Use the Correct Blade for the Material You Are Cutting
The Zing comes with a 45
o
blade (red cap) and a 60
o
blade (blue cap). An optional fabric blade (yellow cap)
is also sold. Use the following as a guide for choosing the appropriate blade for the material you are cutting:
The 45
o
blade (red cap) should be used to cut vinyl, paper, most cardstock, Dura-lar, iron-on transfer,
and vellum.
The 60
o
blade (blue cap) should be used to cut chipboard, Grungeboard, stiffened felt, craft foam,
rhinestone rubber, craft plastic, self-adhesive magnet, and Shrinky Dink.
The fabric blade (yellow cap) should be used to cut all fabrics and unstiffened felt. It is also
recommended by PhotoFrost for cutting their icing sheets.
Additional recommendations are in the suggested settings table at the end of this chapter.
Set the Blade Length To Match the Material Thickness
The blade length is how much blade is exposed at the bottom of the blade holder. You want the blade
length to match the thickness of the material for optimal cutting. It is controlled by rotating the top of the
blade holder. Rotating clockwise extends the blade (longer blade length). Rotating counter-clockwise
retracts the blade (shorter blade length).
When setting the blade length, hold the blade holder up next to the material before pressing the material to
the mat, so that you can more accurately set the length to match the thickness of the material. For really thin
materials, like vinyl and thin paper, just the very tip of the blade will be protruding from the bottom of the
blade holder. In fact, you should just barely be able to feel it with your fingertip and not be able to see it very
well, if at all.
A good way to test your blade length is to fold a piece of the material onto itself and then cut a line into the
material by hand, as shown in the video linked in this section. Press firmly but not too hard, as more force
will not determine if the blade is set to the right length. If the blade cannot cut through the material, you will
need to extend the blade. If the blade cuts through the material and cuts into the next layer, you need to
retract the blade. If the blade cuts through the material but does not cut into the layer below, you have the
perfect length.
Having the blade fully extended will never result in better cutting. In fact, it can cause skewing, tearing of the
material, damage to the blade, and damage to the mat.
When conducting the test cut, be sure to check your mat for cut lines after the test. You should be able to
set the length to get clean cuts but with no visible cuts into the mat. If you do see cut lines in your mat,
retract the blade length by turning the top of the blade holder ~¼ of a turn counterclockwise. You do not
need to remove the blade holder from the Zing. Repeat your test cut.
Set the Blade Height Above the Material
The blade height is the distance from the tip of the blade to the top of the material you are about to cut.
When you insert the blade holder into the blade holder seat, it does not necessarily have to be positioned
with the outer rim touching the blade holder seat. You have control over that height and can raise the blade
holder up a little higher before locking it into place with the white screw on the blade holder seat.
Perfect Length Too Long Too Short
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