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Ok...everyone loves their Crop-o-dile...I get it. However, I obviously must be doing something wrong with mine. I bought one when they first came out. Brought it home, tried it, then put it in a drawer, and that's where it has stayed. I thought it was awesome for punching holes, but couldn't get it to set an eyelet nicely, no matter what setting I put it on. When I use a hammer, it "flowers" nicely at the back and the front of the eyelet isn't squished at all. When I use the Crop-o-dile, it is pretty messy at the back, and sometimes a little squished at the front. What am I doing wrong?
you probably have the settings wrong. Mine is downstiars but I remember I had to try 2 different settings on the pack part before I was happy with the way it worked.
Jumbo eyelets are a different setting now, so I just wrote on top of the eyelet containers what the setting is for that size so I have it and don't have to dig out the instruction sheet.
I'll post my setting when I get home, I have to go pick up/drop off kids and deliver some orders. If someone else doesn't have them handy I'll make a stop in the craft room on my way up later (twist my arm :mrgreen: )
Did you save the package backing? It has the settings on it. For standard eyelets, A & 1. For standard snaps, B & 2. For jumbo eyelets, C and 3. For other flat embellishments, use D for the top. For snaps and eyelets where the tube is not completely hollow, use 4 for the base.
When setting eyelets, make sure you don't have the top and the base mixed up. The part that goes into the front of the eyelet sticks out. You also don't have to squeeze very hard. HTH!
Either mine is a dud, or I am just too much of a perfectionist.
I have the settings, I have tried them all.
I never get as nice a "set" as a do with a hammer.
I just did 12 eyelets, only one of them looked remotely nice. I would never give away a card with an eyelet set so poorly.
Can anyone point me to a card they have done with eyelets using the crop-o-dile so I can look at the setting?
I have only set one jumbo so far and it didn't flare as much as the regular ones but it's set fine.
For the standard eyelets, don't smush it until the crop o dile won't go anymore. Just a touch more after you feel it start to mush the eyelet. I just did it both ways and if I squeeze the COD all the way it smashes the front and looks bad, chips some paint off. Our eyelets are a little softer so you don't need to squeeze it all the way. I've had mine for a while so at this point it has become second nature how far to squeeze it but when I was thinking what the problem could be I remembered I did have to set a few in some scrap to get the feel.
I was practicing with MM eyelets...didn't want to waste any SU! ones. Do you think that is the problem? I tried something else too...I tried to set an eyelet in the chipboard, and it was beautiful. Maybe one layer of cardstock just isn't thick enough to get a good set? I really want to love this thing, because pounding with a hammer gives everyone a headache.
I am subscribing to this ... because I am not sure of some of the settings...
I couldnt set a flat brad-type jumbo eyelet... it kept wanting to put an indent in the top part... I am going to try the above setting to see if I maybe had the top part set wrong...
I am having the same problem with mine. My eyelet keeps popping all the way through the cardstock. I REALLY want to love it, because everyone says how wonderful it is. For my stamp camp tonight I had to put it away and get out my 1/8 and 1/16 circle punches instead. I just couldn't get it to work. Luckily it was only family and friends, so no one cared. Bummy. :(
I actually have more of a problem setting SU eyelets than I do other companies. SU's eyelets are softer and easier to set than other companies. It doesn't take much effort with the COD to set the harder non-SU eyelets. When I go to set SU ones, it's really easy to apply too much pressure with the COD and totally squish the eyelets into a useless mess. The COD can go through leather and certain metals with very, very little effort, so it can be difficult to guage just how much pressure you need to apply with eyelets, regardless of the source. I think for the most part it takes just a lot of trial and error to get the feel of it.
I was practicing with MM eyelets...didn't want to waste any SU! ones.
That's *exactly* what I was doing! And then when they didn't work, I put the Cropadile away (except for punching holes in stuff--cool) and thought, "Whew! At least I didn't waste any *good* eyelets!" LOL
Skip to 6 months later, I tried some good eyelets, and lo and behold, the Cropadile is magnificent! Pick 6 SU eyelets in colors you rarely use, and try them first. It may take 3 or 4 to get it exactly right, but I think you'll get it figured out quicker than that.
I just used the COD again last night at my upline's meeting using the SU eyelets, and I really tried trying to be very light handed with the pressure, but they ended up a squished mess. I actually do better anymore with the non-SU harder eyelets, but about half of those end up a mess, too. The COD can be hard to guage. I mostly use it for punching holes through stuff and not for setting eyelets (I've pretty much gone exclusively to using brads because they're faster and easier.)
Well at least now I know I am not the only one who is COD impaired.
As for the "snaps" as I call them...I have not been able to set them with the COD at all. They're a disaster. :(
I had problems with it at first too setting SU eyelets. What was happening to me was I'd set it & then the eyelet would be stuck on the COD & I couldn't get the post out of the eyelet. Well I was doing it backwards.....I was putting the post part thru the back of the eyelet & it should be done thru the front paint part. This came to me after someone on here posted a link to a you tube video w/ COD instructions. I'd give them the credit but I don't know who it was now.
__________________ Finally figured out the whole signature line, I think.
If you are reading this then I guess it worked, wh-hoo!
I am sorry the COD isn't working for some of you. I LOVE mine! Maybe I am just weak, but mine set so much nicer, faster and quieter than the hammer! I hardley ever used eyelets, now almost every project I have made I have used eyelets.
