ScrapFriends Product = Reviews: Inspired Crafts: Cutter Glide & E-Z Tool Cleaner

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Inspired Crafts:
Cutter Glide & E-Z Tool = Cleaner=20
=20


Randi's Review	Kathleen' Review	Penny's Review	Renee's Review	Rita's Review

Review by Randi

Inspired Crafts manufactures some good additions for your tool box = arsenal.=20 This review covers their "E-Z Tool Cleaner" and "Cutter Glide." I am a = long time=20 advocate of putting a date for cleaning tools on a scrapper's monthly = schedule.=20 It is so much easier to be creative when our tools function at their = best. These=20 products will help them to do just that.

The E-Z Tool Cleaner is the first step in getting those tools in = prime=20 working order. Simply apply to your cutting blades, leave on for about a = minute=20 (to loosen up the goop) then wipe off. This is also a great cleaner for = stamps!=20 My wood-mounted stamps get a lot of abuse from my four-year-old = daughter, and I=20 was able to clean some OLD stains from them with the E-Z Tool Cleaner! = Cool!=20

The E-Z Tool Cleaner comes in a one ounce plastic bottle with a = screw-on lid.=20 My only suggestion for improvement would be to put a squeeze top on this = bottle=20 so that one can easily get a small amount from the bottle. I'm sure I = used way=20 too much attempting to dab it onto a cloth and dump it onto my stamp.

The next step to getting your tools back into shape is to apply the = Cutter=20 Glide. This is a surface treatment that is good for trimmers, scissors, = punches,=20 etc. It leaves a coating that helps to reduce friction and wear on your = blades.=20 It comes in a 0.5 ounce glass bottle with a nail polish type brush in = the lid. A=20 little goes a LONG way. I expect this bottle to last a very long time.

I de-gooped my tools and applied the Cutter Glide about two weeks = ago. I have=20 noticed a marked difference in them during this time. My trimmer blade = and=20 scissors don't seem to be accumulating the "goop" that they normally do. = In=20 fact, I mistakenly set my scissors down in a puddle of Glossy Accents = and didn't=20 notice until the next day. I was impressed that I was able to pick it = off=20 quickly, with very little bother. My punches are operating more smoothly = now=20 too.

The E-Z Tool Cleaner and Cutter Glide come together in one package at = a cost=20 of about $10.00. If you're looking to make your tools function at their = best,=20 this is a good investment.=20

= Review by=20 Kathleen

I received a small, unassuming package in the mail a few weeks ago = that ended=20 up surprising me in a BIG way. The package was a 0.5-ounce bottle of = Cutter=20 Glide Tool Treatment and a 1-ounce sample of E-Z Tool Cleaner from = Inspired=20 Crafts. The bottles came packaged in a re-closable plastic shell. = Included with=20 the bottles was a small pamphlet with basic instructions and safety = information.=20

For the Cutter Glide Tool Treatment, the bottle and applicator look = just like=20 a bottle of nail polish. The amount I used was so small; I think this = bottle=20 will last a very long time. The E-Z Tool Cleaner is in an open topped = bottle. I=20 can foresee going through this a bit more quickly.

So how did these products surprise me? I first used the Cutter Glide = Tool=20 Treatment on my paper trimmer. As one would expect with a guillotine = style=20 blade, there is a lot of friction between the blade and the metal base. = I=20 applied the product per the instructions and let it dry. When I went to = use my=20 trimmer, I could not only hear less friction, but could feel the = difference too.=20

With the E-Z Tool Cleaner, I was amazed to find how easily it cleaned = my very=20 dirty stamps and work surface. This was very cool since I had long ago = given up=20 cleaning them because I could never find anything that really did the = job. I=20 also used it to clean the scissors I use for cutting the mounting foam = for my=20 stamps.

