Neither of these are particularly portable, but either one is a truly great machine. The Cricut Explore 3 packs a punch at over 16 pounds, with the Explore Air 2 weighing a little less at about 14 pounds. The aptly-named Explore series is perfect for people who are just wanting to explore Cricut machines without spending quite as much. Maker 3 can handle designs up to 13 inches wide, while the older model Makers can go up to 12 inches wide. Older Makers can only work with materials up to 1.9 feet long using a mat, versus Maker 3's ability to cut up to 12 feet long with Smart Materials that do not require a cutting mat. They look similar to the newer model and they're ready to handle absolutely anything you can throw at the Maker 3 except Smart Materials. The older model Maker machines are also extremely capable, and are still being sold at about $100 less than the Maker 3. If you plan on cutting fabric frequently, the rotary blade that only works with the Maker series is another incredible option, since it can effortlessly glide through everything from denim to lace, silk, and felt without backing. It allows you to swap blades and tips without having to change the housing. It's worth noting that both Makers use the unique Adaptive Tool System, which is unavailable in the other lines. The Maker 3 also works with the roll holder accessory to help manage Smart Materials. All specialty blades compatible with the Cricut Explore series (listed below).It comes with a fine-point blade, and both Makers can also work with the following: It can cut 300 materials, from delicate fabric to wood and leather – and it can do it twice as fast as the original Maker. The Maker 3 is a sleek, solid machine (over 15 pounds!) that smoothly opens with a tap on its cover. That's a pretty major time-saver, and it means that you can create continuous, long cuts much larger than any mat could ever handle.Īll that said, this one will cost you about $400. It's capable of handling Smart Materials, meaning that you don't need to affix your material to a mat before cutting or writing on it. I'm going to start with the most capable machine of them all: Cricut Maker 3. The Ultimate Cricut Machine: Cricut Maker Which Cricut Should I Buy?Īlright, let's get on to what you're really here for: the lowdown on ALL the Cricut machines. Smart vinyl is an absolute DREAM to work with! You'll also find all sorts of storage containers and crafting tools specific to Cricut customer's needs. These are used to place material on before it's run through the machine – unless you're using Smart Materials, which do not require a mat and are only compatible with certain machines. There are also mats in various sizes, each with different grip ratings to cater to whatever material you're using. The Mug Press comes in one size that is able to secure the Infusible Ink transfer sheets around the curved edge of mugs of varying widths and heights. The heat presses – which Cricut calls an EasyPress – come in various shapes and sizes depending on your needs. If you want to use Infusible Ink products, you'll need a heat press or a Mug Press to properly press the ink into the base material. Cricut has tote bags, shirts, pillow covers, mugs, coasters and more that can accept this ink. Cricut is well-known for their vinyl, but they also make a full line of Infusible Ink products, which include pens and sheets with ink that can be sublimated onto special materials that absorb the ink so completely that it becomes part of the fabric. You should also be aware of Cricut accessories to fully understand capabilities before buying any machine. Some machines are capable of using blades that cut designs that are more intricate than others, some can cut faster than others, and some can handle denser materials. This is where the rubber meets the road in terms of differences in machines. The machine uses templates in Cricut's design portal called Design Space to create various patterns or artwork on materials that you feed into the machine.Īll Cricut machines have blades that cut through various materials. We cover a lot of the basics in this post: what is a Cricut machine? Cricut machines can communicate with your phone or computer – via USB cord or Bluetooth – to cut or print designs. The Basics of CricutĬricut has been a long-term sponsor of ours, and I'm thrilled to pass on everything I've learned! Before you decide which Cricut to buy, it's essential that you understand some basics of Cricut machines. Wondering which Cricut is the best for for your needs? You're in luck, because I've owned every single one of them! I'll answer the question, “Which Cricut should I buy?” with in-depth discussion about each machine's features, price point, and capabilities.
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