Basic Grey sets. (I couldn't get the online catalog to open for me so I couldn't see them.)
Will try the foam filing box suggestion.
This site is 'da Bomb'!!! Everyone is so generous when the 'help' flag goes up!
I use a firm toothbrush (like for dentures) if the die isn't too delicate. I have also used painter's tape with success. And I use the BG files which I love.
__________________ Linda E
Caution: You are entering an artistic zone. This is not clutter - this is creating. These are not pajamas - it's my work uniform.
i just rub my finger across the edge of the card and they tend to just drop off or i run my nail along the edge.
they are just the compressed fibres that are under the die when they go thru the machine so they are already detached from the die cut just not dropped off.
one way to "fix" this issue (especially with the SU die you mentioned) is to cover your die in contact paper or packing tape. then when you run it you should have a sharper cut and the pieces will fall away easier too.
the problem is that the 'stray hairs' aren't actually attached to the die cut and will just drop off. if you start filing your die cut you could distort the shape of it!
Stray 'hairs' on a die cut
