Hello Friends! That’s an easy answer: the Cricut Maker wins by a landslide. It’s a static machine that’s perfect for being used at a desktop. We are also part of several other craft-related affiliate programs. Still can’t decide which cutter is right for you? The cutting force of the Cricut Explore Air 2 is 400 grams and the Cricut Maker’s cutting force is 4000 grams. Here's what I found! I was so lucky to get to attend the Cricut Mountain Makeathon earlier this year, and see the official debut of the Cricut Maker! Get all of my favorite Cricut hacks here. Winner: Cricut Maker. Very easy. This means that, thanks to the adaptive tool system, the Maker can cut thicker materials. This is not an issue unless you have an old Cricut machine/cartridges. It’s about 1/4 of the size of the Cricut Maker and Explore Air 2, and has a single carriage for holding either a blade or pen. This is especially important if you’re making DIY stickers. Let’s take a good look at it, and compare it with the other Cricut Machines! Some of the differences with the new Cricut MakerMachine and the Cricut Explore Air 2are more obvious than others. Examples of some of these thick materials include: sheet metal, thin wood, thick leather. The opinions and text are all mine. Log In Sign Up. If you’re new to Cricut and the world of cutting crafts, you can ignore this section. The Maker has two little cups on top that can hold blades or tools. Calling all Cricut owners! The Explore Air, on the other hand, will offer you exactly the same in a few years as it does now. Let’s start with the biggest difference between the machines, Cricut Maker’s Adaptive Tool System™. Both machines have a maximum cutting size of 12″ wide by 24″ long. Published October 31, 2018 by Lindsay. But which machine actually cuts the best? Cricut Maker vs. Cricut Explore Air 2. I’ve been a professional in the world of vinyl cutting for over 10 years now and specialize in educating others on how to use commercial vinyl plotters. It’s a dead heat between the two machines when it comes down to software. If you are trying to start a business with the Cricut, you might also want to invest in the Maker – you never know when you might want one of the newest blades or tools and you are better off only buying one machine to start! Materials that they can both cut include: There are some materials that ONLY the Maker can cut. Also, if you are a sewer and want to cut out a lot of patterns with non-bonded fabric, you definitely need the Maker. It’s served crafters very well for this past year and we think it will continue to be very popular in the years to come as well. Well, today we are going to see just how the Cricut Maker VS Cricut Explore Air 2 Cutting Machines compare and hopefully it will help you decide which machine is best for you. Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links and was sponsored by Cricut; all opinions are my own. Read on if you want to compare the Maker vs Explore Air 2! Cricut Maker vs Explore Air 2: Cutting Simple Card Stock. Winner of the Cricut Maker vs Explore Air 2 Debate: Cricut Maker!!! It also has hidden storage for extra blades. The Maker is about 30 lbs, while the Explore is 21 lbs. This helps us to keep the site running. While you can cut fabric with the Explore Air 2 in theory, it’s never been what the machine is best at. Not only will the Maker cut your sewing patterns for you, it will also mark them too — with the included washable fabric marker pen. I hope that this guide helped you to decide which Cricut model you should buy. Explore Air 2 . With its powerful blades, pens, and scoring tool, Cricut Maker grows with you as you learn each new craft. We’ll be totally upfront: we think that both are excellent stand alone machines and we’re pretty sure you’ll be happy if you buy either of them. The Cricut Maker does not have the Open button or the SmartSet material dial found on the Explore. As you can see, there are many pros and cons to buying each different Cricut model. 2x Faster Cutting and Writing This is something that the Maker has in common with just he Explore Air 2 – it has two times faster cutting and writing. The final battle in the war of Maker vs Cricut Explore is: which is better for Print Then Cut? I’m looking into buying a machine and this is definitely helping me to make my decision! With the Explore Air 2, you can plug in any Cricut cartridges direct into the machine itself and use them directly. If you’re looking for something a bit nimbler, the Explore Air is probably more your thing. If you purchase something through the link, I may receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. The Maker cuts thicker materials as well as fabrics that might be too “slippery” for the Explore Air 2 to cut. With the Cricut Maker, you get the most bang for your buck, and you can cut the widest variety of materials. Let me start by saying that I absolutely love both machines and have been using the Cricut Maker for over a month now and I’m in love with it! This one isn’t really a battle, it’s a bloodbath. The Cricut Maker has 10X the strength and cutting force than any of the Explore family machines. The Explore Air 2 is the oldest of the three machines, but don’t let that fool you – it’s still an incredibly versatile and accurate cutting machine. The variety of shapes used is to simulate simple to more intricate cutting. We should add that discounts and sales are common, and you may find these machines for different prices on marketplaces like Amazon. Let’s be clear: both machines are solid, sturdy and we’ve got no doubt that they’ll be lasting for years to come. So, what are you paying an extra $100 for with the Maker? But it’s definitely not a perfect program: it can be a little buggy and it’s certainly limiting if you’re creating your own designs within the program. Disclosure: VCM uses affiliate programs, including Amazon Associates. Plus there’s a huge store of ready-to-make projects and quick cuts to get you started right off the bat. Easy peasy — and you don’t have to do anything at all! var ts=document.getElementById('ti-pixel-tracker'); var axel = Math.random() + ""; var num = axel * 1000000000000000000; var ti=document.createElement("img"); ti.style.display="none"; ti.src="https://tracking.tapinfluence.com/trk/iGC5k/Kuq9G/p.png?p=8eSMO" + String.fromCharCode(38) + "i=XxdAm" + String.fromCharCode(38) + "ord="+ num + String.fromCharCode(38) + "s=" + encodeURIComponent(document.referrer); ts.parentNode.replaceChild(ti,ts); JSON.stringify({"program_id":"a5516c1a-de27-11e9-9665-0604a9fe185a","post_id":"3bf79176-f9cb-11e9-93bd-06344b32889a"}); Deciding between purchasing the Cricut Maker and the Cricut Explore Air 2? Raspberry, Fushia, Lilac, Rose, Blue, Mint, Black, Sky. When you say the Maker prints sewing patterns, do you mean shapes for Appliques? Cricut Explore Air 2 and Cricut Maker both have unique uses, overlapping qualities and accessories that come included with your purchase. Another important thing to consider is how long the machine will last. I sat these machines side by side for a one on one comparison. You can still use your cartridges with the Maker, but it’s a little more difficult. The Cricut Explore Air 2 has a special place to plug in old Cricut cartridges. This includes the Cricut Explore Air 2, Cricut Explore Air, Cricut Explore One and Cricut Explore. […], Copyright by The Charleston Crafted Blog, LLC, 2020 | Trellis Framework by Mediavine, read my complete review of the Cricut Maker here. Everyday I love testing new machines, materials and techniques and passing my tips and reviews along to my crafting friends and readers. Both machines can hold two tools at once – such as a blade as well as a pen so you can do two different types of actions in one project without having to swap tools. You see, the Explore Air 2 (well, all of the explore machines) are awesome, and are not going anywhere. The opinions are all mine. Cricut Maker vs. Cricut Explore Air 2 – Should you upgrade? Enjoy this Cricut Maker versus Cricut Explore Air 2 video. Having said that, there are different pros and cons to both machines, and we think that different crafters will be more suited to either one. The Cricut Joy is a small personal cutting machine that is capable of cutting the most popular Cricut materials. After all, that’s what you’re buying it for! What a great and well written review. The Cricut Joy vs Explore Air 2 vs Maker: which is better? Now, don’t get us wrong, we love the Explore Air 2 and it’s a plenty versatile machine in its own right. The Explore Air 2, on the other hand, is advertised at the moment on the Cricut site for $299.99. The fine point blade often catches on the fabric, and the material has always required backing material. The Cricut Maker and the Cricut Explore Air 2. The Explore Air has the edge in having a SmartSet material dial for a variety of cutting applications. So, looks like I have to buy another. The Cricut Maker weighs more than the Explore Air 2 because it is 10x stronger. Of course, that doesn’t mean that the Explore Air 2 is a bad machine: far from it, in fact. The Knife Blade — unfortunately not available until later in 2017 — is just as exciting, promising to be like a safer and more effective X-Acto Blade within the machine itself. Another important but often overlooked feature is how portable are these machines? It’s the perfect tool for thick materials and deep cuts. Cricut Maker - Cricut Maker gives you the freedom to make everything from paper crafts, iron-ons, and vinyl decals to sewing projects, leather crafts, and balsa models. We do think that you get a lot of bang for your buck here, but there’s no doubt that that’s a significant sum to lay down on a new cutter. Both the Cricut Maker and the Explore Air 2 are amazing tools for crafters! The adapter connects your cartridges and the Maker via a USB port. The Cricut Maker is 10x stronger than the Cricut Explore. It’s a good midway point between the lower cost and simplicity of the Joy, and the larger size and advanced versatility of the Maker. If you’ve got a question on any machine with a servo motor, make sure you come straight to me! They will all work with the Maker but not necessarily the Explore family of machines. Posted on Published: November 20, 2019 Categories Cricut. Just speaking generally, it’s clear that the Maker has been designed for use at home, in a specialized craft room or space. We should add that discounts and sales are common, and you may find these machines for different prices on marketplaces like Amazon. The cutting force of the Cricut Explore Air 2 is 400 grams and the Cricut Maker‘s cutting force is 4000 grams. Click here to see all of the materials your Cricut can cut! The Cricut Maker also comes with tools that aren’t backward compatible with the Cricut Explore. Close • Posted by 1 hour ago. The Cricut Maker is a newer and more advanced model than the Cricut Explore Air 2. The good news is that neither the Maker or Explore Air require you to use cartridges for your designs any more. There are more blades that fit the Maker that do not fit the Explore Air 2 machines. The Maker weighs about 30 pounds while the Explore Air 2 weighs 21 pounds. The Cricut Explore Air 2is not going anywhere either. Be sure to check out the rest of our detailed machine comparisons, as well as our complete guide to the best vinyl cutters. Cricut seems committed to putting out new blades on a regular basis. If you just want to cut paper and vinyl – the Explore Air 2 is enough for you. Essentially, it allows you to print out your design onto white paper and then, you guessed it, the machine will cut it for you! But, once again, the Maker takes the crown as the best cutter around. Both machines cut materials up to 12″x 24″ in size. “Worth it” will depend on a few things of course. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. We’ve always had to use a separate fabric cutter to get the best cuts. This will eliminate any of the normal guesswork you have when it comes to marking patterns and ensure that your pieces are fit together as precisely as possible. You can upload your own designs and convert them for free so if you’re a little more experienced and like to create your designs in a more sophisticated program, you have the option to do that. Before you dive into precise testing of both devices, you are invited to check the quick notes about Air and Air 2. This promises to work with a variety of different tools — from all the blades already released by Cricut, the brand new Rotary and Knife blades, and any new ones in the future as well. 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