You are absolutely right. The layers they tell you to use in the manual are overkill. You usually don't need that many, and that is what causes the warping. I've also had a lot of success using 3 Big Shot plates (fed sideways/landscape) into my Gemini, and they work beautifully. No warping or cracking.
YES! I have had trouble with my full size Gemini from the very beginning. I am not knocking the product because it cuts beautifully and is WAY better than cranking. It is easy to forget it is a mechanical item exerting pressure and variables (dies, paper, shims) affect the performance. I'm convinced that all Gemini's are not the same or calibrated the same. What works for my Jr. sometimes does not work for my full size. I realize straying from the recommendations can void the warranty; however, what good is it doing sitting there if I'm not using it? I have also had great luck with 2 big shot plates and then a Gemini cutting plate as my sandwich. Great video! :)
Oh my! I don't know how many warped dies I have now plus I have gone through so many die cutting plates it's just insane! This will really help me a lot when I get a Gemini machine. I'm getting tired of my Big Shot as I can't seem to stop the warping! Thank you so much, Laura. I find your tips and tricks so very helpful. I hope you are doing well. Have an awesome weekend!
Hi Laura! I am so happy this was useful! I was quite disappointed at first with the warping plates - I have had a Big Shot Express for years and I didn't have any problems with my plates. But with this solution I am now super happy with the Gemini - I love the large one because the plates are large enough to fit slimline dies too! I wish you a wonderful weekend too!
I’ve discovered this too, then I saw your video and I feel better about not following their instructions 😂my plates warped at warp speed, and I had to do all sorts to flatten them out!
I want to know how to stop all the scaring from my acrylic plates transferring onto the card stock I'm die cutting. I can't afford to buy new plates every other week so mine are pretty bad. It's ruined so many cards because it's so visible 😥
I had a super long reply but for some reason, it's not showing.... 😭 What I do is I always cut into the same plate, this way the top plate stays intact and the marks only transfer to the underside of the card panel. A thicker sandwich will also transfer the marks more easily, so if you have a Gemini and use the solution I showed in the video, that will also help. :)
I've been wanting to buy the Gemini Jr but I was really hesitant because I wasn't sure if I wanted to use so many plates. Thank you so much for sharing your video and showing different methods that can be used:)
Believe me whatever you do don’t make it too thick you will regret it!!!! as I said above my husband took two hours to open up my Gemini Junior so I could get those stuck plates out. Very greasy job indeed😢
Thank you I will try it I just got through a two hour session with my husband had to fully dismantle my Gemini Junior because I did that dollar tree hack and my plates were jammed in there. so he took the rollers apart, the machine apart, and had to reassemble the whole thing. believe me it’s not easy it’s very complicated
I don’t use super intricate dies but whenever I can I just run things through a couple of times rather than increasing the sandwich’s thickness. The position and orientation of dies on the plates also affects the pressure and how easily they will cut. Hope this helps!
What sandwich did you use? Sometimes thin paper and thin dies are a more difficult combination. In this case I would suggest to go up one shim at the time. :)
@@LauraVolpes i tried cutting plate, plastic shim, vellum or 110 lb cardstock, die, cutting plate. Didn't work. Added printer paper, still not. So i added the metal shim & it worked. When it cuts well it's a dream but i need to push my plates thru (even a thin sandwich needs to almost be forced in) & they warp so fast it's not really worthwhile. However I can't use a manual machine so this is what i have.
Hi Laura; I was glad to see your you tube on the Gemini plates. I’ve been thinking about purchasing the Gemini but haven’t seen many good reviews. How long have you had yours? I just can’t handle my big shot anymore. It’s so hard on my joints. 😭 so … I was looking for an easier solution. I make a lot of cards and would be using it a lot. I have a brother cut and scan which helps so much but still need a smaller die cutting machine. Thanks
I can totally understand about the joints. I actually started off directly with an electric die-cutting machine (Big Shot Express) because I knew I couldn't handle the cranking (I was just recovering from chronic pain issues in my hands and arms). I actually tried using a manual one during Creativation and oh, my...so glad I went for the automatic option! Granted, the plates were quite warped but honestly, I didn't expect it to take so much strength...way more than I had anyway :D Anyway, to come to your questions...I have had mine since May 2020 and I am happy with it. I think much of the "bad press" comes from the warping plates and I was also very disappointed at first. But with this solution I am perfectly satisfied and I haven't had any issues. The Big Shot Express is also a good option, I haven't had any problems with it. The Gemini has the advantage that the plates that come with it are already large enough for slimline dies and larger sets (if you get the full size machine, not the Jr). And with the Big Shot you have to hold the button down to make the plates move, whereas with the Gemini you just press once and it does its thing. It's a minor point but I am lazy and anything that helps is welcome 😂 Hope this helps and it wasn't too long!
