> > Using "De-Sol-It" I remove the adhesive from a light grip cutting mat, as > I find the adhesive too aggressive for very thin materials > Once the adhesive is removed, wash the mat thoroughly; dry well. > I apply a light coat of Elmer's repositionable glue, a "glue stick" style > product, to the mat. > I lay the tissue on the mat. I cover the tissue with a piece of 20# paper, > using masking tape on each corner to adhere the paper to the mat. > I use a "vinyl" setting for the scoring pressure. > This method has been successful for me; preventing the scoring tool from > damaging the very thin paper underlay. >
Many Thanks!!! This is a very helpful tip, as I have had issues with my cutting plotter as well. I don't have a CriCut or CraftRobo, as I wanted something that could take larger paper and have more customization modes. Harder to use out of the box and set up, but more versatility later on, and nowhere near the cost or maintenance of a laser cutter, only slightly more than a CraftRobo, I got a cutter from uscutter.com and I'm mostly happy with it. I've been cutting full size sheets of stardream on it (thickness/consistency similar to elephant hide, 28" x 40" dimension) and I've found that it's great for scoring, and pretty fast too, but for cutting, if the blade encounters a raw edge it will snag and pick up the paper, dragging it into a messy, crumpled jam. The vinyl cutter was made for, well, cutting vinyl, typically one that is bonded to a protective layer that you don't cut through, and I think adding this protective layer as you suggest would solve the problems I've had with cutting paper. -- Win
