Want to cut wood with your Cricut Explore Air 2? It’s not impossible! You just need the deep cut blade and a little hacking. Here’s how to do it! Show
Cutting wood is a fun new material to work with with your Cricut cutting machine. However, if you have an Explore Air 2, you might think that wood is not an option for you. False! You can cut wood with the Explore. You just have to get a little creative with the settings to make it work.  The Cricut Maker vs the Cricut Explore Air 2 vs the Cricut JoyCricut has several different cutting machines that are available for purchase. The most popular amongst them are the Cricut Maker, the Explore Air 2, and the Joy. Similarities between the Cricut Maker, Explore Air 2 and JoyBoth of these Cricut machines are fantastic. They are great for crafters looking to make precise cuts and create crafts that look so much better than “handmade”. All three machines can cut or write on simple materials like paper and vinyl. All of these machines use Cricut Design Space as the software where you can design your project and then easily send it to your machine to “make”. You can use a computer, tablet, or phone (via the Design Space app) to access it! Differences between the Cricut Maker, Explore Air 2, and JoyThe biggest difference between these machines is the materials that they are able to cut. The Cricut Joy only has one blade – a fine tip blade – so it can only cut basic, thin materials. The Cricut Explore Air 2 can use a few different blades – including a deep cut blade that can handle some thicker materials. However, the Maker has the most versatility. It features the Adaptive Tool System, which handles a ton of exciting new blades (the list is ever-growing) and it can apply a ton of pressure to cut through even thick materials Read my full comparison of the Maker and Explore Air 2 here. Read my full review of the Cricut Joy here! How to cut wood with a Cricut Explore Air 2Even if the Explore Air 2 isn’t the strongest or most versatile Cricut cutting machine out there, you can still use it to cut wood! Which Cricut can cut wood?It is well known that you can cut wood with a Cricut Maker but you can actually cut some wood with an Explore machine, too! Can a Cricut Explore Air 2 cut wood?Yes, you can cut some wood using an explore machine! What kinds of wood can the Cricut Explore Air 2 machine cut?Wood TypeWood thicknessCut pressurePassesHeavy Chipboard1.4mm3318xBasswood1/16″23010xBalsa Wood1/16″2208xCheck out my tutorial for how to make wooden silhouette art with a Cricut! What blade do I need to cut wood with my Cricut Explore Air 2?To cut thicker materials using an Explore machine, you need to use the Deep Cut Blade. This blade is designed specifically to cut through thicker materials. This blade has a steeper blade angle (60 degrees vs 45) and harder, more durable steel. It works with the Explore and Maker machines. If you want to cut wood veneer, you can actually do that with the fine point blade! What mat do I need to use to cut wood with my Cricut?All thick materials should be used with the StrongGrip mats. Materials like balsa wood or even wood veneer should be taped down on all 4 sides with painter’s tape. Even if your mat is sticky, the force of the cut can move the wood around. So, tape is best! Can the Cricut Explore Air 3 cut wood?The Explore Air 3 is the latest Cricut Explore machine. It is actually very similar to the Explore Air 2 but it cuts faster and can use smart vinyl – no mat needed. So, you can use the same settings as the Explore Air 2 detailed below – it will just work even faster! Awesome! What setting do I use to cut wood with my Cricut Explore Air 2?You will need to set a custom setting! Change the dial on your machine to CUSTOM. In design space, select CUSTOM MATERIALS. Look for one that looks pretty heavy – for example “Chipboard heavy”. Click on it to pull up the dropdown and adjust the PRESSURE and MULTICUT settings. Try a pressure of 331 and the multicut to somewhere between 4 and 8 – depending on the thickness of your wood. After your cut cuts, do NOT eject the mat. Carefully examine your wood and see if it cut the material all of the way through. If it didn’t, just hit GO and re-run the cut. If you eject the mat, it becomes very difficult to re-line the project up correctly. How do I cut wood with my Cricut Explore Air 2?Here is a step by step guide to cutting wood with your Cricut Explore Air 2 machine:
Yield: 1 wood cuttingHow to cut wood with my Cricut Explore Air 2 Prep Time: 2 minutes Active Time: 30 minutes Total Time: 32 minutes Difficulty: Medium Estimated Cost: $10-50 Want to cut wood with your Cricut Explore Air 2 machine? You'll have to hack it a little bit, but it is doable! Here is how. Materials
Tools
Instructions
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Did you make this project?Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest © Morgan Project Type: Craft / Category: Cricut Any more questions about cutting wood with the Cricut Explore Air 2? Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter | YouTube Subscribe to get our latest content by email. Subscribe We won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Built with ConvertKit Looking for something?We’ve been doing this since 2012 so we have a LOT of blog posts! Use the search bar below to find what you are looking for! Search stuff like: Ceiling Projects | DIY Plant Stands | Thrift Flips SearchSearch Subscribe! Can we send you our newsletter?Another great way to keep up with out latest projects is by joining our weekly newsletter! Get alerts of our latest projects and special peeks behind the scenes! Follow along on InstagramJoin our online community where we share real time behind the scenes looks at our DIY projects and peeks inside our home + family! Can you engrave using Cricut Explore Air 2?The Cricut Engraving Tip is only compatible with the Cricut Maker machine because the Maker is the only machine that uses the Adaptive Tool System and can apply the amount of pressure necessary to engrave. The Engraving Tip will NOT work on any of the Explore family of machines or Cricut Joy.
What do I need to engrave with my Cricut Explore Air 2?What You Need To Engrave With Your Cricut On Acrylic (Cricut HACK). acrylic sheet (about 0.080 inches thick) cut to the size you want.. Cricut Explore Air 2 or Maker with a fine-point blade.. 24″ StrongGrip mat.. painter's tape *optional.. brayer *optional.. time to watch the cut.. time afterward to re-calibrate your machine.. Can Cricut Explore Air 2 engrave plastic?Engraving Tip and QuickSwap Housing for Cricut Maker Cutting Machines-Perfect for Flat, Soft Metals, Leather, Acrylic, Plastic, Anodized or Sublimated Aluminum and More.
Can the Cricut Explore Air 2 engrave wood?Cutting wood is a fun new material to work with with your Cricut cutting machine. However, if you have an Explore Air 2, you might think that wood is not an option for you. False! You can cut wood with the Explore.
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How to engrave with cricut explore air 2
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