I also sorely miss having the material dial on the Maker, though the additional storage and iPad perch it has instead is quite nifty. For most people who just want to make simple vinyl and paper projects, the Cricut Maker will be overpriced and overkill. If any of these new features seem like must-haves to you, the Maker is the machine for you. Seamstresses and quilters were some of the early Cricut fanatics, and for good reason. However, there is a lot of utility packed into those extra dollars. And now, the options have exploded with debossing, engraving, perforating, & more. It comes with a Rotary Blade for cutting unbonded fabric, just like the handheld rotary cutters that you’re used to. Once the project has completed, You will need to wipe the tiny shreds of plastic off the engraving. It’s so much easier not having to change out tools between each individual use. The Cricut Maker vastly outpowers the Explore Air 2 with the Adaptive Tool system. The Maker utilizes an incredible new technology to truly open up a new world of cutting. The Rotary Blade for fabric (discussed above), is the best electric cutter for fabric yet. Since the machine is a few years old now (released in 2016), it always on sale, and actually keeps getting cheaper and cheaper! The engraving tip – like all of the quickswap housing blades – ONLY works on the Cricut Maker machines. It also only engraves the outline of a shape or word – it does not fill it in. Are the machines attractive? The Cricut Maker does everything, and it does it well, an uncommon combination. This is where you’ll find the most important differences between these two models of Cricut. The Cricut Maker is the most expensive personal cutter on the market. A: The Maker is better for cutting foam sheets because you can move the rollers all the way to the sides, so they won’t leave indents on your foam. This saves so much time, whether you are making a whole run of stickers for your volleyball team, or cutting out a long complicated vinyl decal to put on your bedroom wall. Just be sure to select the correct thickness that corresponds to your material! A: The Maker is definitely better for cutting felt. You can often get a great deal on a Cricut machine by picking out a bundle, which comes with a starting selection of vinyl, paper, tools, and guides. How much do these machines cost? The Maker was first released with three colors, then they added an additional two more. Can I use the Rotary Blade or Knife Blade with the Explore Air 2? to easily select machine settings without going into the software. You won’t just be making puzzles or fun shapes out of craft foam. For the design of these Cricuts, I’ll discuss how the machine bodies look and feel when you use them. It is important to remember that the engraving blade does not engrave very deeply. The Smart Set Dial is a smooth knob where you can select the material you’ll be cutting, and the machine automatically selects the appropriate cut settings for Design Space to use. Other than that, there haven’t been significant improvements to the Explore line of vinyl cutters. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Most of its utility is geared towards making paper and vinyl cutting easy and successful, and so it proves to be a great value for that purpose. When buying a craft cutter, what’s more important than how it cuts? The Maker uses the innovative Adaptive Tool System to cut, draw, score & more. FoxAlien LE-4040 Desktop Laser Engraver is the perfect device for home use. Cricut claims that you can engrave thick paper or thin wood with this tool, however, I have never been able to get it to really show up – it’s just so, so faint. Cricut Maker vs Cricut Explore Air 2 [2020 update]. And with the Explore Air 2, weaker felt will need to be bonded like other fabrics in order to be cut. I actually prefer engraving to cutting vinyl or paper because there’s no weeding and no applying it to anything – once your design is ready, it’s so quick and easy! Are you trying to decide between the Cricut Explore Air 2 and the Cricut Maker? The Debossing Tip is essential for scrapbookers to create gorgeous foils. It enables hobbyists, amateurs and even beginners to explore the engraving world, to create their own works and have fun! You can read my comparison of the Explore Air 2 and Maker , but the biggest benefit to the Maker is that all of the new blades that Cricut releases will be Maker-only. This machine is regarded as the best deal, as it uses the same software as the Cricut Maker, it’s just not as powerful and doesn’t work with the new tools. –> Here is the best place to order to receive a Maker right away, Cricut Maker + Everything Materials Bundle, Cricut Explore