Big Shot Q & A

1. What is the Big Shot?
The Big Shot is a manual die-cutting system that you can use for a number of projects and crafts. The simplicity of the Big Shot makes it a great addition to any one's crafting hobby.

2. How does the Big Shot work?
Using steel-ruled and chemically-etched dies, the Big Shot cuts out images by passing card stock and other materials through rollers that utilize pressure to cut through the materials. With just a couple turns of the handle, you'll be able to cut through a wide variety of materials. The Big Shot also comes with special cutting pads and a cutting platform that not only make the Big Shot safer and easier to use, but also lengthen the life of the product

3. What are the different types of dies that you can use with the Big Shot?
Currently, the Big Shot utilizes two types of dies: steel-ruled and chemically-etched.

Steel-ruled: When you think of steel-ruled dies, think of cookie cutters--they both work on the same principle. Steel-ruled dies are made by embedding an elongated razor blade into a hard wood base and then covering that blade with foam for safety. When the die is passed through the Big Shot, the foam is compressed and the blade punches through the material being cut. Because steel-ruled dies use a blade, you can cut more types of material as well as multiple layers of that material. Additionally, the cutting blades can also be designed with scoring blades to create fold lines.

Chemically-etched: Unlike steel-ruled dies, chemically-etched dies can cut intricate designs. To create these dies, elaborate designs are etched into the metal using chemicals to burn away the unwanted metal. While these dies can create more intricate designs, they cannot cut as many types of materials nor can they cut multiple layers of material.

4. I have dies from other companies; can I use them with the Big Shot?
Yes, you can. The Big Shot is the most versatile die-cutting machine on the market today. Using the multi-purpose platform, you can use dies, embossing plates, and other products from a wide variety of sources.

5. I've heard that you can run multiple sheets of card stock through the Big Shot at the same time.
How many can I run through at once?
Using the steel-ruled dies, you can run multiple sheets of card stock through the Big Shot. The number of sheets depends on the die being used. Simple shape dies--dies that do not have perforation or scoring--can cut through up to eight sheets of card stock at once. Dies that feature perforation or scoring or that are more detailed may not produce the exact cuts when cutting multiples. You'll want to experiment and see how many sheets you are comfortable passing through the Big Shot at once to get the desired effect. Chemically-etched dies should only be used to cut one sheet of card stock or paper at a time.

6. What materials can I cut with the Big Shot?
You can cut over 50 types of material using the Big Shot. Click here for a complete list of materials. 
A good rule of thumb is that if you can cut the material with your Craft and Rubber scissors, you can cut it with the Big Shot.

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