In summary, I was very impressed with both the Cutter Glide Tool = Treatment=20 and E-Z Tool Cleaner. The Cutter Glide Tool Treatment worked beautifully = on my=20 trimmer and did wonders for my stubborn punches. The E-Z Tool Cleaner = cleaned up=20 my messy stamps and work area so that it almost looks as though they are = brand=20 new! The only thing I would change with the E-Z Tool Cleaner would be to = add a=20 sponge dabber to the top to allow more controlled use of the product. =

The pair retail for around $9.99, which is a steal in my book for all = the use=20 I will get from it. I would recommend this product to avid stampers and=20 scrappers who want to prolong the life of their tools.

= Review by Penny

Have you ever had a cutting tool that you'd rather trash before = attempting to=20 clean it? When I am feeling creative I certainly don't stop to clean off = the=20 adhesive or ink from my tools, so sometimes they get a little ugly.

Inspired Crafts has developed a very easy to use product called E-Z = Tool=20 Cleaner. It is a clear solvent-free and environmentally safe cleaner = that will=20 remove adhesive or solvent inks from your tools, or even ink build-up = from your=20 rubber stamps.

Supplies

I have many dirty stamps so that is the first place I tested the E-Z = Tool=20 Cleaner. After applying the cleaner with a soft toothbrush, I gently = scrubbed=20 the rubber stamp and within a few seconds the ink was off of my stamps! = My first=20 reaction was if I ever wanted to sell some of my stamps cleaning them = first=20 would be well worth my time. The rubber looked brand new!

Applying E-Z Tool Cleaner with Toothbrush =

Before and After Cleaning Example =

I also tested the E-Z Tool Cleaner on an old pair of scissors. All = adhesive=20 and other materials on the blades were quickly removed.

The only cutting tool that you should not use the E-Z Tool Cleaner is = craft=20 punches. For those, we move directly to the Cutter Glide solution. = Cutter Glide=20 - as its name implies - is designed to smooth cutting surfaces, reduce = friction=20 and decrease wear on your tools. It can be applied to any cutting = surface giving=20 it a durable coating. It comes in a small half ounce bottle similar to = nail=20 polish with an applicator brush and retails for around $9.75 along with = a free=20 one ounce bottle of E-Z Tool Cleaner.

I put the Cutter Glide to my most challenging test. I've been hanging = on to a=20 square punch that often gets stuck. I have wanted to toss it in the = trash many=20 times, but it still sits in my drawer. I applied the Cutter Glide to the = cutting=20 surfaces of the punch using the applicator brush. I cycled my punch a = few times=20 and then punched through cardstock a few times to soak up excess liquid = and=20 voila, my punch works much better! No more sticking!

I picked up that old pair of scissors again which I had used the E-Z = Tool=20 Cleaner on previously. After applying the Cutter Glide and allowing to = dry, my=20 scissors had a nice smooth cutting action.

Applying Cutter Glide to Scissors =

Although the E-Z Tool Cleaner and Cutter Glide come in small bottles, = very=20 little is needed to achieve the desired effect and should last quite = awhile. If=20 you have struggled with removing adhesive, stamping ink or a sticking = punch,=20 Inspired Crafts has the tools to help!

= Review by Renee

Nothing is more aggravating that to pull out a favorite sheet of = pattered=20 paper, make your cut and end up with a fuzzy cut due to a worn out blade = on your=20 cutter. Inspired Crafts has developed a product that will help to extend = the=20 life of your cutting surfaces. It is called Cutter Glide and it works to = reduce=20 friction and decrease wear. The product is environmentally safe and will = bond to=20 almost any surface according to the package materials. Also contained = with the=20 packaging is a bottle of E-Z tool cleaner which is an all purpose = cleaner to be=20 used in conjunction with the Cutter glide.

The product came packaged in a plastic container containing a bottle = of=20 Cutter Glide as well as a sample size bottle of the E-Z Tool cleaner. = The Cutter=20 Glide bottle resembles a nail polish bottle and contains a brush inside = very=20 much like the brush in a bottle of nail polish. The packaging indicates = that the=20 product is a special lubricant for craft punches, scissors, cutting = blades and=20 other craft tools. The product bonds to both plastic and metals. The=20 instructions also indicate that the E-Z tool cleaner should be used on = all=20 surfaces except craft punches prior to application of the Cutter = Glide.