Air 2, + Everything Bundle. It only takes 10-20 mins to fully assemble. The Maker adds greater cutting power and works with a whole suite of exclusive tools that make it the top choice for fabric, 3d paper art, and cutting thick or exotic materials. The Maker can cut 300+ different materials. With the extra space on the machine’s body, Cricut has added additional storage for pens and accessories (which you’ll need with all these tools!). The engraving tip is labeled with a “41” to help differentiate it from other blades. I use a cloth or T shirt to do this! The Cricut Maker was designed to elevate electronic fabric cutting to an entirely new level. If you aren’t going to be cutting fabric or thicker materials you might be better off with the Explore Air 2. Will the Maker be coming out in any other colors? © 2020 Cut, Cut, Craft! It actually ranks as my top overall pick for best vinyl cutter. The limit on your machine is 2.4mm thick. Design space has settings for acrylic. Well, these new tools are actually able to lift and turn while cutting, which is unlike any other cutting tool we’ve seen. You can also check out my free cut file gallery and the latest project for my printer stand and storage for my Cricut machines! If you can afford it, you'll have a versatile machine which will last you a long time. Or is the Explore Air 2 enough? Still, the Cricut Explore Air 2 is the best value cutter for a narrow range of use. 2. Cricuts are defined by the tools they use. This machine can engrave/carve/cut different kinds of material such as wood, MDF, acrylic, cardboard, vinyl, and leather etc. The Cricut Maker was released just a year after the Explore Air 2, and proved to be one of the biggest upgrades to a craft cutter we’ve seen. Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter | YouTube, Copyright by The Charleston Crafted Blog, LLC, 2020 | Trellis Framework by Mediavine, How to lower price on Facebook Marketplace, my comparison of the Explore Air 2 and Maker, Soft metal – like aluminum, copper, brass, stainless steel. Cricut has released a wide array of fun and useful tools to use with the Adaptive Tool System in the Cricut Maker: And best of all, with the Maker you’ll be futureproof: Cricut plans to continue to develop and release additional tools for this machine. There is no more slot for cartridges, instead you’ll have to buy a special adapter. The Maker is practically swimming in amazing tools to try out. The Explore Air 2 is a fantastic cutter, at a fantastic price. Since then, Cricut has released the Air 2 in some amazing and vivid new colors. It also has a cartridge slot to link Cricut cartridge if you still have some lying around, or pick up a batch at a yard sale. Want to learn about more Cricut blades? I cut mostly foam sheets, do I need the Maker for that? I would say that anything under 3mm will work! I’ll compare everything about the Cricut Maker vs Cricut Explore Air 2, so you can make the best decision about which to purchase. For Fine-Point, Premium Fine-Point, Deep Point, and Deep-Cut Blades: Gently push the pin on the top of the housing and carefully pull out the blade from the bottom. If you will be cutting almost entirely paper and vinyl, then I recommend that you pick this more affordable option. 1. This one is no contest. It’s just like a rotary cutter you might use by hand. However, if you don’t want to limit your options or your creativity, then I recommend the Maker. Posted on Published: February 24, 2020 Categories Cricut. The Adaptive Tool System design also lets you use rotary tools, which simply don’t work with the Explore. The cartridge slot lets you easily insert your old Cricut cartridges so you can link them to your Cricut account and access the designs within Cricut Design Space. It will save you so much time, and allow you to cut more fabrics than ever before. The Cricut Explore Air 2 was released in 2016, as the absolute fastest version of the Explore series. However, their focus on the Maker seems to be for new tools, while the Explore Air 2 is getting all the new colors. The Explore Air 2 has a standard lineup of tools you can use. Written by Ali Fields | Updated: October 17, 2020. Remove the blade housing from your Cricut Explore or Cricut Maker: Open Clamp B and remove the blade housing. The Explore Air 2 is good for dense, thin felt up to 1.5 mm, but has trouble cutting out smaller pieces and finer details. I ordered a few blades when I got started just to experiment with. It engraves better, scores better, and debosses better. The plus is that it’s a fair bit less expensive and comes in a variety of beautiful, colorful designs that just pop in … Ready. Want more Cricut? You can cut 3x as many materials, including