Die Cutter Review: ZAZ™ by AccuCut®
I invited five women to try out the ZAZ™ die-cutting system by AccuCut® and review it based on the ease of use, price, size, versatility and die selection. The following is our evaluation of the ZAZ™:
Ease of Use
The ZAZ™ is used by creating a sandwich of layers: the platform on the bottom, then the die (facing up), next the paper, and finally the cutting mat and its holder on top. Then you put the sandwich into one side of the machine, hold the machine by the handle with your other hand, and then press down and roll it across a table. Rolling the machine makes the sandwich of layers push through to the other side, putting pressure on the die inside the machine and making the cuts.
Positives
- Instructions were simple to understand and well written, with pictures to demonstrate how it works.
- Pieces are small enough that you can hold the sandwich with one hand while you insert it into the machine and press down on the handle with your other hand.
Negatives
- We found that we needed a shim in order for the machine to fully cut through cardstock.
- It requires several feet of sturdy workspace to roll the machine enough times to make the die go all the way through it.
- You need to stand in order to get the right amount of pressure on top of the machine as you roll it.
- Repeated rolling and pressing down on the handle can be tiring for weak wrists.
- You have to replace the cutting mat periodically.
Price
The ZAZ™ comes with the ZAZ™ Cutting/Embossing Platform, a High Performance Cutting Mat, a Zip’eSnaps™ Mat, and two paper shims.
- ZAZ™ Tool - $49.99
- Zip’eCuts™ Alphabet Sets - $39.99 $249.99
- Zip’eCuts™ Dies – $6.99 - $17.99
The ZAZ™ and other AccuCut® products are available for purchase at the AccuCut® web site and select scrapbook stores. To find a retailer near you, visit the AccuCut® store locator.
Size
The smallest die-cutting tool of the group, the ZAZ™ is both lightweight and easily portable. While the cutting area is small, limiting the sizes of dies that it can handle, the dies used in this tool are wafer thin and compactly stored in pocket dividers in a 3-ring binder system. All accessories for this tool are also relatively small and can be stored within the 3-ring binder system. When considering this tool, remember that because you roll it to feed the dies through the tool, you’ll need at least a couple feet of desk space to make each cut.
- Footprint - 5” long x 5” wide x 4” high
- Cutting Area - 2 ½” x 4”
- Dies – wafer thin, stored in 3-ring binder
Versatility
The ZAZ™ was designed to work with Zip’eCuts™ and Zip’eSnaps™, but also works great with QuicKutz, Boss Kut and small Spellbinders™ dies. Sizzlits can also be used with the ZAZ™ adapter kit. When testing, we found that we needed to use an additional shim with the Boss Kut dies, Spellbinders™ dies and the Sizzlits. The ZAZ™ also has an embossing kit available to allow you to emboss paper using standard brass templates.
Alphabet & Shape Die Selection
Summary
While we loved the portability, price and versatility of the ZAZ™, our reviewers had a hard time getting it to work consistently. We found that the plastic folding table we were working on wasn’t sturdy enough and that we needed extra shims to get the dies to cut all the way through cardstock. Even though the ZAZ™ is small, you still need several feet of workspace to roll it far enough for the die to go through the machine. We’d recommend a hinged platform and cutting mat to hold the die and cardstock together while you run it through the machine. We’d also suggest larger wheels and a pressure point that doesn’t depend on the style of table below the machine.
Charm Zip’eSnaps™ Alphabet by AccuCut®
Decked Out #2 Zip’eSnaps™ die by AccuCut®
Metallic Rubs by Craf-T
Patterned Paper by Lazar StudioWERX
Cardstock by Bazzill Basics
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