Have any of you ever used the Electric Stencil Cutting Tool? (Link Below).

http://www.stencilease.com/db/display.asp?input=1992

Over the years I have tried cutting stencils using both a single and double bladed Xacto knife and end up with terrible results, even using very thin mylar and plastics.

I tried using the wood burning tool that I have with an angled tip but I didn't have good results with that. I am not sure if that got too hot or what the problem was.

I would appreciate any info you can share regarding your experince with these tools. I hate to make another investment if it doesn't produce good results.

Thanks!

Never used, but looks like a good tool. Much less expensive than a Dremel which would do the same thing.

I have a Dremel but my doesn't heat up to melt plasic. I will have to look at it though maybe I can get an attachment.

Thanks

My clover iron has an attachment available ti cut stencils, but I haven;t tried it.

That looks like it would be wonderful. If you get it let us know how you like it.

Thanks Moonpi, I

have the original Clover iron but it doesn't have any attachments. I wasn't aware the newer ones had that attachment.

If anyone has tried the Clover iron stencil cutter attachment I would love hearing about it.

Thanks again.

have never used one

Hi Clueless,
I have a stencil burner such as this that I used to cut/burn stencils for decorative painting (my life before quilting). Let me say that if the plastic or mylar you use to burn the stencil is thin enough it does quite well. But I tried it on some actual quilt stencil thickness plastic and it was awful. It burned through but not as fast nor as smooth as the thinner mylar and there were a lot of "joggy blobs" (technical term) going outside of the lines. Of course operator error had a lot to do with it I'm sure and with practice it probably wouldn't be as bad. I would definitely try it again! Oh and just a little tidbit here: I put my pattern on a table, covered it with a piece of glass (such as out of an old picture frame from the thrift store-nothing good, and wrap the raw edges with some masking tape to protect your fingers), put my mylar/stencil material on top of that and burned it out the pattern on the glass. Remember the burner gets really hot and the melted plastic is worse than melted cheese if it gets on your hands so be careful! If you have little ones around it's best to do it when they are napping or out playing. Hope this helps!
Heidi

Heidi, Thank you so much for the information. The 'joggy blobs' were definitely one of my major problems when I used the wood burner, besides the fact that I couldn't stay on the line. After your info and doing some research I am also convinced that my plastic was too thick. Thanks again for the help.

You are very welcome! There are so many beautiful motifs and pattens I have found that I need that would be perfect for a particular block or sashing. They either need to be enlarged or decreased in size from the original. The stencil burner seemed the way to go. But I'm afraid nothing is ever easy. I refuse to give up on it though. One thing I haven't tried is the Olfa Double Blade stencil cutter (says to use it with DBK plastic-which I don't know what that is, but they sell both the cutter and the plastic at The Stencil Company online). I have one just haven't tried it yet. Too many goodies and too little time.
Heidi