Many people have questions about which Silhouette Cameo blade is best to use with a cutting machine; there isn’t a standard answer because it all depends on the type of material you’re cutting, the design, and the Silhouette machine you’re using. The Silhouette has so many blades to choose from; it can be confusing to know which Silhouette Cameo blade goes with your cutting machine. Find your cutting machine below, and see a list of Silhouette Cameo blades and tools you can use with your die-cutting machine.
So, here’s a look at the Silhouette Cameo blades and tips you can use with a die-cutting machine.
1. Kraft Silhouette Cameo Blades
The 3mm Kraft Blade is great for cutting thick heat transfer materials such as Sisar Brick, StripFlock Pro, etc. Although these materials are safe to cut with your regular blade, sometimes they need multiple passes to get a fine and clean cut. You will be surprised how clean and easy it is to use and cut with the long, thick, stainless steel craft blade.
The Kraft Blade is one of those tools you may not need daily, but you’ll be glad to have a job. This is one of the best Silhouette Cameo blades to use with any Silhouette machine. In addition to thick heat transfer materials, you can cut acetate, chipboard, craft foam, and leather.
This Kraft Blade has a debossed “2” on the front, which means it can only be used in carriage 2 of the Silhouette Cameo machine. This blade automatically detects when you put it on the Silhouette Cameo machine. This Kraft Blade has to be manually adjusted before each cut. To do this, rotate the lower collar to expand the blade to match the thickness of the material you’re cutting. Your action should be set to “Cut.” Use a cutting mat when cutting through media and make a test cut to ensure your proper settings are used.
2. Pen Holder – Silhouette Cameo Blades
There are many fun applications for the pen holder tool! Here it works: Place your pen or marker into the appropriate collar and screw it into the main pen holder. Place it carefully so that only the tip is exposed. Once the pen or marker is positioned correctly, place the tool* in carriage 1 or 2 of the Cameo machine and snap it into place. Remove your plastic tip cover, and you are ready to go. You can send the design to Silhouette Studio software and sketch the Cameo machine with the chosen pen or marker.
For heat transfer, the Pen Holder unlocks the easiest and most affordable entry into the world of sublimation: the sublimation marker! These sublimation markers can be heat pressed onto any sublimation blank, like the regular transfer done with an expensive sublimation printer. You can buy sublimation markers and use the Cameo machine to sketch designs with them. A fun project to try is to have Silhouette Cameo sketch a coloring page with a black Artesprix Sublimation Marker, then hand-color it with the rest of the set.
Also, you can use the Pen Holder tool to sketch Silhouette Studio designs with your favorite marker or pen on paper or cardstock for invitations and other projects.
If you’re using the Cameo 4 machine, you need the Sketch Pen Smart Adapter (blue) that came with the machine. This adapter allows it to automatically recognize the tool when you put it in your machine. Set the action to “Sketch” on the appropriate material setting. The Pen Holder tool can be loaded into carriage 1 or 2 of your machine.
3. Ratchet Silhouette Cameo Blades
The standard black Ratchet Blade can be used to cut a splice in any Silhouette Cameo, Portrait, and Curio machines.
To adjust a regular Silhouette blade to a depth of 1-10″, use the blade on the actual Silhouette machine or the gray ratchet with the built-in ratchet. Simply place the tip of the blade and twist. When inserted into your machine, the fins on the blade housing should point at 6 o’clock.
With the exception of the fabric, Silhouette Cameo and Portrait machines use Ratchet Blades to cut all materials from paper to vinyl to stencil materials, etc. It is used on similar materials in the Silhouette Curio machine. You should get these Silhouette Cameo blades as they are helpful with your cutting machine to cut any shape and size.
4. Punch Tool – Silhouette Cameo Blades
Have you ever cut out an elaborate design and removed the wrong piece? If so, the Punch Tool was created just for you! This tool is simple but super helpful. This leaves a small hole in the negative parts of the transfer that must be taken out. These small punctures show where to weed and create great starter holes for the hook tool. The punch tool will take the guesswork of weeding and make the whole process much easier and more enjoyable.
This punch tool has a debossed “2” on the front, meaning it can only be used in carriage 2 of Silhouette Cameo. Your material setting for the Punch Tool should match the setting of whatever tool in Carriage 1. Your action should be selected to “Punch.”
5. AutoBlade – Silhouette Cameo Blades
The AutoBlade is an auto-adjusting cutting blade used in the Silhouette Cameo 3 and Portrait 2 machines. You should get this Silhouette Cameo blade that works with any Silhouette machine.
The AutoBlade can adjust before cutting by tapping into the blade tool carriage. The tapping action will change the blade to the recommended blade depth based on the material selected in Silhouette Studio software. The AutoBlade can only be used in the left tool carriage of the Silhouette Cameo 3 machine.
6. Rotary Silhouette Cameo Blades
Unlike traditional blades, which are knife-shaped, the rotary blade is closer to the pizza cutter. This unique structure makes it ideal for cutting fabric, felt, wool, crepe paper, and other specialty materials. Of the four tools described in this blog, the rotary tool is the one that lends itself the least to heat transfer. This is a great addition to your arsenal if you want to expand your offerings beyond heat transfer or cut unique shapes and materials for mixed media applications. For example, custom felt pennants are a great way to incorporate custom-cut materials with heat transfer. You should try this great Silhouette Cameo blade with your machine.
This rotary blade has a debossed “2” on the front, indicating that it can only be used in Carriage 2 of your Silhouette Cameo. Tighten the safety cap to expose the blade. Your Cameo should automatically detect this blade. With your object selected, set your action in Silhouette Studio to “rotary cut.”
