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I just bought a new Fiskars cutter a few weeks ago. From the minute I started cutting with it, it frayed the edges of Very Vanilla and Whisper White. I changed the blade to the replacement blade that came in the package and it did the same thing. Ugh. Last weekend, while away at a stamp retreat, it was still fraying so my girlfriend gave me one of hers (my cutter takes the Triple Track blades, hers takes the normal Fiskers blade). I tried it, and magically, no frayed edges. I thought maybe I just got a bad batch of blades. Well, lo and behold, today I go buy new blades because the one I borrowed from my friend needed changing. I put the new blade in, and, dang-nabbit, frayed edges again!!!!! I am SO frustrated, I could scream. What the heck is happening?????? For some reason, these Fiskars cutters don't like SU Very Vanilla and Whisper White!!!! I don't know what to do. I don't have the receipt anymore, but I'm tempted to write to Fiskers to find out what the problem could be. I know this subject came up recently, but I can't find the thread. Can anyone help out before I toss this good-for-nothin' cutter out the window??????? I'm tired of trimming frayed edges!!!!
I feel for you, but you really should write to Fiskars. I did with a deckle scissors I had many years ago and they replaced it, no problem. But in the mean-time I use on my paper when my blades start to fray the paper (and extend the life of my blades) I use those white sanding blocks found in the S.U. catty or the cosmetic dept at Wal-Mart or maybe even a dollar store to take the fray off. In a pinch you could always use a nail file. Good luck!
__________________ ~Mary Ann~
"It's the life in your years,
not the years in your life." -Abraham Lincoln
I had the same trouble with my fiskar, I got so fed up I bought the tonic cutter from the new SU catty and can only say it's the BEST MONEY I'VE SPENT on this craft. PERFECT cuts EVERY time!!!!
OK, gals for those of you who can't go out and afford to buy a new cutter BUT own a Fiskars one, I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. If you want clean edges put a piece of computer paper under the sheet you are cutting and your edges will turn out sharp enough to kill ya! I don't know why, but my demo told me that trick as I was cussing a blue streak at mine one day. I have yet to change the blade (6 months later). Cuts well every time. Make sure that you move the paper over everytime you make a new cut. Trust me, let me know after you have tried this whether it works for you.
I have the big cutter from the SU catty too and it's WONDERFUL. A good rotary cutter also works awesome on Whisper White and Very Vanilla so no frayed edges w/ those either.
I don't have too much trouble using my Fiskars cutter w/ WW and VV but I can tell when the blade starts to dull as the edges start fraying. A quick swipe w/ a sanding block on the CS edges fixes that tho.
I'm told the reason why those 2 particular CS's fray is b/c of the virgin fibre and cotton (I'm told they do contain cotton - I could be wrong on that one tho) content.
But, for those of you who have the old fiskars cutter - did you know you can take the blade out and turn it around and the other side cuts like new? Another SCS member told me that like a year ago! So you can double the life of that orange cutter blade!
OK, gals for those of you who can't go out and afford to buy a new cutter BUT own a Fiskars one, I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. If you want clean edges put a piece of computer paper under the sheet you are cutting and your edges will turn out sharp enough to kill ya! I don't know why, but my demo told me that trick as I was cussing a blue streak at mine one day. I have yet to change the blade (6 months later). Cuts well every time. Make sure that you move the paper over everytime you make a new cut. Trust me, let me know after you have tried this whether it works for you.
PS. worked for my sisters cutter too.
This works for me too...I hate it when I forget to add the extra paper though!
Man, I'm going to have to try this trick. I too have found that the WW and VV cardstock I've gotten in the past couple of months has been fraying. It never did before.
II'm told the reason why those 2 particular CS's fray is b/c of the virgin fibre and cotton (I'm told they do contain cotton - I could be wrong on that one tho) content.
That's what I was told, too -- ironically it's the high quality of the fibers in SU! cardstock (specifically the white and vanilla, which are "ultrasmooth") that can lead to frayed edges with the slide-track trimmers.
__________________ Rachel Proud SU! demo and Sci-Fi Geek!
My Stampin' Up! blog "I'm a time traveler -- I point and laugh at archaeologists." 10th Doctor, "Silence in the Library"
My Fiskars does the same thing, and I KNOW it's not an old blade. It was fraying so I replaced it, and it STILL does it. I don't think it always did though, so how does that make sense? It's not all paper but definitely SU white and some of my patterned paper, too. I'll try the paper trick, but that's still a pain! I think contacting Fiskars is a good idea becuase it should WORK the way it is supposed to.
