Opinion? Sizzix and Sidekick

Tammy,

I hate to admit it but I HATE BOTH. I found they were/are a waste of money.

I only use either once or twice a YEAR.

I guess it is also because I just don't have the space to leave them out to make them beneficial to me.

I have the converter but have never figured out how to use it. It took several attempts to even figure out how the darn thing attached to the sizzix machine. LOL

Kate

I have both and wish I could find my sidekick as I DO think it cuts better. I wasted, granted small, several chunks of cardstock today not getting it to cut thru on the regular sizzix. (was scrapping friend's baby book today and used converter on regular one)

Susan in germany

I have found that if I don't have it out I forget about it. I have now made a space on my desk for it and have been using it regularly.

--Tammy

Thanks Susan!

I was pondering getting the sidekick. Since I already had the Sizzix I was hoping I wouldn't have to buy the sidekick.

--Tammy

I have tried the Sidekick at my lss, and wasn't really impressed. I love my Sizzix, though. I have found that some of my Sizzlits don't cut well, and I think it's less a function of the machine than of the die. I think the Sizzlits are just not the quality cutter that the big dies are. (I NEVER have problems with the big dies.) I have found, though, that a piece of thin chipboard -- or thick cardstock -- laid on top of the Sizzlit while cutting works wonders. So I just keep a piece in the front of my Sizzlits box. It also allows me to use the QK dies with my Sizzix machine and the Sizzlits converter. Nice.

Long life, prosperity and chocolate, Raz

I also have never had a problem with the big dies. I tend to by more of the big dies then the sizzilets for that reason. I will try your cardstock/chipboard method to see if the helps. I have put more paper on the cutting pad but that doesn't seems to do the job. Maybe the extra cardstock will make the difference.

Thanks for the suggestion. I really would rather spend my $$ on more supplies instead of the sidekick.

--Tammy

Well...I just bought the sidekick for my bday present from hubby..so I'll be trying it out soon. The benefit is taht since I'm close to Tammy, we get both machines...cool! We can share the sizzlets also.

Amanda

I like the Sidekick for cutting the sizzlets. It seems to do a better job. Unfortunately I can't get mine to attach to the table, so I have to hold it down which is a pain sometimes, but it works.

I also just found out that you can use the Sizzix machine to crimp the new tags that are made for the tag maker. I haven't tried it yet, but a friend said that it worked.

I like the Sidekick better for the Sizzlets, just because its lighter and easier to move around in my cramped spaces.

Teresa in MD

I have the zip' e mate and love it

Do you use sizzix dies in it? I have a lot of sizzix dies, but I don't want to have two machines to deal with and take up room. Sandy

Yes that is why I like the zip'e mate...because it is compatible with most other brand dies. I currently use it for zip'e cut dies, accucut standard dies, sizzix dies, sizzlits, brass stencils for embossing, and Sizzlits simple impressions embossing folders. This is the link for the user manual for the zip'ecut.

And this link lists the compatibility with other systems. I got mine for $51 which included s/h so I figured I couldn't beat the price and have been very happy with it.

no affiliation....just a happy customer! Sharon

I had a sizzix which was OK, but as most mentioned in here even with the adapter, it cut sizzlets so so. I always had to use a piece of cardstock or thin cardboard to ensure they cut.

I HATED the sidekick. Had two of them, broke first one and used the replacement one ONCE and gave it away.

I read a bunch of stuff on the Zip'emate after they started to get popular and bought one. I have since enabled a couple in here to get it and I absolutely LOVE IT!!! Accucuts customer service is some of the best I have found, albeit they are often times slow with shipping as their products sell ot so fast.

Anyhow for the ZipEmate you need to have about 4 different cutting pads which are needed to use different other dies in it. Sometimes with quickuts dies I have found I need to use another piece of cardstock too like the Sizzix, but it still works consistently much better and is MUCH easier to use!!

46 for 06 1 card

OKC Dave

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