Sizzix Big Shot Switch Plus Starter Kit (White), Electric Die Cutting & Embossing Machine For Arts & Crafts, Card Making, Scrapbooking & Papercraft (9-inch Opening)

I wanted an electronic cutter after straining myself with my regular manual Big Shot making many cuts on thick paper. So I took a chance on this even though I haven't heard much about it. This one has worked as I wanted, but I did have to make an alteration. The magnetic cutting platform is a game changer on the regular Big Shot and I could not find one for this size machine. I think probably they can't make it cost effective. I saw on a YouTube video someone just using a thin magnet sheet. I had magnet sheets on hand for die storage so I tried that. It worked great! Without it, the machine doesn't cut worth a darn. But lay a thin magnet sheet down and it's magic. Just enough of a shim. Now I've been cutting all my favorite dies with one pass and 8.5. x 11 sheet. It's a game changer how many I can cut in a shorter period of time. If you use a regular Big Shot, you get it: the small platform, cutting your paper down, can only do a few dies at a time. And now I just store the dies I want to use together on an 8.5 x 11 magnet sheet and it's ready to go. I bought multiple sets of the dies I love so I can get it done faster and more efficiently. I absolutely love how this cuts foil cardstock. No shims required if you use the magnet sheet. I bought the 8.5 x 11 magnet sheets from Marietta because that is the brand I had on hand and what I tried. I also keep the machine on a rolling cart so I can swivel it around to remove the platform. I highly recommend investing in a rolling cart that can swivel. Otherwise a large machine like this takes up a lot of room because it needs clearance on both sides for the large platform to pass through AND you will have to get up and go around to the back to remove the platform each time. Also it is handy to just keep the machine and platform and plates and paper all together. So if you need an larger tray electronic machine, I do recommend this one alone with a magnetic sheet (which you do not stick down to anything, you just lay it on the plate and lay down your dies on it facing upward. It holds your dies in place and makes the perfect thickness of a shim.) https://www.amazon.com/Marietta-Magnetics-Adhesive-Sheets-Flexible/dp/B079N9KXH3/ref=sr_1_4_pp?crid=2G5GCEYHVWSLJ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.rmC9g2cDb1ZHKRkeUcEnftXmmGDjEgDaVAmJbbd45wcguLOwvnI848ZV98HghosDY3Z5xudgD0F7xgKF8riHa2oXLLrsBWHXn10GQgw55Ki3ESDNaAWiFlz1pPhxqojyDSWWt1TWWqOnBTDMxJFmNGY7DD7FaAAAc9a8JLe8kiFrTD4VDJ9x7Y_q8PDpAVMgQTWdMsfmOjdQncel-XjWlTOjDXCbXhGn511rf01YOZ7n9n5AzBD0FUwlMfasO8gFRztd8xFA5KCq31Wrlw1vTXl7bTdZueDsJBXjraK3jsk.CrC2oigLagBOOYNdqJ0Qm5yFG2teb1_nBTEQQwsAVjI&dib_tag=se&keywords=marietta+magnetics&qid=1716830078&sprefix=marriett%2Caps%2C752&sr=8-4

Love it. It's quiet so I can work when others are asleep. I read through the instructions, set it up and off I went. How easy. If you are thinking that it will be complicated, don't worry at all. I purchased it because I was having trouble cranking it through. The only problem is that sometimes a die may need to go through twice depending on the cardstock used or the die is really intricate or the die is inferior. But, no biggie because it's easy to run it through again or simply reverse the machine. I'm so very glad I have it and just in time for Christmas cards and tag season.

This machine is quiet, efficient and easy to use. There are excellent videos on YouTube ti help you use it. It has an auto protection feature that keeps you from entering a sandwich of die cutting plates that is too thick.

I really like the fact this the machine is electric and was pretty excited to try it out. The first time I used it, the top plate warped quite a bit, and left an impression of what I cut on the plate, which is normal. But the impression was deep. (I followed instructions as far as the sandwich building goes.) So I ran a different die thru the machine just to see what the plates would do, my previous cut was embedded in the sheet of cardstock! Beware, your previous cuts may show up on what you are sending thru the machine. I don't know if I am doing something wrong, so I am experimenting with different ways to send dies thru, but the damage has already been done to the plates. I don't know if the more they get used, the impressions will wear down. I would've given this product 5 stars, but not happy with the plates-may have to purchase a new set and start over. I know they will warp some, but I would say this is excessive-maybe because they are bigger plates?It embosses great! I had issues cranking the manual machine when I tried using 3D folders, so I didn't use my embossing folders at all. But now I use them more often, which is a win for me.Easy to set up and use. You do need a lot of space where the plates go in and come out, but all I had to do was rearrange a few things on my crafting counter.Overall, a good machine. It would be nice if you could just order the machine without the dies and folder that come with it, to keep the cost down. I have several dies and embossing folders in my stash so I didn't really need more. If that is available, I missed it-my error.

I totally hate this machine. It works sometimes but not all the time. Just quits and nothing I do fixes it. It won't feed anything. I spent $262 plus for this machine. I wanted to love it but most of the time the machine won't feed, or it just will turn on, but you can't run anything through it. The cutting boards are so big that they fall out all the time onto the floor and if you try and keep them in the machine, so they don't fall out then the machine continues to run. I wish I had never bought this so very disappointed.

The only drawback is the weight. Probably no way around that. It cuts beautifully. Takes even the old time original cutting dies made for the big shot. Instructions for adapting to various thickness dies and embossing folders are very clear. Love being able to use the beautiful wide dies that won't fit any of the early machines like the Vagabond (which I still have and use)I love not having to run the very intricate dies through multiple timesI do strongly recommend turning the covering plate over between passes to avoid or minimize warping

Stopped cutting after only 5 months.Update: Jiggled the plates around a lot inside the feeding slot and it started catching again.

I have to keep the directions handy as using it is a bit complicated. Eventually I will know how to use it for each application.Some embossing folders I can't seem to get configured correctly and they won't go through.