Section 2: About the Blade and Blade PlacementThe Silhouette's blade is fixed in a black blade holder and comes with three different colored adjustment caps. The caps are interchangeable to expose varying amounts of the actual blade for cutting different materials. This change in how much blade is exposed is virtually unnoticeable by the naked eye, so they are color coordinated.
The blue blade cap exposes the least amount of the blade tip (0.1 mm) and is for thinner materials, such as vinyl and vellum. The yellow blade cap exposes a medium amount of the blade tip (0.2 mm) and is for medium range materials, such as printer paper and some thinner cardstock. The red blade cap (also sometimes referred to as the pink or magenta cap) exposes the most amount of the blade tip (0.3 mm) and is for thicker materials, such as double-sided patterned paper and medium to thick cardstock. It can cut a maximum thickness of 80-90 lb weight cardstock, like Bazzill. When you are ready to load the blade into the Silhouette, first make sure the blue lock lever is initially turned to the left in the "Open" position. Drop the black blade holder (fitted with one of the colored adjustment caps) in with the blade facing down, and turn the lock lever to the right, as though you are starting a car ignition. This will lock the blade into place so you are ready to cut.
HOW TO: Place the blade into the Silhouette
Silhouette SD: The blade for the Silhouette SD varies slightly and the blade may simply be dropped into the blade holder. If you are using an older model blade with a "fin" (as described below in the next section), please note that it does not matter what direction the fin is facing.
Original Silhouette: For the original model of the Silhouette, your placement of the blade will be dependent upon use of cutting mat. Please note that on the actual body of the black blade holder (not the colored blade cap) there is a black plastic fin or protrusion that sticks out. When using the cutting mat, drop the blade into the Silhouette with its fin pointing to the right (toward the blue power light) in the 3 o'clock position. Placing the blade into this position drops the blade down a bit further and increases the cutting force. When not using the cutting mat (only for materials that are wide enough to be gripped by the rollers and have their own adhesive backing, such as QuicKutz Adhesive Vinyl) drop the blade into the Silhouette with its fin pointing forward in the 6 o'clock position. Placing the blade into this position allows the blade to give a more shallow cut (sometimes referred to as a "kiss cut") and will allow the blade to cut only through the top layer of the actual material, but not the material's backing.
In addition to the blade and blade caps, you may be wondering why the Silhouette also included what many assume is a hollow blade, like the one pictured below:
This is actually a pen holder. We will be showing you how to use this later. |