To test the product, I applied both the cleaner and cutter glide to = several=20 blades of my trimmer (including a trimmer blade that was worn and = producing=20 those dreaded fuzzy cuts) I also applied it to a pair of decorative = scissors=20 which a scalloped edge to see if it would improve the decorative cut. In = addition, since the E-Z tool cleaner also spoke of cleaning ink from = rubber=20 stamps, I used the cleaner on a rubber stamps to see how well it removed = the=20 ink.

Title: Application of Product

Once the tools were adequately dry, I tried each of them to see if I = noticed=20 a difference in the quality of the cut. On both the new and gently used = blades,=20 I was able to obtain smooth, clean cuts, just as I would have expected. = Both=20 blades moved easily on the cutting tracks with no sticking. What was = surprising=20 was the cut I was able to obtain from the worn out blade. The cut was = not a=20 smooth as my new blade, but was smooth enough to be useable. However, = more=20 surprisingly, the cut was clean, with no extraneous paper remaining on = the edge.=20 The blade cut so well, that I anticipate several more months of use from = this=20 blade. My old scalloped edge scissors cut equally as well. There is no = longer a=20 need to purchase another pair, as I previously planned. Likewise, the = cleaner=20 removed years of ink from a favorite set of rubber stamps.

Title: Use of Product

In conclusion, I was very surprised and pleased with the results I = received=20 using the Cutter Glide. I highly recommend this product to anyone who = wants to=20 extend the life of the cutting tools.

= Review by Rita=20

Cutter Glide Tool Treatment is a safe, acid-free lubricant = manufactured to=20 enhance the performance of cutting tools, and prolong their life. E-Z = Tool=20 Cleaner is an environmentally safe, solvent free cleaner that removes = adhesive=20 residue from your cutting blades, as well as ink build up from both = acrylic and=20 wooden/rubber stamps. To learn more about these products visit Inspired = Crafts=20 at their web-site: http://www.inspiredcrafts.com/.

Products from Inspired Crafts arrived in a dual pack. The package = included a=20 1 oz. bottle of E-Z Tool Cleaner and .5 oz. bottle of Cutter Glide, = wrapped with=20 a small instruction guide.

After gathering the items I would want to test with this product, I = carefully=20 cleaned the knife blades and scissors with the E-Z Tool Cleaner and a = paper=20 towel, as instructed. I applied Cutter Glide to a variety of tools, = including an=20 exacto knife blade, Coluzzle swivel knife blade, several micro tip = scissors,=20 needle in a sewing machine, and a flower punch that continually sticks. = I was=20 eager to see the difference the products would make.

I utilize two exacto knives at my scrap table, primarily so I can = almost=20 always find one when needed. Allowing the tools to dry overnight, I = compared=20 using both exacto knives - one treated with Cutter Glide, and the other = without.=20 Both blades made clean cuts, but the knife treated with the Cutter Glide = seemed=20 to require less effort.

Cutter Glide cannot perform miracles, and although I knew my Coluzzle = blade=20 is past the need of replacing, I opted to see the difference, if any, = the Cutter=20 Glide would make. Although I did get less friction , and the edges of = the=20 cardstock were not as rough as before, Cutter Glide was not able to = prolong the=20 life of a blade past its prime.

Cutter Glide did, however, give renewed life to a paper punch that = has been=20 giving me jam problems since I purchased it. As directed, I did not use = the E-Z=20 Tool Cleaner on the paper punch before applying the tool treatment. To = apply=20 Cutter Glide, I placed a paper towel under my punch, and turning it = upside down=20 on a sturdy work surface, pressed down to project the cutting blades = upward=20 through the bottom of the punch. I liberally applied Cutter Glide with = the=20 easy-to-use brush applicator. Allowing the blades to recess into the = cutting=20 cavity, I brushed more of the treatment along the inside walls of the = paper=20 punch (as shown below). I depressed the punch twice to allow the product = to=20 filter its way into the working mechanisms of the paper punch.

