Happy Saturday! In this installment of In Detail, I’m evaluating the Sizzix Magnetic Platform that uses magnets to hold wafer-thin dies in place during cutting. According to Sizzix, the platform is compatible with the BIGkick, Big Shot, Big Shot Pro and Vagabond machines. Standard Cutting Plates are required as a separate purchase.
The tests for the magnetic platform were run on my Big Shot machine, and as such, I can only vouch for how the platform performs in the Big Shot. I purchased my machine with a multi-purpose platform, which is now retired. {As an FYI, the equivalent platform consists of the Solo Thin Die Adapter, Solo Shim and Solo Platform. This diagram shows the cutting sandwich for those products.}
The magnetic platform is a single platform that is the thickness of the multi-purpose platform with both tabs closed. You cannot use the magnetic platform to emboss or to cut with dies that do not require as much thickness for die cutting.
The die is placed on the cardstock cut side down. The cutting sandwich is illustrated on the platform.
The magnetic platform works well for die cutting stamped images that have companion dies. I discussed Stamp Set Companion Die Cuts in the most recent In Detail article.
Without the magnetic platform, I normally hold die cuts in place over stamped images with washi tape. The magnetic platform, which I tested with several stamped images on Neenah cardstock, eliminates the need for the tape. I tested two sizes of Stamp Companion Die Cuts, the thinking being that the die might shift depending on the size, but both cut without issue. Using the magnetic platform is a much more preferable way to cut these stamped images than using washi tape.
Avery Elle "Petals & Stems" flower die and stamp
Mama Elephant “Party Kit” heart die and stamp
I ran similar tests with Craft-a-Board, cork, foam and felt. In all cases, the platform worked well. The pull of the magnetic plate even through the foam was strong.
Mama Elephant “Party Kit” heart die and stamp on Craft-a-Board
Perhaps it goes without saying, the platform worked well with standard die cuts, ones that would not need to be held in place with tape. I did not extensively test this category as it is not one that has a noticeable or significant benefit with the use of the magnetic platform over a non-magnetic one.
I also tested individual die cut letters from Lawn Cuts Cole’s ABCs lined up to spell “THANKS.” The idea being that the sentiment would be cut out of the card base.
This was one of the uses of the magnetic platform about which I was especially interested, because cutting a sentiment this way can be tricky using washi tape to hold it. Unfortunately, the die cut letters interacted with the underlying magnetic grid structure in a manner that made it difficult to line them up and space them out properly.
Similarly, I tested a pattern of hearts created with Lawn Cuts “Hearts.” For certain patterns, I was able to get the hearts to stay in the position I placed them.
While in other cases, some of the hearts rotated.
On the other hand, the magnetic plate worked without any issues to cut the Paper Smooches “Quote Tag” dies with one pass. So in some configuartions, the dies will stay in position, while in other configurations, they do not.
I also tested the use of the Memory Box Metal Adaptor Plate with the magnetic platform. I placed the metal plate under the bottom cutting plate, directly on top of the platform.There were no issues using the plate with the magnetic platform.
Considerations
The magnetic platform carries a warning label for pacemaker wearers.
If your acrylic plates are warped, the cutting results may be compromised. My acrylic plates are warped, so I would want a dedicated set of plates for use with the magnetic platform.
The magnetic platform is 6-1/8" wide x 8-7/8" long x 5/8" thick. It is essentially the same size as the multi-purpose platform. On the other hand, the replacement platform for the multi-purpose platform is extended; it is 13” long. As I am currently using the shorter platform, the length is not a concern.
I die cut frequently, and as such, I would purchase the magnetic plate. In fact, I use my Big Shot primarily for die cutting. For the times that I do need to emboss, I will simply pick up the multi-purpose platform and use the appropriate tab configuration. But the magnetic platform is definitely a luxury item. Furthermore, I will still need to use washi tape to hold the dies in certain situations.
--Jean
