OK- if you didn’t understand the title of this post, you probably won’t be too interested in today’s post. But if you DO die cut- on a Cuttlebug or even an eBosser- then you’ll be SUPER interested.
You know how your cutting plates get all warped and trashed? Well, Nancy from ScrapHappens (BrujaRose.blogspot.com) was poking around the interwebs and heard a rumor that you could heat up your B plates and flatten them out (thereby getting more use from them.) And who wouldn’t like to save a few dollars!??
So she made this video!
I really appreciated this- and I’m making Nancy an honorary CraftTestDummy!
I do have to add the disclaimer that I didn’t try this out myself, so any questions you might have please ask Nancy herself on her blog OR her YouTube Channel. 🙂Â
Would you try this? I might- just to make them easier to get through the machine.
OH, and another tip- use BOTH sides of the B plate…it will extend the life of the plate and keep it from warping so quickly!
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I have another comment to add. I label my bottom plate using a Sharpie, “Bottom” to be sure that I only use it for the bottom and of course you need to use both sides. I do the same for the “Top”. Once the bottom plate becomes severely etched, I trash it and change the word “Top” to say, “Bottom” and open a new pack and label a new “Top” plate.
I did have such a giggle when Nancy showed her plates saying they were badly warped etc…..Nancy doesn’t want to see mine! Lol…..they are atrocious!!!! I’m definitely going to have a play around with this. Thanks for sharing. Lee x
I wonder if you have one that would be trashed anyway, if you layer it in heavy duty foil and use a dry iron, checking to see the progress, if it would smooth out the rough spots?
I normally don’t take the time to watch video’s – unless it is something I am researching – but I did watch this one. This is interesting. I do use both sides of my B plates and apparently have not used them as much as she used hers. Since the craft stores occasionally have 40% off I would just wait and buy a new set then (actually I already did). I agree with what you said – if my plates were seriously bent I might try this just to straighten them a bit. But I would still have a spare set on standby.
Thanks for sharing this video! It was interesting and informative.
Personally, I wouldn’t do this, even though the heat used is low. Anytime you heat non foodsafe plastic you run the risk of releasing toxic fumes. They may not be discernable, but they can cause problems with some folks. I use a craft oven with ” for crafting only” containers and utensils in a sheltered area outside for polymer clay and anything plastic. I was exposed to lots of toxins in my job, have had some training and am probably too paranoid about this, but it’s worth thinking about, especially if you have someone in your family with allergies. I enjoyed Nancy’s video in any case and subscribed to her channel! Thanks, Jenny!!!
Nice job following thru with your curiosity. I would not do this either. The main reason why is because of invisible but toxic fumes and particulates that can potentially embed into your oven surface, racks, utensils, and the air you breathe. Then by touching, rubbing and sanding the plastic plates, you release more toxins into your own skin and possibly into your airway and lungs. But I do relate to curiosity and finding answers. However, with me, chemistry and microbiology stop me from doing things like this. Hope all is ok!!!
The toxic fumes concern me too. I rotate my plates, front & back, using one for cutting until it breaks. Then using the top for the bottom and a new plate for the top. Using a 40% or even a 50% coupon on them, they aren’t very expensive. When they do break, they aren’t that much of a hazzard. They aren’t as sharp as glass.
I’m just so chuffed that you shared my little learning experience!! It’s been lots of fun to see the variety of comments and even more suggestions than I ever thought of! I’ve got loads of other fun things in store for 2014 and I’m so excited to have found a favorite of the year in CTD’s!! I find it so sweet that people are concerned about the amount of pollution I am exposing myself to by cooking a couple of small plastic plates for a few minutes. Isn’t it funny what a wide audience of people YouTube brings into our lives? I value the info about the plastic toxins. That being said, my line of work and lifestyle put me in close contact with hazardous things like deadly bacteria, viral meningitis, MRSA, c-dif. VRE and grizzly bears. Not to mention that all of us expose ourselves to the chance of fatal motor-vehicle accidents every single day. Life is full of very scary, potentially dangerous things. I’ll take my chances with a tiny bit of sanded plastic dust in the name of paper-crafting adventures, any day. 🙂
Because of the fume issue, I can’t risk trying this right now with 4 parrots living in the house. They are notoriously sensitive to fumes and have been known to drop dead from overheated Teflon pan fumes. I may try this in the summer, though, when I can have the kitchen windows open. (It’s -14C/8F where I live now.)?