I found it difficult to establish cutting specs for my Crafter. apparently the Icraft has more options but here is what I ended up doing:
I selected Loklik Machine (duh) the I chose HTVront as material even though it was some random stuff I’d had sitting around. I selected the material type and then looked at the customize section.
it had a starting point of 6 for HTV glitter so I tried that. that didn’t work. then I increased the pressure to 8.5 - kinda worked but still not great.
I spoke to a friend who used to use a Scan n’ Cut machine and she suggested I put in a different blade. I had been using a fine point (yellow cap) so grabbed what I thought was medium (blue cap) but checked it later and it was the deep cut blade. end result - great cut!!! - so I marked the settings on the packaging of the glitter to remember next time what I’d used.
It seems to me that in addition to Force - Speed - and number of passes - there should be a section to choose or at least shows - what blade is recommended. that would have saved me a ton of headaches. it only takes a minute to switch out the blades.
I’m now curious about the medium blade. but for now? and cutting this rather thick glitter - I’ll stick with the blue cap one. it cut thru where it should have but didn’t cut thru the cover sheet.
I will keep a notebook, but will mark on the labels - the blade type, force, speed, etc.
Perhaps this has been mentioned before but I am new to this and so far hadn’t seen anything on it. so thank you to my friend who used her Scan n Cut knowledge to steer me in the right direction.
I had hoped to find some kind of chart that when comparing cutting instructions on things like Silhouette Studio that list how to SET the blade - I might find something that said if you have to set your blade at 5 - then perhaps you need something more than the fine point blade. 1-5 = blade?, 6-10 = blade? etc?
Hope this makes sense to someone.
My other question is this: do the iCraft and Crafter use the same blade holders?
Hi @mary_sergeant, thank you so much for sharing your process in such detail—it’s incredibly helpful, especially for those of us still figuring out the best settings for different materials. I totally agree: having blade recommendations listed alongside force, speed, and passes would save so much trial and error. Your idea of marking the packaging and keeping a notebook is brilliant—I do the same, and it’s been a lifesaver!
It’s great that switching to the deep cut blade made such a difference. I’ve had similar results with thicker glitter materials too. As for your question about blade holders: yes, the iCraft and Crafter machines do use the same blade holders, so you can swap blades between them without issue.
If you ever test the medium blade, I’d love to hear how it compares! Thanks again for contributing your experience—it’s exactly the kind of insight that helps the whole community grow.
Here is a link from @redhada, for your reference only. Hope it helps! Also, @timmytation , @BellethehowtoGuru, and other Beautiful Ladies may have some notes to share it with you.
For the blade holder, the iCraft has a different blade holder for the Deep Point blade but if you will use a different brand deep point blade like Siser or Roland, you can use the blade holder that came with the machine. This blade holder fits both iCraft amd Crafter.
I actually looked at the blade I chose yesterday and I think I misrepresented it. the cap (which I put in the tray of the Crafter so I’d know which one I used) was RED not BLUE so that would tell me that I used the medium blade and not the deep cut blade.
I bought a package of them on Amazon. some yellow caps, (fine point) some medium - red cap- and some blue. so just to be sure - I’ll do another test today.
If I were to order another blade housing as a spare - you’re telling me that it will fit the Crafter as well as the iCraft? I just found a deal on the iCraft and ordered it after being frustrated in the belief that it was going to be difficult to find another blade housing for the Crafter version.
I also talked a friend into buying an iCraft using the coupon code I found. She lives in Florida and I live in Illinois but we talk all the time. So I am looking forward to her opinion on the machine.
I also have to look for a pen holder? I’m not sure they sent one with the Crafter. I got the mat, the machine, 2 blades, and a booklet, but I don’t recall seeing the pen holder. Will the pen holder from the iCraft fit the Crafter?
My friend reminded me that when the product was first introduced thru a crowd sharing promo - I supported them and paid in full for it. took almost a year to get it to the point that I was thinking it was a scam. then I finally got it, but so many things happened in the last 2 years that my world was all messed up.
Now that I have unboxed and am learning - I do appreciate all the support. I may order a blade housing and hopefully that info was correct. I’ll have to let my friend know - because the was surprised that I couldn’t find a blade housing and all the ones on Amazon say they are NOT for the Crafter - only the iCraft.
Thanks for hearing me out. looking forward to playing with BOTH machines. and you do have a new customer who is looking forward to seeing what all the kudos are about.
could you expand on your answer? not quite sure what you said? for the medium and fine point blade on the 2 machines - they use the same blade holder, but if I were to use the deep point blade which currently fits my Crafter - I would need to purchase a blade holder made by Siser or Roland? how would I know what to get? is there a part # or reference number?
I just always like to have a backup. for me? never fails - if I needed to get something done - I would have either lost or broken (my dog would eat it if I dropped it) and then without a backup - I’d have a problem. LOL
The crafter has a different pen holder from the iCraft. They won’t fit each other.
For the crafter, I was able to buy a spare blade holder so I put red and blue vinyl on the top part so they will have a dedicated blade holder so as not to confuse me as well
The pen holder of the LoKlik’s pens and a Loklik’s black pen are included in the box. With that holder you can use edding fine point pen (maybe some other thin pen or pencils may fit). For other pens, you can purchase a “universal” pen holder or a set of different sizes and types of pen. But that’s is another full topic itself.
You can stay with the yes, pen holder is included.
About the blade housing, I never needed another one, but I can tell you it is sold in Loklik Europe and Amazon in Europe. I don’t know in the USA, though.
apparently the blade housing will fit either one BUT the deep cut blade is a different one. I guess we’ll see. I ordered a blade housing for the crafter thru Amazon. I was told here that it will fit. LokLik in Europe has the blade housings but they are VERY expensive.
