With all the different Cricut blades out there, it can be hard to know off the top of your head which ones you need and what materials they cut 🤔. On top of that, it's important to know how to change your blades and pick the one that suits each of your projects best. It's an essential lesson to learn whether you're a beginner or experienced!
The different Cricut blades are used for different creations and work with different machines, which can seem pretty complicated for a beginner, but don't worry, we're going to explain everything.
All the Cricut Blades and What They Do
There are several Cricut machine models: the Cricut Joy, simple and compact, the Cricut Explore models, which are versatile, and the Cricut Maker, which is packed with features 👍. We're going to walk you through the types of Cricut blades that come with each kind of machine:
Each of the Cricut machine blades has different features and can cut different materials. If you don't use the right blade, you risk damaging your materials and the blade itself.
It's important to learn the differences between the Cricut blades so you know whether you need a specific blade before buying materials or, more importantly, before buying a Cricut machine (because not all blades work with all machines 🤷).
The Fine-Point Blade
The Cricut Fine-Point Blade is the most common one and it comes with every Cricut machine. It's made of carbide, an extremely durable, high-quality material that's typically used to cut tools.
This blade is perfect for intricate cuts and it's designed to cut medium-weight materials. It used to be silver, but it now comes in a gold color. ⭐
It works with all the machines in the Cricut Explore and Cricut Maker family.
What materials can I cut with the fine-point blade?
- Printer paper
- Adhesive Vinyl: Matte Vinyl, Glossy Vinyl, Glitter Vinyl
- Heat-Transfer Vinyl: Standard HTV, Glitter HTV, Velvet HTV, Holographic HTV…
- Cardstock
- Parchment paper
- Vellum
- Canvas
- Light chipboard
The Cricut Deep-Point Blade
If you need to cut thicker materials, the Cricut deep-point blade will be your best friend 👫. You can use it with all the machines in the Cricut Explore or Cricut Maker family!
The angle of this cutting blade is much steeper. This lets the blade dig in and make intricate cuts in thick materials.
It's black in color and it must be used with its own housing.
What materials can I cut with the deep-point blade?
- Craft foam
- Aluminum sheet
- Genuine leather
- Metallic leather
- Magnetic sheet, 0.6 mm
- Corrugated paper
The Bonded-Fabric Blade
The Cricut bonded-fabric blade looks like the fine-point blade, but it has a pink color that lets you tell them apart. It gives you a better cutting experience for fabric. Don't use this blade for paper or vinyl.
It's important to note that the fabric you're going to cut with this blade will need to be bonded to a backing material.
If you don't bond your fabrics properly, you risk tearing or stretching them, and you could also damage your cutting mat.
This blade is compatible with the machines in the Explore and Cricut Maker family. 😉
What materials can I cut with the bonded-fabric blade?
- Oilcloth
- Silk
- Polyester
- Denim
- Burlap
- Cotton
The Rotary Blade (Cricut Maker only)
The Cricut rotary blade is fantastic, but it's only compatible with the Cricut Maker machine.
The rotary blade cuts just about any fabric and you don't even need a backing material to stabilize the fabric on the mat. That alone should make you happy! 😀
This Cricut cutting machine blade also comes with the Cricut Maker (which is really important, because you usually have to buy this kind of tool separately or in a bundle).
Although this blade is powerful, it has one small restriction. The size of the image or project you're trying to cut needs to be at least 19 mm. Cutting smaller projects will shorten the blade's lifespan.
What materials can I cut with the rotary blade?
- Bamboo fabric
- Canvas
- Cashmere
- Muslin
- Velvet
- Cotton
- Denim
- Felt
- Fleece
- Silk
- Lycra
- Microfiber
- Nylon
The Knife Blade (Cricut Maker only)
The Cricut knife blade is one of a kind and is only compatible with the Cricut Maker.
This blade is what makes the Cricut Maker a complete crafting machine ✨. The projects you can cut with this blade are simply incredible. You can create wooden signs for your home, sturdy boxes, and much more.
