how do i cut basswood in cricut explore air 2

Here is a step by step guide to cutting wood with your Cricut Explore Air 2 machine:

1. Design your design in Design Space. MAKE the design.
2. Set the dial on your machine to CUSTOM and change the CUSTOM MATERIAL setting to 331 pressure and somewhere between 4-8 cuts
3. Place your material on a stronggrip mat. Tape it on all 4 sides.
4. Load the mat into the machine and hit GO.
5. Once done, examine the cut. ...
6. Remove the mat from the machine. ...

Full Answer

How do I cut wood with my Cricut explore Air 2?

Here is a step by step guide to cutting wood with your Cricut Explore Air 2 machine: Design your design in Design Space. MAKE the design. Place your material on a stronggrip mat. Tape it on all 4 sides. Load the mat into the machine and hit GO. Once done, examine the cut. Did it cut all of the way through? If not, press GO and re-run the cut.

Can a Cricut Maker cut basswood?

Sharing is caring! A step by step tutorial on how to cut basswood with a Cricut Maker and a knife blade. Did you know your Cricut Maker could cut wood? It can. All you need is a strong grip mat, painters tape and a knife blade.

How do you use a balsa wood cutter on a Cricut?

Make sure that you have loaded the Cricut Explore Deep Cut Blade (with housing, of course). Attach a piece of 1/32-in thick balsa wood onto your Cricut StrongGrip Adhesive Mat. Set the dial on your Cricut Explore to “Custom”.

Do you need a mat for Cricut explore Air 2?

It is actually very similar to the Explore Air 2 but it cuts faster and can use smart vinyl – no mat needed. So, you can use the same settings as the Explore Air 2 detailed below – it will just work even faster! Awesome! What setting do I use to cut wood with my Cricut Explore Air 2?

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How do I set my Cricut to cut basswood?

0:219:11Cricut Knife Blade - Cutting Bass wood and more! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI am cutting a 3/32. Piece of basswood. This is a 3 by 24 inch piece of basswood I found it atMoreI am cutting a 3/32. Piece of basswood. This is a 3 by 24 inch piece of basswood I found it at Joanne's. So I'm just going to type in basswood up here in the materials.

What type of wood can the Cricut Explore Air 2 cut?

Obviously, the blade needs to be able to cut through it, and remember it has to be able to pass underneath the rollers. The most common varieties of wood to cut with your Cricut are basswood, balsa wood, and birch.

Can you cut balsa wood with Cricut Explore Air 2?

Advantages of Using the Cricut Explore Air 2 to Cut Wood Cricut Explore Air 2 and the Cricut Maker are two machines that can use a deep-cut blade that is designed for cutting thicker materials like balsa wood and wood veneer.

What Cricut blade Do I need to cut basswood?

The Knife Blade is exclusive to the Cricut Maker Adaptive Tool System. Because of its cutting depth you can cut out things that have more dimension. It will slice through thicker materials such as basswood, balsa wood, leather, mat board, and chipboard with ease and precision.

What is the thickest material a Cricut Explore Air 2 can cut?

2 mmEach setting represents a material category you can cut. You're not limited to only cutting paper, fabric and vinyl — in fact, the Cricut Explore Air series can cut over 100 types of materials. For machines in the Explore series, the thickest materials the devices can cut are 2 mm.

How do I cut wood with my Cricut Explore Air 2?

9:1516:43How to Cut Wood On a Cricut Explore or Maker | Wood Veneer Bookmarks!YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipButton and begin cutting whenever cutting something like wood i recommend that you watch the cut toMoreButton and begin cutting whenever cutting something like wood i recommend that you watch the cut to make sure that everything works okay and that you don't have any little bits come loose.

What is the difference between basswood and balsa wood?

Basswood's Benefits As a lightweight wood similar to balsa, basswood offers a bit more durability, and is less prone to warping. Since it has very small pores compared with balsa wood, it isn't as prone to absorbing moisture out of the air, so it won't change its shape or density when stored in humid conditions.

Can you use the knife blade on Cricut Explore Air 2?

Can I use Knife Blade with my Cricut Explore machine? Knife blade is compatible with Cricut Maker machines only. It is operated by a drive mechanism that Cricut Explore models do not have, and with which they cannot be upgraded.

Does Cricut Explore Air 2 engrave?

The Explore does not have an engrave operation so we will be using a cut instead. With the cut, your project will look better with a skinny font. If you are doing this with a Maker machine, you can pick an engrave operation and you can actually pick a writing style for your font.

Why won't my Cricut maker let me cut basswood?