Thanks Laura for your help. I think I’ll be purchasing the Gemini jr. I’m not much into slim line cards so this one should work for what I want it for. Thanks for all your great tips. Hope to see more of your videos and card making!
I think it should work, the principle is the same :) If you do try this out and would like to share the results, I would love to know if it helped! I think it would help a lot of us!
I tried just once so far and it didn’t work. I will likely see if there is another smaller sandwich that does. The warping really bothers me. I also must say that my one plate is already warped so I don’t know if that affected it.
@@heidimlsb3530 thanks for letting me know! Hopefully you will find a good sandwich for your machine. I also noticed that some dies are thinner than others and it takes a few passes. Sometimes I also need to rotate the die or change its position on the plate, especially it with those thin dies I need to cut thin paper. But it always works in the end. Fingers crossed for you 🤞
Hi I bought the machine recently. Just started using it. Found my plates absolutely shocking for warping already. Now I understand about top plate. Base plate and plastic shim. But after that completely lost. Don't understand sorry excuse a stupid old woman. Just placed a order for cutting plates absolutely shocking £50. Disgrace considering haven't used them that long.
I TOTALLY DISLIKE my Gemini. Despite using the proper layering instructions, it has ruined my dies, my embossing folders, my plates. Totally dislike, and I'm getting rid of it.
You are absolutely right. The layers they tell you to use in the manual are overkill. You usually don't need that many, and that is what causes the warping. I've also had a lot of success using 3 Big Shot plates (fed sideways/landscape) into my Gemini, and they work beautifully. No warping or cracking.
Oh that's good to know!!! I didn't know about this hack :) Thanks for sharing!
YES! I have had trouble with my full size Gemini from the very beginning. I am not knocking the product because it cuts beautifully and is WAY better than cranking. It is easy to forget it is a mechanical item exerting pressure and variables (dies, paper, shims) affect the performance. I'm convinced that all Gemini's are not the same or calibrated the same. What works for my Jr. sometimes does not work for my full size. I realize straying from the recommendations can void the warranty; however, what good is it doing sitting there if I'm not using it? I have also had great luck with 2 big shot plates and then a Gemini cutting plate as my sandwich. Great video! :)
WOOT WOOT, here you come to save the day again! YAY!
Aw thank you, Mary!
Oh my! I don't know how many warped dies I have now plus I have gone through so many die cutting plates it's just insane! This will really help me a lot when I get a Gemini machine. I'm getting tired of my Big Shot as I can't seem to stop the warping! Thank you so much, Laura. I find your tips and tricks so very helpful. I hope you are doing well. Have an awesome weekend!
Hi Laura! I am so happy this was useful! I was quite disappointed at first with the warping plates - I have had a Big Shot Express for years and I didn't have any problems with my plates. But with this solution I am now super happy with the Gemini - I love the large one because the plates are large enough to fit slimline dies too!
I wish you a wonderful weekend too!
Thank you, warping has been a problem for me. I will try this!
I hope it helps!
Thank you sharing this top. I will try this as ibhave just bought new plates 🍽 😋
Great tip. Thanks for sharing!! I love this simple solution.
Thanks, Keren! I was very happy to find this workaround, as I was getting very frustrated with the warping plates!
I’ve discovered this too, then I saw your video and I feel better about not following their instructions 😂my plates warped at warp speed, and I had to do all sorts to flatten them out!
Yes, they definitely warp much less this way! ☺️
Thank you so much❤️
Thank you for watching!
Laura, thanks so much for sharing!! I quit using my Gemini jr because of the warping!!! I will give this a try!!
I had put it aside too because I was so disappointed by the warping plates. But with this new solution I am 100% satisfied!
I will definitely give this a try. Tfs
I hope it helps!
thank you so much for your tips because I've been having the same issue!
I hope this helps you fix them 😊
Thank you so much for sharing your video
I hope it was helpful!
I want to know how to stop all the scaring from my acrylic plates transferring onto the card stock I'm die cutting. I can't afford to buy new plates every other week so mine are pretty bad. It's ruined so many cards because it's so visible 😥
I had a super long reply but for some reason, it's not showing.... 😭 What I do is I always cut into the same plate, this way the top plate stays intact and the marks only transfer to the underside of the card panel. A thicker sandwich will also transfer the marks more easily, so if you have a Gemini and use the solution I showed in the video, that will also help. :)
I've been wanting to buy the Gemini Jr but I was really hesitant because I wasn't sure if I wanted to use so many plates. Thank you so much for sharing your video and showing different methods that can be used:)
I have been very happy with mine since I found this solution!
