![]() ![]() On one hand, I am creating something from non-traditional materials in shapes that have never existed within the LEGO multiverse (System, Technic, Duplo, etc). Considering myself more of a purist than anything, I couldn’t help but debate the purity of my decal process. Purity was and still is a large aspect of my personal building style. I completely respect both sides of the never-ending debate of purity within the LEGO Community. The “print then cut” process does require “printable vinyl” which is one of the more premium-priced materials closer to $5 per sheet, so if you plan to dabble in the “print then cut” process, make sure to spring for a sheet or two of printable vinyl while doing your vinyl shopping. Essentially, the software prints your design via your printer and it generates registration marks around your design that the cutting machine will scan for and use to pinpoint and precisely cut your decal out for you after it has been printed. When doing so, you will want to use printable vinyl and follow your machine’s software prompts that will walk you through printing out your design. If you happen to have a decent printer, you will also have the ability to create multi-color printed designs by utilizing the advanced “print then cut” process. At $1-$3 per sheet, adhesive vinyl isn’t too expensive, but it definitely isn’t free! Even when double checking my measurements, I still burned through a fair bit of vinyl before I started paper test cutting, so this is probably my biggest tip for the process. While you can find a pretty decent selection of vinyl at your local Target, Walmart or craft store for around $1 per 12”x12” sheet, I have found much wider selections to choose from (as well as much better prices) when I shop for vinyl at a local, mom-and-pop craft store, so make sure to buy local if you can! Transfer tape can also be found at any store that sells vinyl, it is typically packaged the same as regular vinyl, so keep an eye out, they can be tricky to spot on a shelf sometimes.Īside from double checking your measurements, I also recommend first printing out your design on a regular piece of paper so you can hold it up to its final surface, and make sure your size and quality are exactly where you want them before potentially wasting vinyl material. Sheets of adhesive vinyl can be found in a myriad of colors, prints and designs. You will also need some adhesive-backed sheets of vinyl and transfer tape. Just a simple, light grip mat works best when working with LEGO-sized decals. Standard grip being the much sticker mat than the “lighter” grip mat. Most are either “light grip” or “standard grip”. Mats come in various grip strengths as well. There are larger grip mats on the market, but unless you plan on making a decal larger than 1 ft in any direction, there is no need to spring for a larger mat. Most cutting machines require a 12”x12” grip mat, but they typically come included with the machine if they are required, so you shouldn’t have to purchase a mat separately. Just for reference, with my $200 investment, I had everything I needed to produce hundreds of decals before having to purchase more vinyl! Anyone who knows me, knows I like to get a deal when I can, so keep my number one LEGO rule in mind when purchasing a cutting machine, LOOK FOR A DEAL! I lucked out and scored a $200 Cricut machine on sale for around $150 from a big box retailer, and spent around $50 on additional materials, weeding tools, and a few different colored sheets of vinyl to get me started. Nearly any of the current models will work for LEGO decal making, so no need to aim for the high-end machines.īut if you want a machine that gives you more abilities beyond the basics, like the ability to cut other materials such as wood and leather, then I might suggest looking into the pricier models. Some of the top-of-the-line machines can set you back as much as the Colosseum set, about $400 US, but others can be obtained for much less, closer to the cost of a passenger train, around $150-$200. During my research, I quickly found that there are many cutting machines on the market that also happen to be excellent for making decals for LEGO! Cutting machines range in both price and features.
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