Basic Grey Notch & Die Tool

Paper and embellishment company Basic Grey has begun to diversify into the tool market. Their first offering is the Notch & Die Cutting Tool. This tool consists of a handle and a set of three interchangeable heads. These heads are held in place by both a male/female slot and a magnet. This double locking system is necessary as the heads each contain razor sharp blades. The blades are half circle, v-wedge and straight blades. The straight blade is 12mm/1 inch long.

The tool is relatively easy to use, although it does require a strong arm and wrist. The instructions on the tool say to use a rubber mallet if extra strength is required. The blades give a clean cut when used. In the image below, a medium weight cardstock was used. I was also able to cut through thin chipboard without much extra effort. Basic Grey claim the tool can also be used on fabric, leather and thin plastic. I was able to cut all these materials with the tool. As stated early, the blades are very sharp.

In the back of the packaging is a chart which demonstrates some of the potential uses for the tool. For scrapbookers, it would be useful as a tool for mounting both photos and journalling blocks, especially when using materials such as vellum which can often be difficult to mount due to their see through nature. The tools also allow the production of closures for small booklets, which could be used for hidden journalling or mini-books.

On the whole, I found that the tool was able to fulfill all it's claims when it came to cutting various materials. However, while a novel idea, I think it would be a useful though limited tool for scrapbookers. I can see it being quite useful to anyone who is into cardmaking. Basic Grey have stated that they will be bringing out further heads, in different shapes in the future. This might make the tool more versitle.

The packaging of the tool is typical of Basic Grey. It comes in a nice brushed metal tin, with thick foam inside. This is indented to allow the secure storage of the handle and blades, thus minimizing damage of the blades in transit.

Pros: Fairly simple to use and designed so that additional blades can be used as they become available.

Cons: My one suggestion for improvement of the product would be the inclusion of a small self-healing cutting mat. While most scrapbookers and card makers will have one on hand, when the product costs $55AU/$29US, including a mat would be good customer service. Especially for those who want to be mobile with the product.

Quick Review (Out of 5 Stars)

Cost/Value for Money: 3
Usefulness: 3
Ease of Use: 4

DISCLAIMER: The Basic Grey Notch & Die Cutting Tool used in this review was supplied by AussieScrapSource - http://www.aussiescrapsource.com/