Which vinyl cutter should i buy

This machine can also be used as a sticker cutter or vinyl decal maker, and has plenty of setting adjustment options as well as other accessories available as separate purchases. Click here to see the best price for Janome's Artistic Edge 12" model Click here to see the best price for the Janome Artistic Edge 15".

This little machine packs a lot into its small frame, and although it can only cut media up to 8 inches wide, it can cut still cut media up to 10 feet long. The Silhouette Portrait is a terrific, entry-level electronic die cut machine with plenty of fans. Click here to see the best Silhouette Portrait vinyl bundle deal Click here to see the best price for the Silhouette Portrait machine only. This baby can print, cut, emboss, etch, sketch and stipple as well, making it a terrific machine for keen hobbyists and crafters.

It can work with media of 8. Of all my vinyl cutting machine reviews, this is the machine that has the most versatility in what it can do. Click here to see the best Silhouette Curio vinyl bundle deal Click here to see the best price for the Silhouette Curio machine only. Alternatively, you can read my in-depth KNK Force review here. I recommend this machine for keen and regular cutting enthusiasts who want to cut lightweight balsa, matt photo board and other heavier materials as well as vinyl monograms.

Click here to see the best price for a KNK Force. USCutter MH Series review UScutter have been making vinyl cutting machines for many years now, and have a massive range of options, from the MH Series specifically for beginners, right through to high-end commercial vinyl cutting machines worth thousands. All the vinyl cutting machines in their MH Series are large, and are intended for the more serious vinyl cutting hobbyist or small vinyl sign printing business.

One major drawback of these machines is their limited memory, which means they have a tendency to freeze while cutting large or complex jobs. Best vinyl cutting machine — quick comparison chart Make and Model Photo Maximum media dimensions width x length Maximum media thickness Maximum cutting force Price range Cricut Explore Air 2 12 inches x 24 inches 1.

Contents 1 The ultimate guide to finding the best vinyl cutter to suit your needs 1. How to choose the best vinyl cutting machine There are lots of different things to consider when buying an electronic cutting machine. Intended use Are you a hobbyist, small home-based business or commercial production company? Your budget Have you got a couple of hundred dollars to spend, or a couple of thousand?

Media you want to cut Do you just want to cut vinyl, or do you want to cut tissue paper, fabric, leather and wood too? Precision Are you cutting detailed and intricate designs or large, basic shapes? Speed Does a super-fast cutter appeal to you, or are you happy to wait a bit longer for your machine to finish cutting?

Vinyl cutter reviews There are two distinct markets for electronic cutting machines: the home and craft market, and the commercial business market. Pros Easy to use design software Its normal mode is quite fast Offers an 2x faster mode for some materials including vinyl Fairly inexpensive Wireless connectivity to desktop, mobiles and tablet Compatible with both PC and Mac Loads of accessories to help you get even more creative Cuts over different types of materials Large community of helpful users and creative Cricut fans.

Best uses Personally, I think the Cricut Explore Air 2 is the best Cricut machine on the market today, and is best for home crafting use. Click here to see the best Cricut vinyl bundle deal. See the best price for a Cricut Explore Air 2 machine only. Best uses The Silhouette Cameo 3 is a great vinyl cutting machine best used for thin media, due to its weak cutting force. Click here to see the best Cameo 3 vinyl bundle deal. See the best price for a Silhouette Cameo 3 machine only. Cons Does not come with any software Is not that suitable for craft cutting beginners Is more expensive than other hobby vinyl cutters Has only one carriage, so if you want to print and cut a project, then you will need to change cartridges Is larger than most desktop vinyl cutters The orbitizer attachment is not yet available Adjustments to the pinch wheels need to be made manually which can be a pro, not a con, if you like to have complete autonomy over your cutting machine.

Best uses The Cricut Explore Air is a top vinyl cutter suitable for beginners. Click here to see the best Cricut Explore Air vinyl bundle deal. Click here to see the best price for the Cricut Explore Air machine only. However, like all craft and vinyl cutters, it has both advantages and disadvantages. Pros Can cut media up to 10 feet long Cheaper than the Silhouette Cameo 3 but with many similar features Has a self-adjusting autoblade, so no need to manual adjustments Can cut up to 2mm thick with a Silhouette deep-cut blade Is precise, particularly for small and detailed designs Is a smaller sized machine, so takes up much less space on your desk.

Best uses The Silhouette Cameo 2 is a great personal vinyl cutting machine perfect for paper crafts, electronic die cutting, and as a small vinyl stencil cutter. Click here to see the best Silhouette Cameo 2 vinyl bundle deal. The software is amazingly easy to use plus it also comes with cloud-based storage. The only challenge with Design Space software is that it is a web-based software and you will, therefore, need to have a fast internet connection to use it.

This can slow you down especially if working in an area with poor internet connectivity. This is the latest release from Cricut and since its entry into the market, we feel that it has achieved incredible milestones. To begin with, this machine comes with a superior rotary cutter. Any ordinary machine can cut fabric, but it takes a rotary cutter to achieve an extra-deep cut.

