You are the reason I bought the Cricut Air 2, less than 6 months after my son bought this machine for me they released the MAKER! DAMN! last Christmas my husband surprised me with the MAKER! WOW! thank you fore your reviews , I think it’s important to have someone as knowledgeable as you to do electronic cutting machine reviews. Great video
Apparently the maker is pretty rare couldn't find one within 50 miles but it was only $300. But I'm glad I got it for my fiance for Christmas. Almost got the explore air 2 glad I didn't. GREAT VIDEO
with so many bad review comparisons videos out there with people rambling about non-sense, I really enjoyed you discussing specifics and keeping the video to a comparison. It was the exact kind of help I was looking for when trying to get the right one for my wife. Thanks!
Thank you for your information. My husband just got me the Circuit Maker for Christmas. I started quilting 5 years ago and I believe this will be great for that. I also enjoy DIY crafts and hope to make lost of stuff for each season.
Thanks for this informative review. My husband is a model train enthusiast and with this machine, he will be able to build houses, buildings, background trees, and other single and three-dimensional objects. Very cool device.
Your the Man! Not much in the crafty world that I have purchased that wasn't based upon your reviews; You've never steered me wrong! Just been sitting on this purchase in hope that in a few weeks we might see a bit of a holiday price reduction. Thanks Ken for your Hard, HARD, work.
Another GREAT review Ken! I LOVE my Maker and have gifted my previous Cricut machines. I think the only way to improve it would be to make it a 15 or 20 inch machine option for those with that need. Thank you Ken and team!
Great comparison Ken! I love my Maker and I am so glad I purchased. I love how they are still adding new blades and tools to give us even more options.
Thank you, you explained the differences so well. Had watched another video but you helped me decide and I'm going with the Maker. Saw it on sale for $299.99, placing my order right now.
My wife has been trying to figure out which machine would be the best fit for her, and honestly, I was NO help in the information department about the Cricket machines! I have been interested in the desktop plotters myself, but there has been a dearth of information out there, but this video has been SUPER helpful! She has said that this video has made her mind up for her! Thanks so much for taking the time to do this video! Have a great day!
My husband wants me to get the maker , so that will be my new toy. I have never had a machine so this is my first rodeo. Wish me luck. And I subscribed to your channel and I know you will help alot. Thank you so much Ken
Great video Ken, Sean and Ryan! So professional and you can see all the work that went into it. Very thorough comparison of the Maker and Air 2. Keep up the great work!💕
I didn’t know it had an adapter for the cartridges...that is the only reason I got the air ..ugh.”I really wish I would have gotten the maker “ :( oh well...I still LOVE my air 2...maybe Santa will surprise me this year ;) thank you for a great video !!! Loved it 🥰
I bought both! But of course I got mine almost 2 years after you made this video. I got both of mine for a steal due to the impending releases of both new Cricut machines. I got the Cricut Air Explorer 2 (Walmart Emerald Green exclusive) $100 brand new! Then just recently, I got the Champagne Cricut Maker for $305 from Micheal’s. Can’t wait to get started on the multitude of projects I’ll be into!
I'm looking forward to a comparison of the Cricut Maker to the Cameo 4 in the future, I'm also worried about the non-metal body for the Cameo 4. I'm a cosplayer looking for something to cut a lot of odd materials. Cut and score foam, all sorts of fabric, HTV, thermal plastic-like Worbla & Thibra (which is like wood cutting) and acrylic etching is a really nice bonus. I'm looking to buy one in the spring and the larger format Camo 4 were calling me but I need to see how it handles other materials with the different tools first for the standard sizes.
Great advice as always. I hope you don't mind but I'd like to suggest a future video from you. Would you consider reviewing and comparing the We Are Memory Keepers Foil Quil and Heidi swapp Minc foil laminator? I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Great video.. I was using the cricut explore air 2 for two years and even started a business with it, 2 months ago I upgraded! To the explore 3, after two months it started playing up and cutting unevenly, so the shop replaced it, I tested the brand new explore 3 and on its very first test it was faulty, no matter what pressure setting I use it cuts through the vinyl and through the backing and into the cutting Mat, it’s like the machine is stuck on its maximum pressure, I even manually put the machine of its lowest pressure setting 80 and it still cut into the Mat, they are rubbish or I’ve been crazy unlikely so I’m going back to the shop tomorrow.. not sure if I will leave with another explore 3 , I would rather use my old explorer 2 again.. also the so called extra speed of the explore 3 is a bit of a scam to be honest, all they did was take the opinion away in design space to use fast mode and fast mode is automatically applied when using the smart! Vinyl. The explore air 2 also has fast made you just have to manually select it, but fast mode on both machines cuts less accurate..
Great explanation of the machines. I will be starting out & the maker would be a good choice for me to learn to craft other things as I progress to bigger projects
As for the Explore Air: it cuts shapes out, for crafting or for card making. I've seen people will cut out lace looking patterns into paper, fold it over, and then they have a fancy birthday card. Another thing is homemade signs. By taking a solid color paper and cutting out letters with this machine, you can then glue those letters onto a canvas, or piece of wood, and then you'll have a nice sign over your door or where ever. It can also cut out stickers, either from ones you've printed with a regular printer, or just by using a solid color sticker paper and cutting out letters and shapes. That would be good for making fancy labels around the house. Or making a bumper sticker! Same goes for iron-on patters, for custom clothing. The Explore also has a little pen in it to write things, which is sort of like a printer but with just a pen, which is handy if you don't have a printer, or if you want to have it write directly onto sticker paper and THEN cut out around the letters. Ken has another video comparing the Explore Air, and Air2, and you can watch it in action. Can't speak for the Maker though.
