Saturday, July 13, 2013

UPDATE: The Aluminum (CB09) Blade Holder - Cutting A Cereal Box

Please read my original post about the CB09 blade holder, otherwise known as the aluminum blade holder.

Ever since I got my Silhouette Cameo, I have been wanting to try to cut heavier materials like a cereal box but I was always afraid to go over 250 gsm although the specifications of the machine states that it has a cutting force of up to 275 gsm. I don't know exactly how many gsm the cereal box has. I did make an attempt once using the Silhouette ratchet blade but it just wouldn't cut all the way through even after quadruple cuts. I was so afraid I might damage my machine so I did not pursue any more attempts.

I recently came across a link to another Silhouette forum, The Silhouette Plus, where my name and my blog was mentioned several times in the topic of alternative blade holders for the Silhouette Cameo. I was elated following the thread as I'm always glad to hear of more successful users of the CB09 blade holder. BTW, my blog post on the  CB09 blade holder is the most popular on my blog which has generated more than 12,000 hits to date (a/o July 2017-112,000 hits). Apparently, more and more people are buying this efficient and more cost effective blade holder. 

Doodling Debbie posted her experience in owning the CB09 blade holder on her blog, Paper Pulse. She has some helpful information on this post. BTW, she has some neat free files on her blog :).

I've read quite a few Cameo users attesting that they are able to successfully cut a cereal box using the Silhouette ratchet blade on a blade setting of 10, thickness 33 and use 'double cut' but I have yet to see any photo proving the claim in spite of several requests. It's not enough for me that the cereal box can be cut as what I'm really more anxious about is if it can be cut cleanly and perfectly. Today, I revisited the cereal box issue but this time, instead of insisting on my 45 degrees blade, I thought of using the 60 degrees blade which is actually meant for thicker materials. I'm so happy to share my very successful experience! As you can see in the photos below, I was able to cut a cereal box with my CB09 blade holder PERFECTLY CLEAN!. My cutting settings in Studio are: blade - 10, thickness - 33, 'double cut' checked. I took a photo of the actual blade holder to show the blade exposure but the photo doesn't quite show the accurate depth. The blade exposure is definitely more than the blade exposure of a Silhouette ratchet blade on a setting of 3 as you are going for a setting of 10. Just do a trial and error tad by tad. The other very important tip is make sure that you use a sticky mat and maximize the width of material according to the width of the machine rollers to secure the material in place while cutting. You can actually adjust the machine rollers to 8.5" wide if you want to use smaller piece of cereal box.

BTW, this project is for DIY embossing folder diffuser, see last photo for sample card. The ones for sale are by Tim Holtz. I would also like to try making the DIY nestabilities, two layers of cereal box should be enough to create a good impression.

I never cared for the other degree blades before as I've only been cutting regular card stocks, up to 230 gsm, all of which can be cut very nicely with the 45 degrees blade. I've been stocking only on 45 degrees and I only have one 60 degrees which came with the 3 free blades of my very first CB09 blade holder. With this success,  I'm now off to purchase more 60 degrees blades to keep a good supply aside from the 45 degrees.

Happy crafting,
Ligaya













19 comments:

  1. It turned out really good. Although the edges are not real defined I think with a second piece it would be awesome. TFS

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    1. The design I chose for the embossing diffuser technique does not show a good definition of the shape because of the embossing folder that I used.

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  2. Ok - I broke down and purchased the holder and some blades. Would it be ok to contact you if I have a problem with them? for advice or suggestions?

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    1. You most certainly can, Sandy :). I've helped several users on this.

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  3. oooh! Doing a happy dance! Can't wait to try this myself! Thanks for sharing your findings on this Gayle!!

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  4. Thank you for the instructions on using this blade in the Cameo for the first time. Blade is now in and running like a dream, so no going back to the SIL ratchet blade for me, these are awesome, and will certainly save me heaps of money.

