Preventing Die Cut Machine Plate Warping + SALE Info

07.03.20

Hello! Today I am addressing a topic that folks have been asking about for some time — how to prevent die cut machine plate warping!

[If the video is not visible, please head HERE to YouTube to watch. All supplies are linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails at the end of this post. Compensated affiliate links may be used at no cost to you. I appreciate your support!]

I hope the tips in this video are helpful! Please keep in mind my disclaimers. The products I mentioned are linked below.

CRAFTY SALES

I also wanted to give you a heads up on several HUGE sales this weekend! I will be updating my list as I learn of new deals. You can find them HERE.

PRODUCTS MENTIONED

Want to find the products I used? I have listed them below. (Compensated affiliate links used at no cost to you. Thank you for your support! Affiliate and product disclosure can be found here. All products were personally purchased. As always, I was not paid to do this post nor am I on any design teams. I only use products I love!) Click on the icons below each product picture to go to a favorite store.

Gemini Junior Die Cut Machine
[ SSS | ELH ]
Gemini Junior Instruction Manual
[ LNK ]
Gemini Junior Clear Cutting Plate
[ SSS | ELH ]
Gemini Junior Magnetic Shim
[ SSS ]
Gemini Junior Plastic Shim
[ SSS ]
Gemini Junior Metal Cutting Plate
[ SSS ]
i-Crafter Self Mending Cutting Pad
[ SSS ]
Spellbinders Platinum 6 Die Cut Machine
[ SSS ]
Packing Tape
[ AMZUS ]
Brutus Monroe Not Your Mamas Cardstock
[ SSS | BMR ]
Memory Box Scribble Frond Background Die
[ SSS ]
Memory Box Scribble Frond Outline Die
[ SSS ]
Altenew Radial Hearts Die
[ SSS | ALTN ]
NEW Purple Tape 1/2 Inch
[ SSS ]
NEW Purple Tape 1 1/2 Inch
[ SSS ]
Tape Dispenser
[ AMZUS ]


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99 thoughts on “Preventing Die Cut Machine Plate Warping + SALE Info”

  2. Hello,
    Thanks so much for sharing your engineering expertise with us! I have the Gemini and use the Gemini plates the majority of the time and the plates get so warped and the plastic shim always ends up like a big U shaped piece of plastic. LOL I also saw a video that the creator of the Misti did and she used to I Crafter Mending Mats with the clear plate on the bottom.. That will go thru my machine and works. I tried the sandwich you mentioned in your video – clear plate, mending mat and clear plate – and it will not go thru my machine! It won’t accept it. I just can’t figure out why. Did the thickness of the clear plates change?

    I will definitely be using the taping method because I just purchased some plastic shims and clear plates.

    Thanks again for your sharing your knowledge with us!

    Marchelle

    P.S. My mom and I watch your videos all the time!

    Reply

  3. I am so glad you did this video. I have the larger Gemini machine, and the plates have warped terribly. I am going to try your method on the big machine. Hopefully it will work. Thank you.

    Reply

    1. I have the big machine too but bought the whole set of smaller plates for the Junior. They work perfectly, turned sideways. Jennifer’s
      DIY sandwich is absolutely a life saver! So glad she chose to break the rules.

      Reply

  4. Thank you for all your awesome videos! I am wondering if you know any tricks for the Big Shot. I purchased one recently and within a few cuts it was warping. I try to flip them but can’t always remember what side I used last! 🤪. I ended up purchasing a new set and am going to mark them but any ideas you may have heard from others would be really appreciated!

    Reply

  5. This is amazing – thank you! I do have a question. I have been really good about turning and flipping my plates with the current set I’m using for my Gemini Jr, but do still have some warping. I want to try taping my plates together as you have shown when I buy a replacement clear cutting plate. I have an extra new magnetic plate on hand (They come in packs of 2), but it is the “old” style – the all black one. Will this work the same as using the newer style when taping my plates together? Do you think I should still trim a bit off the edges? (I sometimes get some raggedy edges after a while. I thought it was because my sandwiches weren’t perfectly squared, but maybe mine is stretching out a bit over time too?)

    Reply

  6. Thank you so much for the video. Would you also have some tips how to aviod warping with the big shot?

    Reply

  7. Whooooop! I went ahead and bought new cutting plates, the new magnetic mat, and a new plastic shim after watching this video. They arrived today and I made my DIY version right away. I literally spent HOURS mass-cutting some dies. Effortless! I’m so happy you shared this with us! I wasn’t using my Gemini Jr much and kept reaching for my hand crank one instead… but not anymore! This is a game changer for sure!