Do you really want to always have to put computer paper under your paper? I invested in a genesis paper trimmer a couple of years ago and it is soooo worth the money.
__________________ Dear Paperlicious is my blog...with a series on how I'm learning to improve my cardmaking by studying others.
I got to try the new guillotine-style paper cutter that SU! has at one of my upline's training meetings -- no more frayed edges, and you can cut multiple sheets of cardstock at once! I'm crossing my fingers that Santa brings me one of these awesome trimmers! :mrgreen:
__________________ Rachel Proud SU! demo and Sci-Fi Geek!
My Stampin' Up! blog "I'm a time traveler -- I point and laugh at archaeologists." 10th Doctor, "Silence in the Library"
Here's a little trick I learned about my Fiskars Rotary cutter----check the little strip of matt UNDER the cutting blade...it is NOT self-healing and gets a little *groove* in it from cutting, thus causing frayed edges. You can take these out and turn them and/or buy replacement mats from JoAnns.com. I also invested in the Tonic Cutter, but get frayed edges more with this...just have to learn the little techniques with each.
thanks ladies! There are some good tips in this thread that I am going to try before I contact Fiskars. In the meantime, maybe Santa will bring me a new Tonic (I don't even know what this is, but if you guys endorse it, it must be good!!!)
Actually, I noticed a difference between the triple track blades and the older blades too, when using the older blades in the triple track trimmer. The older blades seem to cut the Whisper White and Very Vanilla better.
My guess is that because the triple track blades sit farther down in the track, they actually push the fibers more as it cuts, whereas the old blades have only the tip working the cardstock.
Do you really want to always have to put computer paper under your paper? I invested in a genesis paper trimmer a couple of years ago and it is soooo worth the money.
YES I DO! I own the darn thing and want to spend my $$ on the fun stuff, not just paper cutters. It's bought and paid for, so I may as well use it if it's here and I know how I can get it to work well. It's a bit of a hassle, but still better than trying to do it with scissors!!!!
Well, if the rotary cutter just causes to much more frustration, find the JoAnn's coupon for 40% off or free shipping and get the Tonic!
I have a fancy big Carl, a big Fiskars and two other smaller ones, they all have one problem or the other. I bought the Tonic for $38 with a coupon and the price was total with shipping and all! It was worth more, to just be able to *cut* paper smoothly, fast with no problems. And, I can sit and still be able to use it!
I have the smaller one on the way to keep at my fingertips.
__________________ Karen
...My life is like a stroll on the beach...As near to the edge as I can go...Thoreau...
I'm really liking my Tonic cutter, and got it on JoAnn's .com with a coupon. I still use my triple track Fiskars cutter for some things, but figure I'll save $$ in replacement blades for it, since I'm not using it so much. The Tonic cutter sure works great when doing multiples of cards....!
My Fiskars does the same thing, and I KNOW it's not an old blade. It was fraying so I replaced it, and it STILL does it. I don't think it always did though, so how does that make sense? It's not all paper but definitely SU white and some of my patterned paper, too. I'll try the paper trick, but that's still a pain! I think contacting Fiskars is a good idea becuase it should WORK the way it is supposed to.
Cindy
WONDERFUL tip. TFS, For me though I couldn't get over wasting all the computer paper as I am queen of cheep!!!!! I figure what I'd spend in paper over time would have paid for my new cutter.
What I do is keep some pieces of computer paper that I had already used and don't need anymore at my scrapping table, then I use it to stamp off on before I clean my stamps. After the paper gets all covered with old ink and stamped off images, then it becomes my cutter shim paper. That way I'm not wasting the computer paper, but using it until there's nothing left to use
From what I've observed on my own, it seems to be a combination of the WW and VV paper (the content of the paper, which gives it that velvety super smooth surface), and the type of blade used to cut it.
I don't have problems with my Carl DC220 when cutting it, but any time I use a slide track blade, like the Fiskars, frayed edges occur.
So, I cut it on my Carl whenever possible, and if I have to use the Fiskars Triple Track for small pieces, I just sand the edges quickly.
I love my Fiskars Triple Track
I love my Carl
I love VV and WW paper
And, refuse to give any of them up, so I'm willing to adjust a little.
__________________ Julie Ebersole (JulieHRR once upon a time . . . )julieebersole.com"So shines a good deed in a weary world." -Willy Wonka
The black track strip on mine is warped from cutting! Can that strip be replaced or should I be taking it back for an exchange?? I mean this cutter cant' be more than a month and a half old. It's the new fiskars one. Any suggestions? I am tired of constantly buying new cutters and having them suck!