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  5. Great information,thanks for sharing,I got the Cb09 blade holder and blades I followed the instructions from Sracps of Faith and Paper Pulse and my first cuts turned awesome.Love your blog,I signed up for email updates.
    Blessing's Jocelan

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  6. Gayle thanks so much for this update. I'm off to order 60 degree blades for my holder. I'm thrilled with how it works.
    Sue
    Upstate NY

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  7. Hi Gayle!!!! I'm happy with everything that I can learn on your blog!I have seen this post on this blade and although he had asked for a new one on the way,
    I think I will ask for this to suggest too, as sometimes with some intricate cuts makes me no good. because either it breaks or fails to cut paper parts, and that's frustrating.
    This blade CB09 also has to regulate cutting numbers?
    I hope you understand!! hugs Adriana

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  8. how you know which blade depth is for vynil, cardstock, clear sticker paper,coverstock,..etc ?
    Original Silhuette blade have 10 different numbers, but CB09 dont have any numbers...

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  9. Original Silhuette Cameo blade have 10 different number....

    But: CB109 dont have any number...and for different materials yu need different blade depth...(blade settings)
    How you know/how you adjust - where is right settings by DB09 for vynil,cardstock, print paper....etc?
    thx
    alliaj

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  10. Thank you for help me. I work today with the new blades and it is greatfull. You take a lot of time for instruction me and it work. Thank thank thanks. Ingeborg

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  11. Basing on your post, you've been using CB09 for about 2 years without any problems like damage to the hardware. I was wondering if you know anybody who have used it longer? I've been using it for quite a while too but my usage is not a good basis because I'm not a heavy user. Looking at the engineering of Cameo cutter, the weight of the aluminum blade will only help to the downward pressure. The only thing I could think of is the spring pulling it up may weaken over time (which is an easy fix if it happens).

    Just to add, I placed a sticker on my CB09 that makes adjusting it easier. What I did is I compared the blade depth to the original plastic holders setting it to #3 and mark it and I discovered that by turning my CB09 about 5/8", I got almost the right depth for 2 then to one. I just tested 1-4 so I created a sticker, equally spaced every 5/8" it exactly lined up to 10 all around. I just checked #1-4 though but will test it as needed. atleast I have a guide reference numbers for next project. I have a picture to post for people to see but I cant on this blog.

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    1. Hi. Is there a way you can share this with us? Thanks.

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    2. I have been using the CB09 since the time I had my first Silhouette machine, the SD, in 2011 and now with my Cameo. I haven't had any problems with my machines. I haven't heard nor read any reported damage caused by the CB09. I will surely have heard of something if this has has actually happened as my CB09 blog post has had about 70,000 hits.

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    3. It's just too bad that you posted anonymously as I would like very much to see the photo that you mentioned about the sticker that you created as a guide in the blade holder adjustment. That is the only thing lacking in the efficiency of the CB09. If only there can be a numbered guide just like the Silhouette ratchet blade.

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  12. I am so glad I have found this page. I am wondering if you could help me with an issue I am having with the CB09 blade? Every time I use this blade, it leaves a cutting trail on whatever I am cutting. I have tried only the tiniest bit of blade out and it still does it? Is there anything I can do to get rid of this and be able to use this blade? Thank you.

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    1. Hi Diane. You did not leave your email address so I couldn't email you back. I hope you get to read my reply. That cutting streak is a glitch in the Studio software which was corrected in an update. Jut make sure that you update your software to the current version. This has nothing to do with the CB09.

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  13. I know this post is old, but I had to thank you for it! Due to a need to cut many different custom stencils, I was lucky enough to be able to purchase a Cameo for work - who wouldn't love the opportunity to buy something like this with someone else's money! (At a cost of $20 per stencil to have them made for us, it didn't take long to make up the cost of the machine.) But the oilboard that we use for the stencils really does a number on the Silhouette blades AND I have to quadruple cut to get them to cut reliably. Found your post, bought some of the 45 and 60 degree blades and the 60 degree blades work GREAT. I even have some thick clear material (it's actually for binder covers, but it works great for stencils) and the 60 degree blade cuts intricate designs in that - the Silhouette blades would only cut fairly simple designs and again, only if I quadruple cut. The CB09 blades are so much cheaper, and are going to cut my cutting time in half. I am doing a happy dance here, right now :)

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