When I was first starting out with my Cricut, I didn’t pay too much attention to blades. I thought you only needed one blade and it made all the types of cuts you wanted. But there are actually several different types of blades that you can use for a variety of projects, and just like the Cricut Mats Blog Post, knowing what types of blade to use is crucial to your projects.
There are a few different types of blades that we are going to cover in this blog post today. Each of these blades has certain qualities when cutting different materials. If you don’t use the right type of blade for the right type of project, you could wind up damaging a blade.
Fine Point Blade
This is the most common blade and is used in all of the Cricut Explore family machines and the Cricut Maker. The Fine Point Blade is perfect for making intricate cuts and is designed for medium-weight materials like…
- Cardstock
- Vinyl, Heat Transfer Vinyl
- Printer Paper
- Parchment Paper
Deep Point Blade
Like the name suggests, this Deep Point Blade is best for cutting thick (or deep) materials. Some of the thicker materials include:
- Leather
- Craft Foam
- Magnet Sheets
Bonded Fabric Blade
Similar to the fine point blade but ONLY for fabric. You shouldn’t use the Bonded Fabric Blade to cut paper, vinyl, or anything other than fabric. But you do need to make sure that whatever fabric you are using, it is bonded. Meaning, it has some sort of backing to it for craft projects. Some fabric materials you can use include:
- Cotton
- Burlap
- Felt
- Silk
Rotary Blade
This blade is only used with the Cricut Maker machine. This blade cuts though basically any fabric and it doesn’t need to have backing. The fabric you use just needs to be 3/4 of an inch thick so that the blade does not end up going dull. You can cut all of the same materials with this as the Bonded Fabric Blade, plus things like…
- Canvas
- Cashmere
- Chiffon
- Fleece
- Microfiber
Knife Blade
Another blade that is only compatible with the Cricut Maker. This is a heavy duty blade and can cut through tough materials such as…
- Basswood
- Chipboard
- Matboard
QuickSwap Blades
This tool allows you to swap out 5 different blades and tips using the same housing. Wondering what the difference is between blades and tips? Blades make actual cuts and tips make impressions. Read on for more clarification…
- Scoring Tip: great for projects that near a “tear function” that is scored onto the paper, like a coupon.
- Engraving Tip: This tip has the ability to engrave letters, shapes, or motifs into materials like steel.
- Debossing Tip: Similar to the engraving tip but more delicate and detailed, you can use this to create textured designs on just about any material.
- Wavy Blade: Allows you to cut in a wavy pattern to achieved curved lines, which is perfect for stickers, gift tags, and much more.
- Scoring Wheel: this tool allows you to create folds in paper, so a perfect tool for cards or envelopes.
Cricut Joy Fine Point Blade
Only used for the Cricut Joy and can cut materials such as…
- Vinyl
- Paper
- Cardstock
- Cardboard
If you want to know when is the right time for a Cricut blade change, you can see this complete article on How long does a Cricut blade last and how to change it, by clicking here.
I bet you are thinking that there is SO much supplies that goes with a Cricut Machine, and you aren’t wrong. But once you get a handle on the types of projects you most like to do, you will know what supplies to invest in. Cricut also offers supplies bundles that helps with supplies and cost.
You can also see this article about
Happy crafting!