dense leather, matboard, and wood. Okay, you can probably guess this one. It inscribes, etches, or makes a permanent imprint on your material. And the tools work better than on the Explore Air 2. Which is a better value for what you get? But if you’ll be doing more than the occasional fabric piece, the Cricut Maker is definitely the machine for you! But no one knows yet! The more time you save cutting means the more projects you’ll get to do! Click here to buy the Engraving tool on the Cricut website, Click here to buy the Engraving tool on Amazon. However, the Maker sacrifices a bit in design and costs a fair bit more. This means you can cut & draw in a single pass, or write out a birthday message & score the card for folding in a single go. Both machines prove quite useful for making neat fabric projects. Well, the Cricut Maker can do a whole lot more than the Explore Air 2 can but comes with a bigger price tag to match. … With Cricut Knife Blade! The value of the Maker will depend on what you want to do with it. The Cricut Maker is a solidly built machine, coming in at 21 lbs. (The Maker goes up to 2.4 mm.). [Reader tip: You can also just email Cricut support with pictures to have your cartridges linked to your account!]. What sort of storage and buttons and knobs are there? Makes cutting fabric easy (even materials like crepe paper or silk), 10x the cutting force of the Cricut Explore Air 2, Requires an internet connection or an iOS/Android device, Includes all of the best Explore Air tech: Bluetooth, dual tool holder, and 2x fast mode, Works with great new tools for fabric, leather, wood, metal, and more, Built-in mount and charger for your phone or tablet, plus additional storage, Best value on a Cricut for cutting paper and vinyl, Dual tool head and 2x fast mode to make your cuts a breeze, Dual tool holder, so you can cut & draw in a single pass, 2x fast mode for quick cuts on paper and vinyl, Cartridge slot for linking your old Cricut cartridges, Smart Set Dial automatically selects machine settings to cut 100+ materials, Best value of any Cricut for cutting thin materials like paper and vinyl, Gorgeous design comes in a vibrant array of colors, Deep-point blade for cutting material up to 1.5 mm thick, Easily upload your own images, fonts, and SVGs to Design Space for cutting, Doesn’t work with the Rotary Blade for fabric or the Knife Blade for very thick materials, The Scoring Stylus doesn’t score as strongly as the Maker’s Scoring Wheel (used with the Maker), Fabric must be bonded to a stiffener before it can be cut. Cricut Explore Air 2. A: Probably! And there are all the regular and fabric pens as well. This way you can differentiate between your acrylic and vinyl. 2. I’ll be honest here, I was tempted to pick the Explore Air 2 as the winner here based solely on the color selection. A: Not that we’ve seen. Looking past all the bells and whistles, something that must be on your mind is price. Cricut machine (I have the Cricut Explore Air, and I love it!) The fabric cutting is easier and cleaner. You want your engraving centered (or wherever you want it) and it will only be correct if you place the material precisely on your mat. I’ve scoured the web and picked out some of the best bundles and deals for both the Explore Air 2 and the Maker. It has a Smart Set Dial (which I love!) This post may contain affiliate links, which means that we earn a small percentage of each sale. Change the 2 new to a different color. FoxAlien LE-4040 Desktop Laser Engraver. As just a regular vinyl cutter, it is overpriced, even if it does cut a bit more nicely than the Explore Air 2. The Smart Set Dial enables you to easily cut over 100 different types of material with this craft cutter. However, the Explore Air 2 is still able to cut foam, but only up to 1.5 mm thick. I also loved being able to change the blade depth with just the turn of the dial. It comes with the Rotary Blade for fabrics, which is able to cut unbonded fabric cleanly and precisely. It provides significantly improved cutting for fabric, 3d paper art, thick and dense materials, as well as other creative functions like embossing, engraving, and perforating. The machine has a black base, a white body, and the lids come in a handful of colors: lilac, blue, rose, mint, and champagne. It has a 2x fast mode for cutting thin materials like vinyl and paper at twice the speed of the old Explore. There are tons of projects that you can engrave with Cricut. You don’t technically need Bluetooth to cut, you can always leave your phone or computer tethered to the machine via USB cable instead. Is the more expensive Maker actually worth it? First, let’s take a look at the cutting technology that each machine