The black track strip on mine is warped from cutting! Can that strip be replaced or should I be taking it back for an exchange?? I mean this cutter cant' be more than a month and a half old. It's the new fiskars one. Any suggestions? I am tired of constantly buying new cutters and having them suck!
Are we talkin' a rotary design type or sliding track style?
If it's rotary, I'd be surprised if you weren't able to buy replacement strips.
Have you checked Fiskars' site? There's gotta be some info there . . .
__________________ Julie Ebersole (JulieHRR once upon a time . . . )julieebersole.com"So shines a good deed in a weary world." -Willy Wonka
Check my previous reply in this thread.... you can get those replacement *matts* from Joann.com... or just turn it around until you have it all used up. That's what I have done, and now I have ordered replacements.
I took avonlea's suggestion and contacted Fiskars. They are mailing me some new blades...said that it must be a bad batch of blades. I told them thanks! Will see if that helps although I doubt it!
I have the fiskar rotary cutter that I got at BJ's and I can not make it work, at all. I put the paper in, clamp the blade part down, push the cutter down, and run it all the way through and it does not cut the paper at all. No clue what I am doing wrong with it, but got so frustrated I got the Tonic cutter. I am much happier with it. Now I have the fiskar one sitting there collecting dust. Guess I should put it on the BST forum. Oh well. Live and learn. No clue how you ladies get it to work.
__________________ Lisa C., Mom to 3 great kids, 3 super dogs and an cat that thinks she is a dog! My Gallery
I have the fiskar rotary cutter that I got at BJ's and I can not make it work, at all. I put the paper in, clamp the blade part down, push the cutter down, and run it all the way through and it does not cut the paper at all. No clue what I am doing wrong with it, but got so frustrated I got the Tonic cutter. I am much happier with it. Now I have the fiskar one sitting there collecting dust. Guess I should put it on the BST forum. Oh well. Live and learn. No clue how you ladies get it to work.
Does you Fiskar cutter have a Blade in it?
I know when I purchased mine from Sams club it did not have a blade...And I didn't know that it didn't have one.
The box stated that it came with one cutting blade and one scoring blade. I got neither.
OK, gals for those of you who can't go out and afford to buy a new cutter BUT own a Fiskars one, I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. If you want clean edges put a piece of computer paper under the sheet you are cutting and your edges will turn out sharp enough to kill ya! I don't know why, but my demo told me that trick as I was cussing a blue streak at mine one day. I have yet to change the blade (6 months later). Cuts well every time. Make sure that you move the paper over everytime you make a new cut. Trust me, let me know after you have tried this whether it works for you.
I know when I purchased mine from Sams club it did not have a blade...And I didn't know that it didn't have one.
The box stated that it came with one cutting blade and one scoring blade. I got neither.
yes, mine had both blades, tried putting in the cutting blade and cutting, no luck, tried the scoring blade to score, no luck..like it isn't hitting the paper or something
__________________ Lisa C., Mom to 3 great kids, 3 super dogs and an cat that thinks she is a dog! My Gallery
I've had my Fiskars Triple Track for over 2 years now, and never had a problem with it until last summer. I bought a pkg of BRAND NEW blades and the first one I put in frayed the edges of any paper I tried to cut (none of it was SU papers, either). Sooo, I changed out the blade to the other one in the pkg, and it cut smoothly with no problems. I just figure Fiskars must have had a problem with their blade metal or something. I have not had any more trouble out of my trimmer since then.
To whomever shared the tip about putting computer paper underneath: I will definitely remember that if I have any more problems. Thanks for sharing that great tip! :-)
Here's a little trick I learned about my Fiskars Rotary cutter----check the little strip of matt UNDER the cutting blade...it is NOT self-healing and gets a little *groove* in it from cutting, thus causing frayed edges. You can take these out and turn them and/or buy replacement mats from JoAnns.com. I also invested in the Tonic Cutter, but get frayed edges more with this...just have to learn the little techniques with each.
THIS WORKED FOR ME!!!
__________________
To love what we do and share what we love, as we help others enjoy creativity and worthwhile accomplishments... in this we make a difference!
yes, mine had both blades, tried putting in the cutting blade and cutting, no luck, tried the scoring blade to score, no luck..like it isn't hitting the paper or something
Sounds like the handle isn't locking into position when you are cutting.
Mine is like this one...Just different color's
If this isn't the problem contact Fiskar about it.
I also found this one the Website you might want to check out.
Tired of trimming frayed edges of cardstock!