Well I'm happy with my explore air 2 next thing we'll see is the cricut maker 2 they will compare it with the first maker telling us that the maker 2 is better..then you'll regret getting the first maker .lol
Can you make signs that people put on wreaths? I have the first 2 machines and have a lot cartridges. Can you go in detail about how We will use our cartridges? Thanks for sharing your information. First time watching. I’m trying to decide whether to buy the maker or the air 2 explorer. I just want to be able to use my cartridges. Pat in NC
Hi Ken, I've just been watching your video about the cricut maker and how you think this machine grows with the user and I was completely excited. I watch another video a little later and to my surprise I see that Cricut is already working on maker 3. A machine much faster than the original maker. So the cricut maker is not so accommodating to the consumer, who has to buy a new machine to be able to use that new fast technology. I find that very unfortunate. However, this does not take away from the fact that I always enjoy watching your videos! Keep it up!
Great video.. I was using the cricut explore air 2 for two years and even started a business with it, 2 months ago I upgraded! To the explore 3, after two months it started playing up and cutting unevenly, so the shop replaced it, I tested the brand new explore 3 and on its very first test it was faulty, no matter what pressure setting I use it cuts through the vinyl and through the backing and into the cutting Mat, it’s like the machine is stuck on its maximum pressure, I even manually put the machine of its lowest pressure setting 80 and it still cut into the Mat, they are rubbish or I’ve been crazy unlikely so I’m going back to the shop tomorrow.. not sure if I will leave with another explore 3 , I would rather use my old explorer 2 again.. also the so called extra speed of the explore 3 is a bit of a scam to be honest, all they did was take the opinion away in design space to use fast mode and fast mode is automatically applied when using the smart! Vinyl. The explore air 2 also has fast made you just have to manually select it, but fast mode on both machines cuts less accurate..
Hmmm you like the maker better, I would have liked to know more about the differences. The noise levels, seeing them in action , comparisons with the same materials etc. this feels like an advert for the maker. Not that I don't love my air 2 and am looking forward to getting a maker, but Ive not had my questions answered.
I’m planning on starting my own stationery business. I’m planning on focusing cards, school/office supply, and stickers. Which one is better to use to begin with?
thank you, I just ran across your page. I just got the Cricut air 2 for Christmas . I have a card ministry and this is going to take my card to a different level. But I'm afraid it's so much. my question is where do I start. Thank you for any help you can give.
So I'm interested in getting a Cricut, but I need to know which does the job that I need it to do. I make customized paintings and I use poster board to make my stencils, but it just takes so long to do. So my question is, if I am able to draw out a design or picture, will the machine be able to stencil it out for me, or does it only do what is available within it's program? Thank you for any help you can provide me with.
Hi I would be using heavy materials eg the Bristol board, foam material, cloth, vinyl. Which machine can I use for 2021 ? Also I would be doing alot of printing year round eg 30 sets per design. Thanks
Thank you for this informative video. Can I please clarify something - are all the cutting blades and housings compatible with both machines? Thank you.
I just need a machine that will stand on time I don't want to buy another machine but I am not making a lot of stuff just mugs and shirts and cards ... one question do you think Air2 will be replace by Air3? If they already have the Maker?
So I listened 3 times to the part where you talked about the cartridge. I have to have it in order to use the Explorer 2? I just bought it and that wasn't mentioned in the other video from Joann Fabrics with explanation on how to.chose the right machine.
All the new machines do not use the cartridge, since they no longer make them. If you still have them, you can get an adaptor to the machine and use it, but almost everyone now has some type of online access to their cartridges. Basically, this video was to show the difference between the 2 because of the price point and asks what are you going to use the machine for. Just cutting paper and some fabric, Explore Air 2 is great. Want to do more than that and cut more material, Maker is the choice. But now, there are the Maker 3 and Explore Air 3.
I have one of the original Cricut that was 12X12 I had a 6" one but no longer have, I have never linked any of my over 150+ cartridges. I used it a lot until the silhouette came out then moved over because I didn't have to buy cartridges. It also cut more delicate images. I am getting ready to sale both machines and get a new one after watching this review it looks like you prefer the cricut over the Silhouette. question I have a 12X24" mat and extra Blades for my Cricut can either be used for the new cricuts?
I have a couple of questions. I'm Not a crafter. I'm looking to solve a production problem. Will this machine accept a 8-12ft long piece of felt 12" wide and be able to cut multiple 3" circles with a 4" straight tail coming off the circle that is 3/8" wide? Can i do this by feeding the felt directly into the maker? The other thing. Can I set up this circle with the tail design in the program to utilize the felt in the most economical way by means of getting the greatest number of pieces out of the piece of felt? Thanks, Dan