Believe me whatever you do don’t make it too thick you will regret it!!!! as I said above my husband took two hours to open up my Gemini Junior so I could get those stuck plates out. Very greasy job indeed😢
Thank you I will try it I just got through a two hour session with my husband had to fully dismantle my Gemini Junior because I did that dollar tree hack and my plates were jammed in there. so he took the rollers apart, the machine apart, and had to reassemble the whole thing. believe me it’s not easy it’s very complicated
Whoa! I did not even know that was possible! YOu should have video taped it and posted on TH-cam!!
@@sharonbenthall5210 I should’ve but I had both hands full, trying to hold the numerous gears in place so he could put the whole thing back together
Thank you
Thank you for watching!
Fabulous!!
Thanks!
At what point do you put the paper and die?
Fabulous video!!!!
Very helpful video
My plates in the gemini warped after the first use & it is so frustrating Do you not use the metal plate for very intricate dies?
I don’t use super intricate dies but whenever I can I just run things through a couple of times rather than increasing the sandwich’s thickness. The position and orientation of dies on the plates also affects the pressure and how easily they will cut. Hope this helps!
@@LauraVolpes i hope so too! Thank you
So it didn't work for me; even after multiple passes the very simple flower couldn't cut thru thin vellum.
What sandwich did you use? Sometimes thin paper and thin dies are a more difficult combination. In this case I would suggest to go up one shim at the time. :)
@@LauraVolpes i tried cutting plate, plastic shim, vellum or 110 lb cardstock, die, cutting plate.
Didn't work. Added printer paper, still not.
So i added the metal shim & it worked.
When it cuts well it's a dream but i need to push my plates thru (even a thin sandwich needs to almost be forced in) & they warp so fast it's not really worthwhile.
However I can't use a manual machine so this is what i have.
Hi Laura; I was glad to see your you tube on the Gemini plates. I’ve been thinking about purchasing the Gemini but haven’t seen many good reviews. How long have you had yours? I just can’t handle my big shot anymore. It’s so hard on my joints. 😭 so … I was looking for an easier solution. I make a lot of cards and would be using it a lot.
I have a brother cut and scan which helps so much but still need a smaller die cutting machine. Thanks
I can totally understand about the joints. I actually started off directly with an electric die-cutting machine (Big Shot Express) because I knew I couldn't handle the cranking (I was just recovering from chronic pain issues in my hands and arms). I actually tried using a manual one during Creativation and oh, my...so glad I went for the automatic option! Granted, the plates were quite warped but honestly, I didn't expect it to take so much strength...way more than I had anyway :D
Anyway, to come to your questions...I have had mine since May 2020 and I am happy with it. I think much of the "bad press" comes from the warping plates and I was also very disappointed at first. But with this solution I am perfectly satisfied and I haven't had any issues.
The Big Shot Express is also a good option, I haven't had any problems with it. The Gemini has the advantage that the plates that come with it are already large enough for slimline dies and larger sets (if you get the full size machine, not the Jr). And with the Big Shot you have to hold the button down to make the plates move, whereas with the Gemini you just press once and it does its thing. It's a minor point but I am lazy and anything that helps is welcome 😂
Hope this helps and it wasn't too long!
Thanks Laura for your help. I think I’ll be purchasing the Gemini jr. I’m not much into slim line cards so this one should work for what I want it for. Thanks for all your great tips. Hope to see more of your videos and card making!
You said it out LOUD!!! WHAAAAAT??? I don't have to use as much pressure as possible? It could take several passes??? I might have to be patient????
😂😂😂
Where to buy cutting plates?
I have links in the description box! :)
I’m confused on the order of the plates and die-
I hope this works on Gemini jr also. I think they messed up on their recommendation because my plates warp so badly.
I think it should work, the principle is the same :) If you do try this out and would like to share the results, I would love to know if it helped! I think it would help a lot of us!
I tried just once so far and it didn’t work. I will likely see if there is another smaller sandwich that does. The warping really bothers me. I also must say that my one plate is already warped so I don’t know if that affected it.
@@heidimlsb3530 thanks for letting me know! Hopefully you will find a good sandwich for your machine. I also noticed that some dies are thinner than others and it takes a few passes. Sometimes I also need to rotate the die or change its position on the plate, especially it with those thin dies I need to cut thin paper. But it always works in the end. Fingers crossed for you 🤞
My gemini mini plates warped after one use! It was a tiny sandwich
Hi I bought the machine recently. Just started using it. Found my plates absolutely shocking for warping already. Now I understand about top plate. Base plate and plastic shim. But after that completely lost. Don't understand sorry excuse a stupid old woman. Just placed a order for cutting plates absolutely shocking £50. Disgrace considering haven't used them that long.
What do you mean by 'top plate' and 'base plate'
😂
I TOTALLY DISLIKE my Gemini. Despite using the proper layering instructions, it has ruined my dies, my embossing folders, my plates. Totally dislike, and I'm getting rid of it.
The Gemini needs to be re-engineered so that it uses a thick base plate like the Sizzix Switch! It w I ukd end so many problems!