Last year I reviewed the Craftwell Cut'N'Boss, so as soon as the Gemini Die Cutting Machine was released I was interested in what it could do. It debuts at the 2016 CHA show and promised to deliver HIGH PRESSURE at a fraction of the sound. In this video we will discuss all this machine can do and what my final thoughts are on it, Make sure to look below the video for more information and help support Ken's Kreations by shopping through my links at the bottom of the page.

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With the unique pause, resume and reverse feature, you can reverse out smaller dies once they are cut (for a quicker pass), as well as being able to have peace of mind if you're concerned you've put an incorrect sandwich combination through - you can simply pause it and reverse it out to check.

WHAT DIES & EMBOSSING FOLDERS CAN I USE?

The Gemini Die Cutting Machine will accept most metal dies and embossing folders including: Sizzix Thin Metal Dies, Spellbinders Dies, Cricut Cuttlebug Dies, Lawn Fawn Dies, Darice Dies, Tattered Lace Dies, Fun Stampers Journey Dies, My Favorite Things Dies, and ALL Embossing Folders including Craftwell 8.5 X 11 Embossing Folder. This is NOT the full list as the Gemini supports most companies' products. The only exception to this is the Sizzix Steel Rule Dies. This is because the mouth of the machine is not deep enough for them to pass through.

WILL I HAVE TO USE SHIM AND PLATES

The Gemini is very powerful and designed to exert a lot of pressure – which allows for cutting very intricate dies. The amount of pressure on the die can be increased or decreased depending on the combination of plates and shims you use. I get it! When I first starting using die machines the terms Shims, Plates, and sandwich combinations were a different language. PLUS I had no idea what sandwich combos to use, and how they could affect my cutting. The following video was SO impacting full for me on understanding how pressure affects our cuts, especially when using intricate dies.

NOTE: Because of the high level of pressure in the machine, the cutting plates will naturally bow over time – this does not affect the performance of the  Plates or the Gemini, but you can reduce bowing on the plates by rotating and flipping them between each pass.



SANDWICH COMBINATIONS & IS THAT SOUND NORMAL

As we discussed, the Gemini supports third-party dies and embossing folders. Due to this, depending on what you use and the material you use it with, it will determine the sandwich combination. The best thing to have on hand is the Gemini Users Manual, which goes over ALL the options with photos. Also make sure you check out THIS PLAYLIST for videos on the combinations!
NOTE: It is normal to hear different sounds as the Plates go through the Gemini. The machine will sound a lot deeper when you use larger and more intricate dies. You may hear cracking sounds as the Plates are going through, this is also a normal sound and is due to the amount of pressure being applied to the plates.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I am very impressed with the Gemini! This machine passed all my cutting tests and is one of the quietest electronic die machines I have ever heard. Plus the basic model comes with EVERYTHING you need at that price (see above photo)

Even though this machine impressed me, I still wanted to share some concerns I have with the machine, The Gemini is HEAVY, coming in right around 16 pounds. This is not a machine that I would want to store and bring out only when I use it, due to this weight. Also the machine comes in at a cost of $299 US dollars. This is a significant cost for any crafter to invest in. Especially when manual styles like the Cuttlebug Machine are a fraction of the cost, but also are smaller and limited in what dies and embossing folders it can handle.

If you still want to learn more about the Gemini or have further questions check out both of these amazing sites:

Tips & Tricks
Gemini Owner's Manual
Official Gemini YouTube Playlist
Gemini Homepage