The Cricut is an electronic cutting machine that can cut a variety of materials including paper, vinyl, fabric, and more. But does it work on leather?
The answer is yes! The Cricut is capable of cutting leather, but there are some important considerations to take into account before attempting this project.
What Type of Leather Works Best?
The best type of leather for use with the Cricut machine is tooling leather. This type of leather is thinner than other types, making it easier to cut with the machine.
It also has a smooth finish that will allow for neat cuts and intricate designs.
Preparation Tips
Before cutting the leather with the Cricut, it’s important to make sure the material is properly prepared. This includes cleaning the surface with a damp cloth to remove any dust or debris. Then, apply a thin layer of adhesive spray to both sides of the material in order to keep it from shifting during the cutting process.
Cutting Techniques
Blade Setting:
When cutting leather with the Cricut machine, you should select the “deep cut” blade setting in order to get clean and precise cuts. You may also need to adjust your blade depth depending on how thick your material is.
Speed & Pressure:
When cutting leather with the Cricut machine, you should use a slow speed setting and low pressure setting in order to get clean and precise cuts without tearing or fraying the material.
Weeding:
After your design has been cut out on the leather, you may need to do some weeding in order to remove any small pieces that were not cut all the way through. This can be done using tweezers or an Exacto knife.
Conclusion
Yes, you can use your Cricut machine on leather! With proper preparation and careful consideration of blade settings and speed/pressure settings, you can easily create beautiful designs with tooling leather.