    Reply

  9. great video. you say you break the rules but when they are demoing on tv, at least in uk, that is exactly the sandwich they use and not what is on instructions.
    need to look into that self-healing mat. i wonder if they do it for the large gemini? hugs xx

    Reply

  11. I just purchased the I-Mend Self-Mending Cutting Deck and had a question about using it with your DYI plate sandwich. I love the DYI sandwich and wondered if I could use the self-mending mat instead of the bottom plate along with your DYI sandwich. Is that something I can do?

    Reply

    1. did you ever figure it out? I’m thinking of getting the I Mend cutting mat, but not sure how it will work with the Gemini Jr. Pleae let me know. (FB me at Heidi Lilley)

      Reply

  13. I just got a Gemini die cut machine – the regular sized one. I was glad to see the “fix” you had in your video of how to stack and tape the plates together. However, I find the magnetic shim has no magnetic effect on the dies you are cutting if it is in between the plastic shim and clear cutting plate. I thought the magnetic shim was to keep the dies in place while running them through?

    Reply

  14. Hi! I have a question about your method, please. Have you found a way to get around the marks the tape makes on the paper? It has left an embossed line where the tape hits the paper. Thanks.

    Reply

  15. I tried your taped sandwich and it totally destroyed the magnetic plate. I think it may have been due to my plates and shim not being new and totally flat when the sandwich was made. In the meantime, I’ve ordered the I-Crafter mat and will try that. Very disappointed in this machine. Crafters Companion … do something to fix this!!!

    Reply

      1. Hi Jane, My name is Lori Winters,
        I tried the method that Jennifer used with taping the plates together and flipped the plates, it worked ok but did warp.
        I also purchased an I crafter plate and did a test, fair results with flipping the plates.
        I then tried another product,
        AccuQuilt GO! Cutting Mat; 6-inch-by-12-inch. I cut the AccuQuilt plate down to the size of the size of the Gemini plates using my Tim Holtz scissors. I flipped all the plates and did a bunch of die cutting. I also have been putting the 3 plates under the Gemini at night when not in use to flatten things out. My plates are perfectly flat.
        I’ll also need to mention that I purchased new Gemini plates to do my test.
        However, I also found a way to perfectly flatten my Gemini plates. I heated some water in the micro, about 8 cups for 10 minutes. I put my plates in a casserole dish and added the hot water, they flattened out fast. For my test I also placed another dish on top of the plates ( not sure I needed to), but it worked like a dream.

        Reply

  16. I just got my Gemini Jr & after only 4 cuts the plate warped so bad that only a small area in the middle would touch the dies. It was useless & it takes so long to get new ones shipped.
    So since I had Nothing to lose I put it in the microwave for 1 minute removed & flattened some then put it back for another minute & low & behold, it had straightened itself out! I did place a heavy marble cutting square onto it just to be sure it stayed.
    Can’t fix the cuts in it but now have a usable flat cutting plate.

    Reply

    1. The cuts are normal and happen with every die cutting machine. They don’t hurt anything. Flipping AND turning both clear plates with every single pass has kept my plates flat. maybe after 20-30 passes the top one will have the barest bit of a hump and then I turn but don’t flip that one af couple of times (hump up) and it will flatten. I just went through 50 passes in the machine for Halloween dies to add to little pillow boxes, and the plates are as flat as the day I bought them. But flipping and turning – AND putting dies in different places, not just in the center – was key. Good luck and thanks for the hint!

      Reply

  17. Love your DYI idea but have a question. When embossing & using the rubber mat do you still use it then or the other method?
    Also what about using the plastic embossing folders?
    Love your videos and Thank you for all your help.

    Reply

  18. I followed your instructions step by step and when I ran my die through my magnetic shim buckele in two places. What did I do wrong?

    Reply

  19. Alas, I traded my Tim Holtz Vagabond for the Gemini Jr based on your recommendation and am extremely unhappy. I have to “recalculate” the sandwich for each die. Even with your “out of the box” sandwich, the warping is out of control. I’m going back to the Vagabond that always gave me consistently good results. I think this one blog wasn’t good but I love all your others— they are my go-to for any technique. Keep up the good blogs.

