Amazing, thanks for posting this. I've been looking into buying one of these, i'm looking to make small prop items for cosplay and short films, so this machine will be an absolute god send. Will be buying for certain.
I hope this works for you. Always iffy because of materials used as well as the design you want to cut. Kind of a work in progress to get it to work the way you want it to work.
There is one thing you might want to try. I work with balsa a lot. Most dents in balsa can be easily removed by just wetting the wood. As long as the grain is not broken, the wood will raise and assume it's original shape when it is dry. Try it!
Thank you so much for this I am looking into starting a home business and was looking for a machine to do Vynl Stickers and more. Going with the Cameo 4 now 🙂
Ryan - this has been a great machine for me and still love it, however, things like cutting balsa wood is an iffy proposition with this machine. I did get it to work and that's why I made the video but I would not depend on it for cutting wood. It is a fabulous vinyl cutter and the software is outstanding. I hope your home business venture turns out great!
Thank you for posting this. I have been going back and fourth for months trying to figure out if I should get a maker or cameo 4 and although I loved the idea of the larger feed and bigger cutting platform from the cameo 4, I wanted something that cut wood and I couldn't get the answer I needed with this machine. I was going to stick with cricut maker because I already new the software and how to work the machine but now I'm even more excited to try a new product all together. 15" cameo here I come!
Look at this video! Cameo 4 Pro Review with Thicker Materials! Caution! I bought Cameo 4 pro just for to cut in thicker material as chipboard 2 mm, and chose between cricut and silouette cameo 4 pro. And I had same experience as in this video. I now know that I should have bought cricut... silouette works good if you have vinyls or other thin materials.
Nice to see your comment. What would you advise for cutting a 1 mm pvc sheet? I started cutting pvc sheet with my laser machine but then I found out that it produces toxic fumes that can cause cancer so I stopped. However, I still need to to have these pvc sheets cut and I have been trying to figure this out. Do you know if the Cameo plotter can/does cut a 1 mm pvc????? I appreciate your help on this.
Just ordered one of theses in a bundle with the stamping option. I can't wait to try this thing out. I've already got so many ideas running through my head.
Amazing video! Very instructive. Do you know if there is a Grayboard function? I am looking for something that cuts 2mm Gray board, this seems to be the one, but I'm not 100% sure.
I am sorry, I do not know if it will cut grayboard. All cutting machines have a difficult time cutting anything very thick and I would hesitate to purchase a machine thinking it might do this. As I said in the video, the cuts need to be very simple to accomplish cutting successfully. I think companies do not invest much effort in working to make this betterbnow that there are so many laser cutters on the market.
It can cut squares easily since it is a very basic design but I think it would be quicker and faster to use a saw. Balsa wood (not thicker and harder basswood) is very thin and breakable. I bought 100mm x 100mm sheets (almost 4 inches square) that were already similar to the size you want. Just a few thoughts. If using the Cameo to cut, it would take a very long time.
Depending on the materials used and thickness of the mousepad it might be possible, however I would also try the rotary blade. Again the pattern might be too intricate as I have only been able to utilize the Kraft blade on very simple cuts. I hope it works for you.
The 3mm Kraft blade is only for the Cameo 4 but I also have the 2mm Kraft blade that I use in my Cameo 3. If the 2mm Kraft blade can be used in the Cameo 2 then this should work as long as you only do the 1.5mm balsa wood. The 2mm balsa wood would be too thick for the 2mm blade. I hope this helps.
I have never used magnetic sheets with the Kraft blade. If it works for you, assuming you are using a very simple shape to cut, let me know if it works.
I've used it to cut different thicknesses of magnetic sheet. It will cut through the 3 mil stuff you find in rolls, but it takes quite a few passes and doesn't cut all the way through. But you can carefully push it out when it's done and lightly sand any rough edges. But I really don't recommend it for that. You'll go through blades really fast. But there is some magnetic paper I found on Amazon that works great in the Cameo 4. You just want to try to keep it under 2 mil in thickness. Not 2mm. They are different. LOL
Hello! Are these machines strong? I mean, their life are long or they show errors? Do you use yours for how much time? I've read that they are weak, and when it's borken, no way to fix, only another one. Thank you so much!