uses. Set. In design space, to change a design to engrave, all you do is: REMEMBER – it will engrave an OUTLINE of the design. You can buy a special Bonded-Fabric Blade, though this is actually identical to the regular blade that comes with your machine, but in pink. Remember that they both do have the dual tool holder, so they can both cut fabric and label it with washable fabric markers in the same pass, without getting out of alignment. Below, I’ve outlined some of the key attributes that make the Cricut Maker such an amazingly versatile machine. The Explore Air 2 uses a drag blade technology that moves up and down and cuts side-to-side. As much as I dearly love the Cricut Maker, I just can’t ignore its price tag. What exactly is the difference between these two cutting machines? It typically costs about 1.5x as much as the Explore Air 2. The Deep-Point blade can cut thick materials like craft foam up to 1.5 mm thick. The Adaptive Tool System in the Cricut Maker gives you 10x the cutting power, and lets you cut over 300 different types of material. Open up your project, or create a new one. The model is an excellent tool if you need to cut wood, MDF, acrylic, cardboard, vinyl, leather, even pleated and powder-coated metal while on maximum speed (although it won’t cut it as nicely as wood).. The Knife Blade cuts through materials thicker than any other sharply angled blade, up to 2.4 mm thick. The Explore Air 2 is not just more affordable, but I also think it’s the better value. I have used this blade to engrave acrylic several times. The Maker is one of the first Cricuts to actually use an entirely new control system for controlling the tool heads. But for those who will take advantage of the versatility and power, it will be worth it. Which machine should I get for cutting felt? Considering purchasing the Cricut Engraving tool? The engraving tip – like all of the quickswap housing blades – ONLY works on the Cricut Maker machines. Best of all, with the Maker you’ll be at the forefront for new tools, as Cricut is continuing to develop fun additions for the Maker. It is able to cut all thicknesses up to 2.4 mm. The Cricut Explore Air 2 was released in 2016, as the absolute fastest version of the Explore series. After that came fabric cutters, deep-angled blades, and scoring tips. Want to know which is the right machine for you? We take a look at two of Cricut's most popular machines. But the basic design of the machine, beneath the colors, is more attractive as well. With the power of the Adaptive Tool System and the Knife Blade, you can actually cut fine details out of tough leather, matboard, and balsa wood. Unfortunately, Cricut has remained completely silent on if they will ever offer a trade-in option for those who want to upgrade to the Cricut Maker. You now have 3 circles, you can remove the 2 smaller ones. The options for the Air 2 are the Bonded-Fabric Blade and the Deep-Point Blade, which don’t cut quite as well as the Maker versions. Cricut sells has washable fabric pens so you can cut and mark your fabric in one sweep, without anything getting out of alignment. The Maker can be used with the Knife Blade (sold separately) which has a steeply angled edge for cutting dense materials up to 2.4 mm thick. We independently research our recommended products. They remain some of the best priced machines for cutting vinyl and paper, especially since they are almost always on sale these days. Be sure to check out my review of the wavy blade? Cricut Explore Air 2 vs Silhouette Cameo 3, How To Cut & Make Vinyl Decals With a Cricut, How to Save a Silhouette File as a JPEG, PDF, or PNG, Cricut Maker vs Cricut Explore Air 2: a comparison, Cricut Maker vs Explore Air 2 – a quick glance, Feature Comparison of the Cricut Maker vs Explore Air 2, Cutting technology: Adaptive Tool System vs Smart Set Dial. The Maker also comes with access to the Sewing Pattern Library with over 500 digital designs, from real designers. It is the better machine for fabric projects, 3d paper crafts, and for makers craving versatility out of their cutter. You can grab my project above. Just below I’ll take you through the features that the Explore Air 2 has to offer. Still, it’s useful to keep the fabric blade separate so it is only used on fabric and stays sharp. Cricut StandardGrip cutting mat; adhesive vinyl (I get my vinyl from Expressions Vinyl, but you can also get it directly from Cricut, or from a craft store like Michaels or JoAnns) Cricut basic tool set; Instructions. If you want a non-outlined font, you will need to select a WRITING font. And best of all, the Cricut Explore Air 2 is the speediest cutter from the Explore line. 3. Among the three Cricut machines the Explore Air 