First, you will need to use a StrongGrip cutting mat (the purple one). The Standard Grip mat is just not strong enough, so you will need the Strong Grip mat to cut wood. When you are cutting thick materials on your Cricut Maker, the knife blade is a must. You won't be able to cut wood without this.

How thick of basswood can Cricut cut?

Basswood: Basswood is a stronger craft wood. It is heavier and sturdier than balsa. It's generally easier to paint and stain because it holds the products better and isn't as fragile to handle. The Cricut Maker can cut it at 1/32″ and 1/16″ thick with the Knife Blade.

What mat do you use to cut wood on Cricut?

1:177:28How to Cut Wood with a Cricut - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo you want a know strong grip cutting mat which is the purple mat.MoreSo you want a know strong grip cutting mat which is the purple mat.

What kind of wood can Cricut cut?

Two of the most common types of wood that you will see cut with a Cricut are balsa wood and basswood. You can cut basswood and balsa wood both with a knife blade! What is this? Balsa wood comes in 1/32″, 1/16″, and 3/32″ thicknesses.

Is balsa wood or basswood better for Cricut?

Basswood: Basswood is a stronger craft wood. It is heavier and sturdier than balsa. It's generally easier to paint and stain because it holds the products better and isn't as fragile to handle. The Cricut Maker can cut it at 1/32″ and 1/16″ thick with the Knife Blade.

Can Cricut Explore Air 2 cut chipboard?

Cutting chipboard with cricut explore air 2 There is one type of chipboard that you can cut on the Explore Air 2—light chipboard. That's chipboard that measures . 37mm thick. If you choose to cut this on your Explore Air 2, you can even use the fine-point blade.

Can I cut plywood with Cricut?

You can cut either wood on the Cricut Maker machine. Whichever you choose, just make sure it doesn't have any knots. If a piece as a knot, make sure the knife blade will not have to go through the knot when cutting your pattern.

How wide should basswood be on Cricut?

Wood should be no wider than 11". If using Cricut 12" x 6" basswood, place it on the mat so the length runs down the mat (vertically) rather than across (horizontally). Then rotate your design on the project preview screen as needed to align with the wood on the mat.

What is a Cricut basswood?

Cricut Basswood is specifically developed for optimal results with Cricut Maker and Knife Blade.

What happens when you select a cut setting and load your mat for a Knife Blade project?

Once you select a cut setting and load your mat for a Knife Blade project, an alert will inform you to expect a longer-than-usual cut time.

What to do if you cut a piece but didn't?

If there are pieces that should have cut but didn’t, flip the piece over and use a craft knife to gently follow the cuts until the piece is free. If a piece is not completely cut, do not try to pop it out. Pushing on the piece could cause it to break.

How to make a wood sanding board?

Handle the wood cautiously as it can be very fragile. Protect your work surface. Cut material to the size needed for project using a craft knife and a safety ruler. Make multiple passes with the craft knife as needed. Ensure the piece of wood is no wider than 11" . Remove any stickers or packaging from the wood.

How to remove wood from a mat?

Slowly run your fingers between the wood and the mat an inch at a time until the entire piece of wood has been removed from the mat.

What to do if your machine stops cutting?

If the machine cannot move past this point, there may be imperfections in the material. Remove material from your machine, discard, and begin the cut again with a new piece of material .

How long does it take to cut basswood on a cricut?

This can happen with cuts that take over an hour.

How thick of wood can a Cricut Maker cut?

How thick of a wood can the Cricut Maker cut? The Cricut Maker can cut materials up to 2.4mm or 3/32 of an inch. Note: Cricut basswood is 1/16. If you are buying other basswood make sure it is either 1/16 or 1/32 since these are the basswood settings in design space.

What is basswood?

Basswood is a denser wood than balsa wood, it has a smooth, even wood grain – an ideal surface for clean cuts to craft models, toys, puzzles, or even small gift crates. It can be painted and stained easily without having to seal it first.

How to load a basswood knife?

Before you load your mat you are going to want to load your knife blade. The knife blade cuts extra deep and it allows you to cut basswood. To load the knife blade remove the plastic cap over the blade and open slot b on your maker. Place the blade in so the flat open part of the gear is against the machine. Now if you haven’t calibrated your knife blade follow these instructions here.

What is the difference between a Cricut and a Cricut Maker?

The main difference between a Cricut Maker and other Cricut machines is that it can cut thicker material like basswood, chipboard, veneer, felt, leather, etc. Want to make a project with basswood?

What is the minimum size of cut?