I’ve have 2 Cameos. The Cameo 3 I have had for 3 years and I have a Cameo 4 that I have had for 2 years. I mostly just cut vinyl and paper so they are both like new. I haven’t had anything go wrong so I don’t know about fixing them. I hardly ever cut heavy duty things like this balsa wood but it was fun to try this and get it to work. If you are wanting to cut heavy duty things, this probably might not be the best machine choice. Just my opinion.
@@librarymarna I will use most for cut paper and vinyl. But also to use smotimes to cut balsa wood and cangoroo leader, that is thin. Thank you so much!
I bought mine on Amazon. I bought both 1.5 mm and 2.0 mm balsa wood. Basswood does not work at all. The sheets are small and I have never found a supplier that has larger sheets.
Angga Pramudya I have not been able to do this with my machine. I have etched metal with my Cameo 3 using the silhouette etching tool but I have not done this with my Cameo 4. I have read only the Curio etches because of its softer bed.
Thanks for this video. I just had to return my Cricut maker and for I moment I thought I made a mistake the Cameo won't cut balsa wood. I am breathing again.... I am new to Silhoutte but everyone says it's better.
The Silhouette Studio software is far more intricate than Cricut Design Space but it is quite a learning curve to work with all of its features. I would suggest looking into a higher edition than the basic software it comes with (Designer Edition or above) for more functionality. It is a one time cost and it gives you so many more options. Just to be clear, I do not receive any compensation or benefits from this recommendation, it is just from my personal experience with this product. I hope you love this new adventure with your Cameo.
@@librarymarna yup, I have the basic and looking into getting the designer. So with the balsa wood, can we make those name puzzle for kids? I wanted to make one for my niece with a couple of animals
I really wish I could say yes, but I think it would be very difficult. Could it be done? Maybe but I would not attempt it and balsa wood is very fragile and probably not the best for a child’s puzzle. Just my thoughts.
I bought the Silhouette 3mm Kraft Blade when I ordered my Cameo 4. It is only for holder 2 in the Cameo 4. I hear that most of the blades are back ordered almost everywhere. I purchased mine when I bought my machine.
Would you be willing to cut leather samples if I send it to you? I've been debating between a Cameo 4 Plus and Cricut Maker and I can't decide without seeing how both perform with leather.
Excellent question. I would think maybe the Kraft blade might get stuck on the fibers of the felt but you could give it a try. Any chance you can get a thinner freshener felt that might cut better?
These are the only settings I could get the blade to cut and cut all the way through. If I set it deeper, it would just hang and start moving the wood around. I wish it would have worked like that!
In this video I used the 3mm Kraft Blade for the Silhouette Cameo 4. First I used 1.5mm balsa wood and 4 passes. The second cut I used 2mm balsa wood and made a total of 24 passes moving the blade depth up 1 after each 4 passes. You might not need that many passes if you check to see if it is cut through after each 4 passes.
I bought my 1.5 mm and 2.0 mm balsa wood on Amazon. Just make sure you are not purchasing Basswood as it is much more dense and I could not get my Cameo to cut it.
the first two times of changing the depth on de Blade everything went well, but now everytime I chance the depth the Blade moves a bit and it won’t cut at the same place. Anyone knows what I’m doing wrong perhaps?
So sorry to hear this happened to you. Using this blade is always a challenge for me because what works one time may not work another time. Not a solution but it is my experience.
I have not tried it. Seems like it would be too dense unless it was less and 1.5 mm thickness. I know the kraft blade on a Silhouette Cameo 4 is supposed to be able to cut up to 2 mm thickness but it must be a simple simple pattern and because the “pvc” type board is probably more dense than balsa wood, it would be an interesting try. If you do it, let me know if you would. Great question!