    Reply

  20. Jennifer, when you have the plates layers-clear plate, magnetic plate, and plastic shim- do you lose the magnetic hold for the die cut? In other words, will the die cut hold onto the sandwich you built? Perhaps you always use a post-it note or purple tape to hold the die cut.
    Just wondering as I am about to do your DYI plates.
    Donna Hain

    Reply

  21. Hi – Great video. Thanks for doing all of that work. I read all of the comments and got great information on what to expect from my fellow crafters. My new Gemini Jr. arrived and I had already received the i-Craft Self Mending Cutting Deck. I’ve tried it out and I have a question. I have to push the sandwich using the i-Craft Self Mending Deck in your video through the Gemini Jr. It finally goes automatically once it’s about halfway through and toward the end it makes a loud cracking noise as it finishes. Is that normal? Oh, and the very first time I ran it through, the clear cutting plate warped much more than I thought it would and the i-Craft Self Mending Deck came out with a large bubble on one side. I have it sitting under the Gemini Jr trying to straighten it out. Do you get a loud crack when you use this sandwich? Did I do something wrong?

    Reply

    1. Hi Jo. I just tried the same thing out. Seemed to struggle a bit and at the end a large crack noise too. Have you had any further luck, have you changed things around at all? I am too scared to give it another try, don’t want to break my new machine

      Reply

      1. Selena, I seen your post and wondering the same thing. I tried mine today for the 1st time and have a large crack noise too.
        The plastic plate after 3x was warped. I sandwiched with the tape and tried the sample dies that come with the Gemini Jr and the tape split on the sides. I do not see any replies to questions posted here, was wondering if you found any other info? Thanks Nancy

        Reply

    1. Is there a self healing mat for the larger Gemini machine. Thanks. I watch you videos And I’ve learned many things from you. Your a great teacher. Thanks again

      Reply

  23. THanks for this awesome video. I have the Gemini and Spellbinders Platinum 6, so this is just the information i was looking for.

    Reply

  24. I made my own DIY pack and then realized I couldn’t use my embossing folders without taking it all apart. Had to get extra plates for ease of use. Disappointed with this, but it will be worth it in the long run.

    Reply

  25. i am wondering if you know what to do when the magnetic sheet warps also. i have barley used my plates, less than 50 cuts and the plastic plate is actually broken. thanks

    Reply

  26. Hi Jennifer:
    I have made a DIY plate using your idea and I love it! wish I had seen it before I warped my plates! But not to worry, I bought a new set of plates and am very very careful now.

    I didn’t see a recommendation for what to do for 3D embossing. Do you have a recommendation?

    Reply

    1. Where did you find new plates. No one has them and mine are terribly warped. I would like to try Jennifer’s DIY sandwich but I ma afraid the plates will be useless,

      Reply

  27. Based on your evaluation of the Gemini Junior I purchased it in September of 2020. I loved it! 4 months later I could not find anywhere to purchase a new set of plates. I have contacted the company and they offered the excuse they are behind in manufacturing the plates. Most sites not only have no supplies (out of stock) and now there are no machines in stock either. I had this same thing happen to me when I purchased the Cuttlebug. One year later the machines and the supplies were no longer available. I had even written Crafters Companion and was told that it was there best selling machine and it would be continue to be available. Is there anyone willing to be truthful about what is happening with this product. Holly in Houston [email protected]

    Reply

  28. Just bought the Gemini Jr. 2/25/21. Bummed that this didn’t work for me. 🙁 I did exactly as you demonstrated in your video but the first pass through with a die warped the bottom (unsandwiched) plate immediately, and after 10 passes through the magnetic mat started to stretch and bubble. It wasn’t the same mat with the ruler markings in your video, so I believe they have changed it again. I took the risk and broke the rules willingly and I’m so grateful you showed some great tips! I think some changes have been made to the products since your video and just wanted to pass my experience along. Thank you!

    Reply

  29. When I say, “You will agree with me when I say,” I’m sure you’ll agree. Our lives are made so much simpler by die cutting machines.

    We’ve made it easy for you to choose the correct die cut machine for stickers by including a thorough overview of the kit’s most impressive die-cutting machine for beginners. So you don’t have to wait for the tools and can start creating a variety of designs with a variety of fonts and patterns right away.

    Reply

  30. Jennifer, I recently began using this method. However, after a few uses the packing tape starts to loosen. What am I doing wrong?

    Reply

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