When you're using materials like wood, it may not stick to the mat, so we recommend using masking tape on the edges of the material to hold it onto the mat.
The drive housing for this blade is not interchangeable with other blades.
What materials can I cut with the knife blade?
- Tooling leather
- Balsa
- Basswood
- Heavy chipboard, 2.0 mm
- Matboard
The QuickSwap Blades
The latest line of Cricut tools is the Quick Swap Tools. These tools can only be used on the Cricut Maker. You only need a single blade housing to use them, because each piece can be swapped out. So don't buy a housing for every piece, unless you really want to, since it isn't necessary.
Here are the different QuickSwap tips available:
- Embossing tip
- Engraving tip
- Wavy blade tip
- Scoring tip
- Perforation tip
If you only want one tip, you can buy the housing with the tip you prefer, then when you need another one, you can just buy a new tip.
This system is great, because you can switch to a different tip quickly and easily. Just press the button on top, remove the tip and add another one, and you're done.
The Embossing Tip
Use the Cricut embossing tip to add depth and character to your projects!
The embossing tip is designed to press your material (like cardstock) and create a crisp, lasting impression. To do this, it uses a tiny ball that lets it glide over your material. This creates a clean, even, crisp embossing line. 👌
The Engraving Tip
The Cricut engraving tool gives you the ability to engrave with your Cricut Maker machine! The Cricut engraving tool can engrave light metals, acrylic, leather, paper, and plastic to add a variety of project options to your crafting arsenal!
The Wavy Blade Tip
Use the Cricut wavy blade to add a decorative, wavy edge to your Cricut projects. It works much like pinking shears, which let you create beautiful finishes on your projects.
Scoring Tip
The new Cricut scoring tip solves all your scoring problems! If you're tired of faint score lines or materials that crack, the Cricut scoring wheel is here to help!
There are two types of scoring wheels, a single scoring wheel (1) and a double scoring wheel (2), both easily interchangeable. The scoring wheels work together with the fine-point blade to give your paper creations a clean, crisp look. The wheel can only be used with the Cricut Maker.
Perforation Tip
Use the Cricut perforation tool to expand the ways you can use your Cricut for paper! Think tickets, stamps, flyers, and plenty more.
The Cricut perforation tool is designed to cut a perforated line in your material. To do this, it uses a toothed rotary blade. 🔄
Which Blade Is Right for My Cricut?
Not all Cricut blades are compatible with all machines. Some Cricut machines are designed for specific tasks and require specific blades.
The blades also differ because of what they do. Some score wood, while others risk getting damaged if you use them on objects that are too hard, and will be more precise on thin objects.
Here's a table that shows the different types of blades and their compatibility with the different Cricut machine models. 😊
How Long Do Cricut Blades Last?
Although Cricut blades are designed to last as long as possible ⌛, there comes a time when you'll need to replace them.
The lifespan of a Cricut blade depends on the type of materials you work with, how often you use it and, of course, how well you take care of it.
For example, paper and cardstock are harder on blades than a much smoother, thinner material like vinyl. As a result, if you use cardstock, you'll need to change your blade more often.
Blades that cut very thick materials, like the deep-point blade and especially the knife blade, need to be replaced more frequently because of the pressure the blade has to apply to get smooth, clean cuts.
You'll know you need to replace your blades when your cuts become dull and less clean than before.
Blades generally last at least a month and can last up to a year if you don't use them daily.
How Do You Replace Cricut Blades?
Cricut blades are easy to change. Just be careful, because they're sharp and you don't want to cut yourself!
Changing the fine-point, deep-point, and bonded-fabric blades is a simple operation. Just press the top of the blade, pull it out with your hands, and insert the new blade with the housing upside down.
The other blades, the rotary and knife blades, are a bit trickier. So the best way to learn how to change their blades is to watch these videos:
Watch the video to change the Cricut knife blade
Watch the video to change the Cricut rotary blade
We hope this blog has helped you see more clearly when it comes to the different types of Cricut blades!
If you ever feel like taking on textile flocking projects with your Cricut, you can take a look at the heat-transfer vinyl we offer in our Shop!
