Sizzix Big Shot Review

No matter the style of die cutting you crave for, the Sizzix Big Shot is bound to stun you with the kind of features it has on its menu. But if you’ve been using die cutters long enough, chances are that you know that good functionality requires more than just what the salesmen are willing to reveal about their products.

In that regard, we chose to go beyond what the Sizzix sales copies claim in order to reveal the whole truth about the Big Shot.

Sizzix Big Shot Product Overview

As its name “Big Shot” suggests, this is a small die cutter that’s designed to punch above its weight. The manual die cutter comes with a 6-inch wide opening which, though not the largest we’ve encountered so far, is just enough to handle most basic tasks.

Perhaps one of the things that make the Sizzix quite popular is its user-friendly design. Anyone can use it! You only need to place the material that you want to cut between its cutting plates and then choose the right thickness by following a few simple steps. Then you simply send the material through the machine and it does all the spade work for you.

Yet another feather in the cap of this manual die cutter is its easy-to-turn handle. It has an ergonomic handle and its bearings turn easily when operating on lightweight materials. It, however, is a bit tough to turn when faced with tough materials such as leather and craft metal.

Materials That You Can Cut Using the Big Shot

The good news is that this die cutter can handle quite a few materials. So, you can be quite confident that it will help you unlock your creative juices. Some of them include (but not limited to):

• Cardstock
• Foam
• Fabric
• Felt
• Leather
• Magnet
• Craft aluminum
• Metallic foil
• Chipboard
• Vellum

And so much more!

That said, we’d like to note that certain dies are only best suited for certain materials. For instance, the Sizzlits and Embosslits are suited for cutting metallic foil and vellum while the Framelits and Thinlits work best with cardstock and paper.

And there’s more – the Big Shot isn’t limited to the Sizzix variety of dies. It can work with the Cuttlebug, Spellbinders, QuicKut, Anna Griffin, and Acquiquilt dies. Basically, all folders that measure less than 6” would easily work with this machine.

So, if you’re looking for a versatile manual die cutter, once again, we think the Sizzix Big Shot would be worthy of your attention.

Key Features Of This Machine

Now that we have a rough idea of how this machine works, let’s take a closer look at some of the features it brings on the table. Are they worth all the hype?

1. Solid Core

This machine’s core is made up of steel rollers. As you know, steel is one of the toughest metals in the world and, therefore, the Big Shot qualifies to be called a beast if its core is anything to go by. What’s more? It features solid steel gears which do a really good job cutting through what would seem like tough materials.

2. Extended Multipurpose Platform

This is a pretty solid platform which comes with hinged tabs. The platform was specifically designed for the BigKick, Big Shot Express, Vagabond, and Big Shot machines. A closer look at it reveals that it’s made out of a combination of mylar, steel, POM plastic, and PP plastic.

Best of all, you can use this platform with wafer-thin dies and all of the pads together. And above all, the platform comes with helpful diagrams that show you which page to use and the kind of dies or embossing folders to use.

3. Available In Different Colors

From blue and teal to gray and white, this easy-to-use die cutter is designed to complement your decor and appliances. On top of that, its ABS plastic exterior looks classy and durable. The overall design of the unit makes it stand out as a stylish yet versatile kit that you can use for tasks like:

• Creating cards
• Scrapbooking
• Preparing home decor
• Quilting
• Altered art
• Fashion

And so much more.

4. Compact Design

The machine itself is quite compact and sturdy. Unfortunately, its sides don’t fold up and this, therefore, makes it less appealing if portability is a top priority.

On a positive note, its larger sides can be quite an advantage as they provide you with acres of extra space to work on.

The big shot weighs a paltry 7.5lbs and it isn’t too heavy to move around after all – and that’s a plus especially if you’d like to work from different locations.

5. Maintenance and Warranty

Once the machine arrives, you’ll need to do some basic assembly work for it. For instance, you’d need to attach its handle with a hex wrench and screw (provided).

Other than that, there’s no maintenance required for this simple machine. Just keep it free from debris and dirt and everything else about it will be perfect.

If anything, Sizzix seems committed to stand behind the quality of this product. It’s no wonder they’ve provided a 3-year warranty and an awesome customer service to boot.