What is the minimum size of cut? 0.75” x 0.75” (includes interior and exterior cuts)

Can you cut basswood with an exacto knife?

If there is resistance you may need the assistance of an exacto knife. If your knife blade is dull and needs to replaced it may not cut all the way through your basswood. Not to worry trace along the likes with your exacto knife. I suggest doing this on a self healing cutting mat.

How much does a basswood cricut cost?

I purchased mine at Jo-Ann’s by price matching with the Cricut website (which was on sale for $20.99 that day).

What is balsa wood?

If you aren’t familiar with balsa wood, it’s a type of wood that feels rather flexible. It almost feels like styrofoam.

What to do if your wood mat loses its stick?

If your mat is losing it’s stick, it will become very easy for the wood to shift. Definitely make sure you use the StrongGrip mat – I tried one of my other mats first, and it did not work out so well. Third, use a fine point blade. This is advice that may be contrary to what you’ve heard before.

Do I have to use a box cutter to pop out wood?

Even at 345, they didn’t just come out of the wood with no effort…but at that point, I did not have to use a box cutter.

Can you cut balsa wood with a Cricut Explore Air?

While the Cricut Explore Air isn’t technically the best for cutting wood, it is possible, and after a lot (and I mean a lot), of trial and error, I think I finally figured out the best ways to cut balsa wood and basswood!

What to look for when buying basswood for Cricut?

Right now, the Cricut has qualified 1/32″ and 1/16″ basswood, so make sure you’re looking at those thicknesses. You also want a uniform sheet, with no seams. A glued piece of basswood has a higher potential of jamming your Cricut. Most of the time you can just click the “Go” button again if it jams (after clearing any debris), but if you can avoid those composite pieces, you’ll already be ahead of the game. Overall, try and find the most even, defect-free basswood as possible.

How to cut basswood for a sewing machine?

I do this using an X-acto knife — just running a few passes in a straight line using a ruler, then snapping it into two pieces. You don’t want to use the long piece sticking off the end of your mat — the weight of the basswood will cause the smaller pieces of your project to pop out and potentially jam your project. If this does happen, do not remove your project from your machine! Clear the debris (I like canned compressed air for this purpose) and hit the “go” button again to restart where the machine left off.

Where Can I Buy Basswood?

Basswood is a little tough to find, particularly in sheet sizes that are good for the Cricut. The other concern is that it’s always good to look at your basswood in person, so you can check it for defects and seams, like I mentioned above. If you’d like to give ordering online a shot, though, you can order long planks from Amazon here.

What is basswood wood?

What is Basswood? Basswood is a type of light-colored hardwood that is really great for crafting. While many people carve blocks of basswood, the Cricut can cut basswood sheets. Basswood has a smooth, even wood grain, with no resin or pitch to interfere with the Knife Blade.

Can you cut corners in Cricut Design Space?

If not, Cricut Design Space will give you the option to do one more pass. If you do that and there’s still small corners or parts that haven’t cut all the way through, but the majority has, then remove your mat, release your project, and use a craft knife to cut the last little bits in the corners.

How wide is 1/16 balsa wood?

For the 1/16-in balsa wood, the best project would be a basic cut (based on our limited experimentation), like a basic heart shape, no wider than 2.3-in wide (so that it’s not too wide for the rollers leave a mark). We ran it 5 times using the “Post-It Note” custom setting (using the Distressed Foam setting ruined it). The results were satisfactory however the edges were not as smooth compared to the 1/16-in balsa wood project.

How thick is balsa wood?

The quality of the cut appears to be quite clean, considering the brittle / fragile characteristics of balsa wood with a 1/32-in thickness.

Is balsa wood too thick for Cricut?

The 1/16-in balsa wood appears to be too thick for the Cricut Explore, the rollers end up leaving unsightly marks on the wood. We tried moving the rollers off to the side as others recommended in other popular blogs, but we didn’t want to “force-move” them and risk breaking the parts.

Can you use balsa wood on a Cricut Explore Air?

Since balsa wood can be quite fragile to work with, we learned not to use designs with narrow spaces between the detail work. While our Cricut Explore Air managed to make clean cuts of the detail work, we noticed that some parts of the balsa wood started breaking off shortly after production. Perhaps working with a thicker piece of balsa wood, like 1/16-in, may help. We shall see (so keep checking back)!

Is balsa wood brittle?

The 1/16-in balsa wood appears to be too brittle. We used it to make the exact same acorn project (as seen in the photos above using 1/32-in balsa wood) and parts of the wood started to chip off, thus ruining the project.