Sandy
tsk.. the first thing ya did wrong was buying it, I cant stand mine used it a couple of times and dont like it. It's Good that other people like it, good luck to us that dont I guess. Not all products are for everyone I guess.
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I just bought one today and the first eyelet I set was all squishy! Disaster!! Going to bed right now, but I will try again tomorrow, because I was so excited to get it!!
Here's a YouTube Crop-a-dile demo. Is this the one mjc1273 referred to? It has some helpful info on it. I used my Crop-a-dile for the first time the other day. I tried it on Snaps. I think I need practice to since the backs turned out rather funny. I'll try it again now that I've watched the demo.
I'm having the exact same problem too ... and I want to love my CAD. I tried and tried to set eyelets yesterday and only a few turned out decent. I guess I'll keep practicing, but I hate wasting all these eyelets!
Wow! That video was so helpful! I am the most visual person I know, and I NEED someone to demonstrate how to use something rather than reading about it. Now I have to open the package and actually use the darn thing! LOL!
__________________ Carla
The more we thank, the more we discover we have to be thankful for.
That video is great! I've been using it all wrong. Up until now I thought I just ended up with an expensive hole punch. Hopefully I'll be able to get it to work now.
Here's a YouTube Crop-a-dile demo. Is this the one mjc1273 referred to? It has some helpful info on it. I used my Crop-a-dile for the first time the other day. I tried it on Snaps. I think I need practice to since the backs turned out rather funny. I'll try it again now that I've watched the demo.
Thank you so much for forwarding that link - it was a very good tutorial! Especially for people like me who are stuck overseas without a Michael's or AC Moore to see it demonstrated in person during a craft day. I ordered one online and was getting nervous after reading all the posts of those having trouble with it (I wondered if I spent a lot of money for a heavy duty hole puncher as another poster said). I am keeping my fingers crossed and will let you know once mine arrives.
Yes! The video was just what I needed. It took a couple of tries to get the feel for how hard to squeeze but it worked beautifully! I tried some snaps and while it was a little trickier because there's no post to position correctly, it worked great on them!
Was glad to see this post since I thought I was the only one in the world who hated their COD.... I'm almost afraid to say that! One of the thingies that sticks out went in never to be seen again after I used it crooked and then another time one of the springs just flew out somewhere never to be seen again. I'm back to my good ole hammer and setter! Never lets me down..
I am unable to view the videos...guess my computer is too slow. I still cannot figure out my COD. I can't even get it to punch a hole. I have tried all combinations of letters and numbers. The only thing I can think of is maybe I am supposed to do something with the little knobs on the side that say 1/8 and 3/16. Mine are just kind of loose. Can someone please help me??? I feel like a total loser!
Okay, I am officially a dork. Didn't realize it was the things on the side that do the punching! DUH!!!!! Maybe I won't hate this tool so much after all!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 329shana
Okay, I am officially a dork. Didn't realize it was the things on the side that do the punching! DUH!!!!! Maybe I won't hate this tool so much after all!
Nope your not a dork... I did the same thing... it took me a day or so to figure out how to punch holes... sad:rolleyes: and I am supposed to demonstrate this!
So don't feel dorky...! I prefer to think we were just too intelligent for the tool!
Who would of thought... paper piercers on the side of the tool... nifty thought... and boy they cut through anything! Don't ask...my teenage son thought it was a new tool for him .... ugh!
Here's a YouTube Crop-a-dile demo. Is this the one mjc1273 referred to? It has some helpful info on it. I used my Crop-a-dile for the first time the other day. I tried it on Snaps. I think I need practice to since the backs turned out rather funny. I'll try it again now that I've watched the demo.
This video link saved me from many hours of aggrevation with the COD and since I am also a visual learner too, I was getting no where with the directions I was reading!
Thank you for this link!! I have shared it a few times with others that were struggling with their Croppy! ;)
thanks for the info. I've been thinking about buying a COD, and this thread has helped me decide. I think I'll pass and keep using my hammer and eyelet setter. After watching the video, I realized I will be limited to where I can set the eyelet (unless I'm missing something). This is similar to hand held punches where you can only punch the hole on the card as far in as the punch will allow. This is why I really appreciate this site, it contains a wealth of knowledge. thanks
__________________ If not me, who? If not now, when? ~ rabbin
I purchased mine at AC Moore with a 50% off coupon, and came home to proudly show it off to my hubby.
I went downstairs, and grabbed a MM eyelet to try. I had it on A1 setting, and the eyelet smooshed INTO the COD. Literally, the eyelet was inside the COD - where the thingy pushes inward. So, I grabbed a dry embossing stylus to pop it out. I didn't use a lot of pressure, and the ball at the end of the stylus broke off - so that was ALSO INSIDE the COD with the smooshed eyelet.
I ran upstairs, tail between my legs, looked at my hubby and said "I broke my Crop-O-Dile; do you think you can fix it?"
He was able to pop out the smooshed eyelet, and the ball from my stylus. Now I use it ALL THE TIME, and LOVE LOVE LOVE it. I don't have a problem with smooshed eyelets because I changed to the C3 setting, AND, I don't squeeze too hard.
Crop-o-dile...what am I doing wrong?