Before applying Cutter Glide to three pair of micro-tip scissors, I = tested=20 all of them first on a rather thick style of ribbon. My hardly-used pair = made a=20 clean cut with no problem. Pair number two, a teflon-coated pair, made a = clean=20 cut, fraying only the outer edge of the ribbon, and pair number 3 = struggled to=20 cut through the ribbon at all. After applying the treatment and allowing = to dry=20 overnight, I tested all the scissors on the same piece of ribbon. With = the first=20 pair I did not notice a difference. With pair number 2 I managed a clean = cut the=20 entire way through, and pair number three, although requiring less = effort to=20 make the cut than it had before, still frayed an outside edge of the = ribbon when=20 making the cut.

The punch was allowed to dry overnight. I tested the punch on scrap = cardstock=20 first, to ensure no residue would seep out. There was no problem with = the punch=20 jamming. I then took the same heavy weight piece of cardstock, that had=20 continually jammed in the punch the night before, and punched a flower = without=20 lock up. The cardstock was released easily, as a paper punch should. I = am very=20 pleased to be able to use this particular punch again, since it is part = of a=20 nesting series of punches.

As I like to sew on my projects using a Singer sewing machine, I = wanted to=20 see how the Cutter Glide would perform there as well. First, I swabbed = the=20 needle with the E-Z cleaner, to ensure adhesives used to tack down my = papers=20 before sewing did not remain on the needle. In my first attempt to add = Cutter=20 Glide to the needle, I inadvertently covered the eye of the needle as = well. This=20 posed a problem the following morning when I tried to thread the needle, = and it=20 did not work. Realizing what had happened, I inserted a different = needle.

I was more careful, the second time around, to brush Cutter Glide = only on the=20 tip of the sewing machine needle. I decided to test the newly protected = needle=20 on a thickness of material I had not previously been brave enough to try = on the=20 old Singer I use. I sandwiched a piece of chipboard between two pieces = of Prism=20 cardstock, one side of which had scraps of sticker stock. The sewing = machine=20 went through all thickness with great ease.

I also utilized the E-Z Tool Cleaner on several stamps that needed a = face=20 lift. One older rubber stamp, purchased used, had a coating of shimmery = ink on=20 almost its entire rubber surface. Using a paper towel, I applied the = tool=20 cleaner product and was able to remove much of the old ink. With a = little more=20 time and effort, and a soft toothbrush, I am certain I can give this old = stamp a=20 face lift.

I tested the E-Z Tool Cleaner on acrylic stamps as well, which had = not been=20 cleaned immediately after use with black Staz-On ink. Black residue did = come off=20 onto the paper toweling, although it did not remove the ink = completely.

For the very fact that the Cutter Glide Tool Treatment gave renewed = life to a=20 problematic flower punch, I would recommend this product to anyone that = uses=20 paper punches. I plan to apply it to a number of punches that have = periodic=20 stickiness. I also plan to continue using it on the tip of the sewing = machine=20 needle, and now feel brave enough to sew on chipboard.

The E-Z Tool Cleaner is also a great stand-by for times when adhesive = gunks=20 up on cutting blades. Because I often sew through layers of cardstock, = and=20 patterned papers, that are held in place with small amounts of adhesive, = I feel=20 a regular cleaning of the sewing machine needle with this product is = beneficial.=20

As one who is constantly utilizing a craft knife, I feel Cutter Glide = Tool=20 Treatment belongs in my scrapbook tool caddy . The E-Z Tool Cleaner is = also a=20 great tool accessory for ensuring your tools are "gunk free" and glide = easily on=20 your projects. The small size of the bottles allows one to store them in = a=20 nearby tote, drawer, or caddy for easy retrieval as needed. =

NOTE:=20 We have just received word that Inspired Crafts just released their E-Z = Tool=20 Cleaner in a 4 ounce spray bottle at CHA in Anaheim!

For more information visit Inspired Crafts =

Inspired Crafts: Cutter Glide & E-Z Tool = Cleaner=20 =20

Inspired Crafts:
Cutter Glide & E-Z Tool = Cleaner=20
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