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Cricut Maker: Cutting Balsa Wood with Knife Blade

Plastic, Leather and Wood

Cricut Maker: Cutting Balsa Wood with Knife Blade

What thicknesses of balsa wood can I cut with the Knife Blade?

  • 1/32"
  • 1/16"
  • 3/32"

What do I look for when buying balsa wood materials?

  • No or minimal bow or warp
  • Minimal blemishes including knots
  • If the wood has a knot, the cuts should be placed so that the blade does not go over the knot.
  • If you use a board, use only individual pieces. Do not use composite parts or parts that have been glued together.
    • If you use composite pieces, you may find inconsistent cuts over the seam, which can cause blade damage. This is because the glue is often harder than the wood itself.
  • Pay attention to the color and grain of the wood; make sure you can buy enough of a similar appearance to complete your project.

How big can my cuts be?

  • Maximum size: 10.5" x 11.5" or 10.5" x 23.5"
  • Minimum size: 0.75" x 0.75" (includes inside and outside cuts)
  • The width of the cuts should not be less than the diameter of a pencil
  • Make sure all cuts are at least 1/4" away from the edge of the wood (if the blades cross the edge of the wood, there is a high chance of blade damage)

What mat or mat should I use?

  •  StrongGrip MAT

How do I prepare the materials?

  • Handle wood with care as it can be very brittle.
  • Protect your work surface. Cut the material to the size needed for the project using a craft knife and safety ruler.
    • Make multiple passes with the craft knife as needed.
  • Remove any stickers or packaging from the wood.
  • Wipe material with a cloth or tack cloth or spray with compressed air to remove dust and stray particles.
  • Mirror images in the Design Space®.
  • If the wood has a bow or warp, position it so the curves go toward the carpet (concave side down).
  • Use a Brayer to create a firm bond between the material and the adhesive mat surface of the machine. Lay the project materials on the mat, then lightly roll the Brayer over the entire surface.
  • Tape all four edges of the material to the carpet within 1" of the corner (blue masking tape or painter's tape recommended).
  • Asegúrese de que todos los cortes estén al menos a 1/4 "de distancia del borde de la madera.
    • If the knife blade crosses the edge of the wood, there is a high probability that it will break.
  • On the Cricut Maker™ machine, move the white star wheels to the right side (more information).
    • If left in place, starwheels can leave an impression on the project material.
  • Make sure that no part of your material is going to go under the rubber rollers (this could cause the machine to stall or error.)
  • Whenever possible, try a cut before cutting your main project.
    • If the edges come out rough, replace the blade before the final cut.

How long will my cuts take?

Thicker materials require multiple cutting passes with gradually increasing pressure. This means that blade cuts will take much longer than cutting thinner materials with other blades. Design Space will tell you approximately how long a knife blade cut will take.

  1. Once you select a cutting setting and load your carpet for a Knife Blade project, an alert will inform you to expect a longer than usual cutting time.
  2. When the first cut pass is complete, Design Space calculates the expected cut time remaining based on how long the first pass took and how many passes are pre-programmed for that material. It also shows which pass the machine is currently executing and the expected number of total passes.

What should I do while my machine is cutting?

  • Check the machine cut frequently to check the cuts.
  • You may notice that small pieces finish cutting and are no longer held by the mat before all passes are complete. Pause the machine and remove parts as needed.
  • Some images may appear complete before all passes are complete. For best results allow the machine to complete all passes.

Once my cut is complete, what do I do next?

  • Check your cut before removing the mat from the machine, if the cut is still attached to the material, press the Cricut "C" to add an additional cut pass.
  • Carefully remove the tape.
  • Carefully fold the edge of the mat back opposite the grain.
  • Slowly run your fingers between the wood and the mat an inch at a time until the entire piece of wood has been removed from the mat.
  • Expect to see Knife Blade impressions or cuts in the carpet.
    • For best results, if you are cutting multiple of the same images, place the image on different parts of your cutting mat.
  • Examine the cuts to confirm that all pieces have been completely cut.
    • If there are pieces that should have cut but didn't, flip the piece over and use a craft knife to gently follow the cuts until the piece is free.
  • If a piece is not completely cut, do not try to remove it. Pushing the piece could cause it to break.

Problem solving

  • If your material moves as it is cut, your mat may not be sticky enough.
  • If your material is not completely cut, your blade may need to be replaced.
  • Occasionally the machine may stop during the cut, but additional passes are still required. If this happens, follow the on-screen prompts in Design Space®.
    • If the machine continues to stop in the same area, repeat the process. This may take several attempts.
    • If the machine cannot get past this point, there may be imperfections in the material. Remove the material from your machine, discard it, and start the cut again with a new piece of material.
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