The Cricut Maker also boasts a fresh new software. The company no longer uses Flash and has since shifted to the web-based Design Space software. Of course, this new software offers much better usability and experience. On the flipside, though, it requires a high-speed internet connection to work. That said, they have gone ahead to include an offline feature that works with the iOS Design Space app so you might want to consider trying that if internet connectivity is an issue to you.

Also, instead of storing your files in cartridges, this unit empowers you to store your stuff in Cloud-based storage. So, in a nutshell, this is quite an awesome vinyl cutter save for the fact that you will need reliable, high-speed internet.

Compared to its elder brother, the Explore Air 2, the Maker comes without the popular Smart Dial feature. However, the Cricut Maker is quite advanced, technology-wise and the Smart Dial is no longer needed. Another awe-inspiring aspect of this machine is that it offers a two-tool capacity.

This means you will have the freedom to switch back and forth between tools without the need to stop in between. This is definitely the kind of workflow efficiency needed to handle multiple cuts in quick succession. This vinyl cutter is popular for straddling the line between personal and commercial use. It comes across as a fantastic choice for small business setups because it is slightly cheaper than most average desktop cutters. But despite that, it offers a much larger cutting capacity with the inch edition being capable of cutting up to a maximum of 31 inches in width.

On board the MH Series are vinyl rolls, squeegee, a knife, magnetic blanks and transfer tapes. In addition, you will receive free lifetime support via phone and chart from the warm and friendly MH team. In fact, the only thing we found missing on this vinyl cutting machine is a materials basket. As you know, it is important to have this basket in order to prevent static affecting your vinyl in the course of passing it through the machine. This is quite a common problem with larger vinyl cutters and we, therefore, think that having a materials basket would have been such a good thing for this cutter.

The Roland vinyl cutters are sturdy enough to handle bulkier materials with precision cutting. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the Roland Cutters are the absolute best cutters on the market! They are professional machines that can handle the heavy duty of daily printing. They are precise, accurate and can handle intricate work. They have fast cutting and can cut thicker materials as well. This is the perfect machine for vinyl printing businesses.

The only decision here is to figure out what size you would like! The Graphtec 60 machine is created for vinyl business owners who wish to make signs, car decals, car tinting, t shirts, unique home decor, rhinestone template materials, glitter transfers, sandblast resist stencils and more.

Graphtec is the world's largest manufacturer of heat presses and heat transfer films! This machine can cut up to a width of 24" and the cutting force of up to gr means that you can cut material up to 0. It includes an automatic registration mark sensor and the plotter Graphtec CE 60 also has blade wear monitoring. Watch this video on Graphtec vinyl cutter review for more information.

Whilst this machine is brilliant for a wide range of vinyl businesses, if you are after a machine that does car wrapping, we do highly recommend you go one step back and have another look at the Roland Cutting Machine.

As the CE is a friction feed, it does tend to wander a bit if you are attempting longer cuts such as for car wraps. The machine is fast, powerful and offers highly accurate cutting. It offers contour cutting capability and includes great software! The machine will operate on both Mac and PC. It is a top workhorse machine for those operating a business! It is one of the top industry leaders for those who run businesses selling signs, graphic artists, automotive aftermarket professionals, counter-top installers and other related users.

High performance features have been added to the new series, but yet its competitive pricing still remains. The machine is top rated and comes second to none with its offer of being able to handle demanding and tough projects. The Graphtec Vinyl Cutter is a quality machine that offers versatility and is backed up by high quality precision cutting! It is also our recommended machine as the best vinyl cutter for sign making.

The Titan 3 cutter can be used for a wide variety of applications including signage, decals, lettering and pinstripping. It can create logos, modify signs, make custom text, create and draw shapes and edit images.

It comes in three brilliant sizes! You can control the speed and cutting force on this machine which means that it can cut a variety of material including adhesive vinyl, window film, hard paperboard, sandblast stencil, mask material and much more.

All this is easy to achieve with the use of the user-friendly LCD screen. This machine has been manufactured to withstand rigorous use. It is an absolutely brilliant machine for any vinyl business, no matter how large or small! This software is taking the world by storm and serious sign-makers love the usability and customization that is available through this software!

The Titan 3 is a professional commercial machine that has been created to withstand rigorous daily use. It is as tough as can be and can handle a variety of materials. With the inclusion of the optical eye for accurate and precise contour cutting and the ability to handle intricate designs, this truly is a handy machine to have in your office or store!

You can now set up your Klic n Kut machine out of the way. Together with its optimum features, this machine might just be the best cutting machine for small businesses.

Its compact size and commercial functionality that offers more complex images, offers a great combination to any business owner. The only drawback? The machine only operates on PC, so if you operate your business from a MAC, this is not the machine for you! The combination of incredible features together with its very reasonable price tag makes this Klic n Kut Die Cutter Machine perfect for small businesses.

It has the capabilities to handle any industrial task, whilst still being a compact machine that operates quietly. If you are a PC owner, then this is the machine for you and your business!

