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So I had pretty much given up ever using my McGill punches let alone purchasing more - until I was visiting the new papercrafting section at A.C. Moore, that is. Yep, I was suckered in - got the cutest layered butterfly and layered fleur de lis among one or two others.
Like all McGill punches (in my experience), they are a little tough to use on very thing paper and a real bear on good cs.
All this to say, what do you think of the strongarm? Anyone have any experience with it? Worth the small investment? Or should I have left these new McGills on the peg at the store b/c it's a hopeless cause?
In case you don't know what I"m talking about and are curious, here's a link to one place that sells it:
I used to use an earlier version of that before I just got rid of all of the non-lever punches. It worked really well, but it does take up a lot of space. Of course, you can't flip the punch over and see where you're punching like you can with the clever lever ones.
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My friend had one and it worked great. I have a few of the older punches that are unique and I can't find them in the lever style. My friend sold her's so I can't borrow it so I've been looking around for one of these strong arms.
I have the Strong Arm and another similar tool and haven't mastered how to make either 'work' consistently for me.
Don't know how your balance/mobility is but I have placed the large button punches on a non-skid mat (jar opener rubber thingy or a piece of non-skid shelf liner) on the floor, inserted c/s and stepped on the button area. You can do this in a doorway or near a counter so you would have something to hold onto as you step on the punch) If the button is large, you can turn the punch over and see where on your c/s the image is located.
I also have a small piece of wood (only slightly larger than the button) that I place on the button, lean on it after placing the punch with c/s on a non-skid surface. Learned this tip years ago and doesn't cost much since the wood was a scrap and you also, don't really have a storage problem.
As the OP stated, some of the McGill punches are unique and can't be found in a Fiskar or lever punch. Have a punch I use for the Spirelli technique (loop thread around petals or scallops) that is hard to use by the conventional method but the 'step-on' technique works for me. I know that OP are using some Spellbinder dies but I don't want to invest is some more flower dies just yet.
I have a strong arm that I got after I purchased the Nellie Snellen embossing punches. And I can honestly say that there is no way I could use any of the McGill style punches without it!!
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I have a lot of the old punches. I still use them because I still do "punch art" . I have a "punch helper" that my deceased SIL made for me. He was a wood-worker so it is all wood.......... yes, it takes up a lot of space, but I don't use it every day so I keep it stored on a shelf in the attic. My craft area is a room in the attic so these shelves are very handy. I do like the style of punches but I will still use my other stash and my "punch helper".
I have an older version (used, but still in packaging) of this I will sell for $10 (includes shipping within US).
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Wel what do you think of the strongarm??
Any other reviews?
I have been doing the floor thing and stepping on them
would like something a little easier
Quote:
Originally Posted by binx
Okay, so I ordered this morning. I think 7 Kids must be on the west coast, which means I probably ordered while they were still in bed, LOL.
I have a strong arm that I got after I purchased the Nellie Snellen embossing punches. And I can honestly say that there is no way I could use any of the McGill style punches without it!!
So are the Nellie Snellen punches hard to use? I was hoping to get a couple of those next.
It's not that they are so hard to use. It's just that you have to push on them sooooooooooooo hard to get the embossing on them to show up. That's where the Strongarm comes in. HTH!!
__________________ God watches us at all times. Let's try to be entertaining!! (River City Rubber Works)
I have one similar to a strong arm and I use when I remember. Most of the time, if it's a punch that's hard to use, I turn it over, set it on a thin mat or towel on my hardwood floor, and stand on it w/ one foot. Works every time and I haven't broken a punch yet.
Strongarm