2 is the most popular model. However, you could try to sell your used Explore Air 2 on eBay or Facebook Marketplace to get money to use towards a Cricut Maker. I don’t have enough space on my cutting station to park my laptop next to the cutter, and, well, I just don’t want to give up my phone for 20 minutes while it cuts out a big project. And there’s the Perforation Blade, the Wavy Blade, all the colorful pens, fabric pens, washable pens, plus whatever else Cricut dreams up next. But for me, having wireless cutting is essential. There is a regular blade for thin and easy materials. Best Maker and Explore Air 2 deals and bundles (where to buy). The Maker does a lot more than basic paper and vinyl cutting. What Makes Cricut Maker Different From Cricut Explore Machines? I’ll go over all the most important features of these two machines, so you can decide if the upgrade is worth it for you and the crafting you do the most. There is also a dock for a phone or tablet, and a 3.0 Amp USB port for charging that device. Cricut has moved towards simplicity in the design of this machine. The Cricut Maker is the clear winner for selection and quality of tools. Most of the advanced features of the machine make it easy to use, and improve your quality of life, as you cut out your creative projects. It is just so useful to have the cutting taken care of for you, so you can get straight to the business of sewing your work together. The New Bold Cricut Explore Air 2 Family – There’s a Hue for You! Duplicate your large circle twice. One of them was the Engraving tip. Cut. It even cuts paper and vinyl more accurately, as the turning technology of the Adaptive Tool System lets you cut out smaller lettering out of thing materials. Do you have a crafting tutorial you'd like to see? Feb 22, 2021 - Learn how to use your Cricut and making amazing papercrafts, decals, projects, and things with it! (If you’re looking for a larger comparison, I have a new article on Cricut vs Silhouette which goes over all of their machines). In fact, that’s the “Air” in Air 2. On the top of the machine body, you’ll notice features missing on the Cricut Maker vs Explore Air 2: the Smart Set Dial and the cartridge slot. Since then, Cricut has released the Air 2 in some amazing and vivid new colors. The Bonded-Fabric Blade (described above) is a pink version of the regular blade that is useful for keeping separate from your regular blade. The Air 2 also features a Smart Set Dial so you can easily select the material type. You can read my comparison of the Explore Air 2 and Maker, but the biggest benefit to the Maker is that all of the new blades that Cricut releases will be Maker-only. The single and double Scoring Wheels can deeply score cardstock for 3d paper crafts. There is no button to open, you simply lift the lid and the rest of the machine unfolds. The Air 2 also has a dual tool holder that can hold two different tools: blades, pens, or the scoring stylus. And of course the digital designs provide so many fun patterns for applique, as well as sewing plushies, pillows & more. It has a dual tool holder so you can cut & draw, or cut & score in the same pass. The scoring and debossing are sharper. The cut settings are controlled entirely from within the Cricut Design Space software; there is no longer a materials setting dial on the top of the machine. While the Explore Air 2 cuts similarly to other popular home cutters, the Cricut Maker is absolutely in a league of its own. The Scoring Stylus can score into cardstock, though not as well as the Maker’s Scoring Wheel. Similarly, Cricut removed the material dial, and instead the machine settings are set within the design program. The most important step in engraving is to line up your material on the mat correctly. - All Rights Reserved. Cricut Explore Air 2. The Rotary Blade is able to rotate around curves as it cuts, giving better cuts out of more difficult fabrics than a regular blade. The engraving blade is used to engrave things! Compared to the Cricut Joy, the Explore Air 2 is much bigger and as a result it can cut much wider and longer projects. But if you want to cut fabric or make 3d paper art or if any of the new functions are appealing to you, then you may decide that the additional cost is worth it. 4. A: No, the Rotary Blade and Knife Blade work with only the Cricut Maker. Check out my super detailed guide to using the Cricut Maker Knife Blade, how to slice text in Cricut Design Space, my EasyPress 2 guide, my Cricut Explore Air 2 review, and my tutorial for the new EasyPress Mini and using iron-on with wood! The Air 2 automatically opens at the touch of a button. I found that the best results came from the “Tooling Leather – 6-7 oz. (At