You would think since I finally got this blade to cut balsa wood, it would cut cardboard as well. However, I have not been able to do it. If you get it to work, please let me know and what settings you used.
If you thinking on buy cameo 4 pro and want to cut through thick materials look at this video first. This is exact what happeneds to me. Cameo 4 pro Review with thicker materials! caution!
Helene - If you really want to cut wood, I think a laser cutter is so much better. It is a struggle to get the Cameo to cut consistently unless the pattern is very basic and simple and even then it is “iffy” whether or not it will cut.
Sam, from what I have read, the 2mm Kraft Blade made for the Cameo 3, is not for cutting paper, but I have never tried it in my Cameo 3. I have cut very thin balsa wood with it in my Cameo 3. If you try it to cut the thick paper, let me know if it works.
Whereas I, like you, think this 3mm blade should cut chipboard, I have not been able to achieve any success cutting with chipboard material. So odd! Sorry I am not able to help.
I am unfamiliar with this kind of wood. In my experience, it seems unlikely that it would be able to cut the 3mm thickness. If you get it to work, that would be awesome. Let us know if you do.
@@librarymarna its not wood, its like a PVC/foam. I noticed that the material is like being pressed? If that's the case, I dont think its a good idea to cut 3mm thick material.
I have not tried it with leather mainly because I have not found leather to cut. Can you tell me what kind of leather you use? I would be willing to try but have not done it myself.
The lines or curved lines that appear are the turnarounds for your blade. It shouldn’t affect your letter but only use the outside lines to be able to pivot the blade outside of your project.
On the 1.5mm balsa wood I did a total of 4 passes. When switching to the 2mm balsa wood I had to do a total of 24 passes, increasing the depth of the blade by 1 after each 4 passes. You might not need to do as many passes if you check after each 4 passes and increasing blade depth. I had to do that many passes so it would cut completely through.
I have a 2 mm balsa wood and have it set to 11 on the blade, force 8, speed 3 and it keeps on appearing to get stuck - it'll make like this woodpecker noise and it won't move as if it was struggling to move through the balsa wood.... does anyone know what I am doing wrong? Lol would appreciate some help : )
This has happened to me as well. Sometimes it is the pattern being too intricate and other times I can’t identify a reason for the problem. I even sent video to Silhouette America and they told me to try different lessening the force and blade depth slowing increasing with each subsequent pass. It is tricky business and not to be too negative, I have cut the same pattern and had it happen and other times with the same pattern it doesn’t happen. Very frustrating and sorry to not have a better solution for you.
Did you keep adjusting the pressure and repeat the passes many times? These settings worked for me after many tries but since all machines are different, I would just keep repeating the passes and pressure increases until it cuts through. This Kraft blade was a good idea but it is very high maintenance to achieve successful cuts. I hope you eventually get it to work for you.
@@clintholloway7109 Totally. I meant to say SCROLL SAW. There is a tiny company in Oregon that supplies commercial quality quick blade change and awesome blades including omni-directional cut which are knees for the bees. For a clean edge you finish sand, and/or start out using a downstroke finer tooth no offset blade through a zero-clearance nylon insert. OR use painter's masking tape. You can also cut out stuff that you laminate. This is how 100% of intricate inlay work has been done for 150 years or so (to make the inlays.) Even for tile.
I do not have a Cricut so I can’t comment on how it cuts but I agree with you about the Silhouette Cameo not being the best when it comes to cutting Chipboard, which I have never successfully been able to accomplish. The balsa wood cutting took a long time to master but I admit it is still iffy when I go to cut something out of this thin wood. It might work and it might not. Also it cannot be an intricate design as the Kraft Blade is limited at best. I am still hoping the will be able to tweak the software to enable better cuts using this tool.
"I sped up the last three passes just so you could see that I did do it"? No you didn't do anything. That robot did. I want that robot, don't get me wrong but....