I'm sure you are here today to try and find the best plotter and read through our die cutting machine reviews because you already know that you want a vinyl cutting machine!

But for those of you who need a bit of convincing, below are our reasons why we personally love vinyl plotters. In cutting machine for crafts and for commercial use are designed to be incredibly versatile. You will be able to use this one piece of equipment for a wide variety of crafts including:. Some of the machines listed below, can even score, emboss, de-emboss, etch, stipple or scan and print!

We love how quickly the vinyl cutting machines are advancing technology-wise. We love choices because we love creating a variety of different types of projects! There are a lot of different finishes that cannot be created any other way that with a vinyl cutter, such as reflective designs, foil, shimmer, glitter, bling designs etc.

You can also pop a variety of different types of designs on multiple locations on your item, such as on a tshirt. Some machines on the market today in , were released in and they are still strong contenders and still make lots of sales. You won't need to replace your machine any time soon, so you know that your investment is worth it!

Your ability to create whatever you need. You can use designs that you find online, design your own designs, you can customize vinyl designs for specific needs. You can customize the size, you can customize the style, you can customize the color and you can customize the font or image.

Create away to your heart's desire! It will also be important to note that the machines go by all sorts of different names. We will use various variations of the names in our guide. Vinyl Cutters are called Various Names Including:. There is a massive difference in the market between a cutting machine for hobbyist compared to a commercial or small business vinyl cutter plotter. Their functionality is vastly different and their price range is extreme.

If you are after a vinyl crafting machine because you simply love to be creative at home, or maybe you even want to sell some goodies on Etsy or eBay, then a personal vinyl cutting machine should be just fine. If you are planning on using your machine on a day-to-day basis to create items for your business, then you really need to invest in a professional vinyl cutter. A Personal Vinyl Cutting Machine. Generally speaking those who are after an at home vinyl cutter machine, you are most likely after machines that are:.

A Commercial Vinyl Cutter. The benefits of a commercial vinyl printer plotter far outweighs those of a little personal vinyl cutting machine, some benefits include:. Now that you have read through all the plotter cutter reviews and hopefully found a new vinyl cutting machine for your office or business, why not hop over to our craft project section of our craft blog. We have loads of tutorials, project examples as well as step-by-step posts to help you.

Home Vinyl Cutter Comparison Chart. Buying Guide to the Best Vinyl Cutter Brother Scan and Cut 2 Review. Top 5 Commercial Vinyl Cutters Reviews. Klick-n-Kut Maxx Air Review. Reasons why you Should Buy a Craft Cutter. Home Vinyl Cutter Comparison Chart Below is a comparison chart of all the top vinyl cutters for home use find the commercial table below the home cutter table.

Silhouette Cameo 4. USCutter MH 34". Not Wireless Works more specifically with standard and heat transfer vinyl, but can also cut cardstock, paper, craft paper and paint mask. Not Wireless Works more specifically with standard and heat transfer vinyl, but can also cut paper, craft paper, cardstock and paint mask. Beginners For anyone who wants to scan in and cut their own designs.

Not Wireless Designed to work more specifically with standard and heat transfer vinyl, but can also craft paper, normal paper, craft paper, cardstock and paint mask. Heat Transfers for T Shirts Signs. Silhouette Portrait 3. Cricut Joy. Beginners For those who love creating smaller crafts such as cards and labels. NOTE: You can scroll past the commercial cutting machine table to find more info on which machines we recommend for home, for t-shirt purposes, as well as individual in-depth reviews of each of the machines mentioned in this guide.

Best Commercial Vinyl Cutter Comparison Chart Below is a comparison chart to feature the top commercial vinyl cutter which is mentioned later in this article. Roland GS Vinyl Cutter. Max cut speed: Check the Price on Amazon Here. Take a Moment Are you after a vinyl sticker cutting machine that will work for personal hobbyist use or one that is suitable for commercial or small business? What exactly do you want to do with the machine, what capabilities are essential to you?

T-Shirt Transfers? Do you have limited space or is the size of the machine not an issue? What is your budget for the cutter plotter machine?

Does the machine need to have Bluetooth functionality? Or are you happy with a crank operated machine? Are you after a starter package deal or would like to purchase a stand-alone machine? Price Ultimately you will get what you pay for! Printing Size Think about what size material you would like to cut.

Size of the Machine Where will the machine live? Included Software Another important point is that you need to have a close look at the software that is included with your vinyl printer cutter machine.

Is it easy to use? Does it come with loads of designs? Would you need to purchase these designs at an extra cost? Does the software allow you to customize and design your own work? Range of Material that can be Cut What are you after? Warranty and Support Have a look at how long the warranty is of the machine. Cricut Maker 3 Review. Design Space software is great for beginners but limited for advanced users You have to purchase the Knife Blade separately. Silhouette Cameo 4 Review.

Support is pretty much non-existent. Cricut Explore 3 Review. You can only use the Design Space software that comes with the machine. Doesn't have contour cut capabilities. The Software is not very user-friendly.