least, since everything went digital!). And it really enables you to create more multimedia projects than you otherwise would even consider. Initially they were solely electronic cutting machines (with cartridges!). Other than that, there haven’t been significant improvements to the Explore line of vinyl cutters. It’s also the only Cricut that comes with access to Cricut’s Sewing Pattern Library, with over 500 digital sewing patterns, complete with markings for seam allowances. Here is everything you need to know to get started! It will cut unbonded fabric, score cardstock more deeply, cut thicker material, and allow you to more precisely cut a greater range of material than ever before. Using Design Space Images, shapes and fonts I made a little mouse with a bow. –> Here is the best place to order to receive a Maker right away. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. However, the Adaptive Tool System really shines for powering through thick or tough material like leather and wood, for cutting unbonded fabric, and for scoring, engraving, and embossing more deeply than ever before. And what pushes it over the edge is that it is simply an awesome value for what you get. Can I trade in my Explore Air 2 for credit towards a Cricut Maker? Then Cricut added a pen holder and colorful pens to scribe fonts or drawings. This lets the blades use more pressure with finer control, giving 10 times the cutting power of the previous Explore series. The 2 colored circles are vinyl. No complicated installation; simple and easy for beginners. This system moves left, right, up, and down, and it also lifts and turns the cutting heads as it navigates your design. Cricut Explore Air 2. How big are they? No more ironing your fabric onto HeatNBond or freezer paper before cuts, which will save tons of time. The Cricut Maker works with an ever expanding array of tools designed to work with the Adaptive Tool System. First were the original pastels, and more recently it was released in 8 additional imaginative colors like boysenberry, cobalt, fuchsia, sunflower, and persimmon. It doesn’t look like the Air 2 will be getting additional tools any time soon (outside of new hacks that the community can try out). The Cricut Maker was announced in 2017, about a year after the Explore Air 2, to a whole heap of excitement from the Cricut community. The Explore Air 2 was the second Cricut machine I owned (I had an Explore Air prior) and it was the machine that really got me to fall in love with everything Cricut. Interestingly, because the Explore series has been around for so long, there are also a bunch of DIY hacks and off-brand tools you can try for embossing, engraving, debossing, and more. Final Verdict: the versatile and powerful Cricut Maker! It has all the tools and features that an average user might need and it can handle a wide range of materials. I had used a Silhouette Cameo before and really loved how easy Cricut Design Space was to use. I use the purple mat and add tape to the sides to hole my acrylic in place. The Knife Blade cuts deeper. Remove the protective cover from the new blade. The Explore Air 2 is able to cut bonded fabric, meaning fabric that is adhered to a stiff backing that makes it easier to cut. The Explore Air 2 features embedded Bluetooth for wireless cutting. One of the things that I was most excited about when I got my Cricut Maker was the ability to swap out the blades for their new, hyper-specific tools. The Cricut Maker is the best machine for cutting fabric, making it the top pick for seamstresses and quilters. It works similarly to other brands of home vinyl cutter, to give clean cuts on over 100 different materials. However, I was able to engrave 3mm acrylic – it’s actually slightly less than 3mm, that’s just what they call it. For my initial test of the debossing and engraving tips on the leather, I tried out a few of the different cutting settings that Cricut has pre-programmed into Design Space. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our links. So even when cutting thin paper and vinyl, you get cleaner curves and can cut smaller fonts more precisely. At the release, there were even quite a few grumbles from those who had recently bought an Explore Air 2, wishing they had known a better machine was coming out. Both machines have dual tool holders, and a fast mode for cutting vinyl and paper. The Explore Air 2 has a gorgeous design that comes in an amazing variety of full-body colors. It is still the best cutter that Cricut offers, so I’m guessing they will roll out some bright colors in the next year or two. By just turning a knob, the machine will automatically select the appropriate cut settings for your chosen material.