to buy or not to buy...

I am looking for advice about the xyron . I just bought the small one and love it! I am wondering if any of you have the larger one and if you would recommend it. I noticed there are two different sizes, one that takes things 5in. wide and another that takes things up to 9in. Any recommendations or advice?

I have the one that makes things up to 5 inches (forget the model number). I honestly don't use mine much at all, but I have talked to other people who use it a lot. I'm not sorry I bought it because I got it for $5 on clearance and I've definitely used it enough to get my money's worth. However, to pay full price I'd have to say no for myself. If you make a lot of larger things sticky, then I'd say go for it. If not, you should be fine with the litte X.

I have both the xyron x and 250 and absolutely love them! I use both of them all the time!

IMO, I'm not sure if I'd use the larger model if I got it . . . most of my things are not that big and it would be a waste.

I have the 510 and LOVE it!

Oh and I have the X as well and love it too!!! Thinking of the 900 but not sure what I would use it for!

I have the 510 and the little X and actually use the X the most.

I have the 510 and hardly use it at all.

I bought it when I was making my wedding invitations because I had a double-matted poem on the front so had a LOT of cutting/sticking to do. I ran the paper strips through the 510 then cut & assembled them. Made it very easy.

But now I find I hardly ever use it. Most of the time I just apply adhesieve to the edges of my larger pieces rather than run them through the 510. Seems there is so much waste because you have a couple inches before & after the paper comes out.

ME

I really don't like any of the machines and use the refills without the machines. I save money, space and don't waste any in between runs.


Machineless xyron Refills.
By PostingGoddess Vivian

For me, the little X is great because I slip in skinny or tiny doodads in there that I can't cleanly cover with adhesive with my own big hands.

The bigger machines are just doing what I can do myself with a tape runner or a Tombo mono.

• PostingGoddess Vivian Said:

GENIUS!!!

I have the 510 and don't really use it either. Once in awhile for things that are hard to get adhesive on, but that's about it.

I love my 510 -- the 5 inch one. I do use it for a lot of non scrapbook stuff. We made hockey card magnets for DS team that could be stuck to the locker room door before the game during their end of season tourney. I have used it to laminate things of DS's teacher -- pictures and things that do better with out heat. I used it on friends word book to get the paper to stick well and I often use it on altered items. I have used it to make many things for my DS to help with his speech therapy -- laminated cards and magnets to put up his daily schedule etc. However you could to the same thing with out the machine as Vivian does with out the machine.

• imagine.lilacs Said:

OMG - thanks for sharing this!!!!! I have all three sizes and use them all. Be careful if you're gong to buy the larger one though. There's a 500 and a 510. The 500 was discontinued and you can't find refills for it. The 510 refill will NOT fit in the 500. Just thought you'd like to know.

i have the 900 and i def use it, but i use it alot in tandem with my Wishblade . don't honestly know how much i'd use it without that... but i use the 250 alot too!

I have the X and the 900. The 510 probably would have been fine for me, but I got a terrific deal on the 900 plus a bunch of refills. I use the 900 to pre-stick paper that I am going to cut with my Cricut. Then I don't have to put adhesive on each individual piece I cut. Just take off the backing and stick. I have a book lable in my gallery that I did using this technique.

I do have to say though... I'm not sure I would use it if I didn't have the Cricut. I just use tape runner for anything too big for the X.

I have the X and use it ALL THE TIME.

I also have the 510 and NEVER use it, in fact, I still have the original cartridge in it and I bought it over 3 years ago! I can't seem to keep the adhesive from getting on the front of my stuff! It's much easier for me to just run a glue runner across the back and call it good. For intricate stuff I'll just get a glue pen.

The X is a must have if you use small die cut letters. I also like my 510 and 900 but don't like to buy refills!

Do you really need to apply adhesive across the entire back of larger items?

I usually just grab
- adhesive squares
- adhesive dots (the kind in a strip)
- double sided tape
- glue pen
- white glue (jar with brush) great for chipboard

What works best for me is double sided tape just around the edge, or the dots.

I use the tape runner on just the corners of photos, or along the edges of papers. No need to cover the entire sheet, IMO.

No most things do not need to be entirely covered and I don't cover the entire backs of larger die cuts or photos. BUT when you use anything like the below stuff then add glitter glue/Stickles to, they NEED to be entirely adhered to the paper or they will curl up, even with cardstock.

I only use my 850 or 900 rolls in my Wishblade . This eliminates the need for the cutting mat. I can cut, and then apply much easier than having to remove from cutting mat and gluing. I also only use my 850 removable for freshing up my cutting mats for my Wishblade .

Oh, same goes for more solid images if you use glitter glue/Stickles. Places where they're not adhered well to the bg paper, they can curl up when drying. Can you tell I use alot of glitter glue/Stickles?

That is really good info! I just bought my first few bottles of Stickles, but haven't started using them yet. I'm so glad you shared that advise.

• PostingGoddess Vivian Said:

Wonderful idea. It always makes me cringe to see all the wasted tape on the ends.

I have the 150 and the 500. I figure anything larger would be easy to adhere another way, but that's just me. I use both frequently.

• El Kady Said:

I've found the 500 refills...can't remember where now, but it was Joanns or Michaels or Hobby Lobby or somewhere big like that.

The 500 and 510 are both 5" wide, but the 500 doesn't laminate or make magnets like the 510.

I have the X, the 250 and the 510. I use them all. I had thought about the 900 but since I don't plan on purchasing a Cricut or any other machine like the Cricut, the 510 will work just fine for me.