Sizzix Tim Holtz Movers & Shapers and On The Edge Die Cutting Accessories

[@candyclouston1412]

Thanks for answering my question about what the On The Edge cutting plate is about.

[@lasinmt106]

I'm going to go to all these sites that mention the use of the Tim Holtz Sizzix Movers & Shapers Bigz L Tray #657007 item or base tray that allows you to place the smaller mover and shaper dies anywhere on a medium card stock, metal chipboard etc. Asking since these are no longer made and very difficult to find used even since about a year to two ago IF anyone has a hack for making ones own. If I could get my hands on one of the base trays I am pretty certain I would know how to make one myself using steel plate or other materials and forming up a shallow box or even maybe glued on plastic sides that are molded just the right height to a metal or magnetic sheet perhaps. I have lots of ideas but only got into these RULE DES this year 2021. And turns out the plate is needed to go with my now 11 rule die collection. Four of those are the really BIG DIES and you do not remove as in they are not movable or shakers of any kind to them. Also they do not provide a window to which any of the small mover dies can be placed so basically I have no idea of what a base tray really is made and it's thickness etc. Any ideas at all to share would be so helpful. I believe if you reply to this post I'll be notified. Thanks anyone and everyone and STAY SAFE and Craft On.

[@amazingscholar5551]

"Steel Rule Dies Technology"... never heard it put that way... steel rule dies are nothing new, they've been around since the mid to 1800's... traditionally a steel rule die maker (like myself) would draft the design onto a piece of plywood, take that plywood to a jigsaw that also had a drill press. Along the lines of the design, several holes would be drilled side-by-side so the steel rule would have a "notch" (made by a hand another), the holes also were used to start and stop a location for the jigsaw blade to be placed. A true steel rule die craftsman (prior to lasers doing the work) could draft the design and jigsaw cut the line within a tolerance of +/- 0.005" (5 thousandths of an inch). All the steel was bent by hand using a table mounted Helmold (or other brand) bender. Then the steel rule was implanted into the wood with a rawhide mallet. Later (usually( the guys in the shipping department inserted ejector foam along the edges of the steel rule. As the press pushes the material to be cut past the cutting edge of the die, the ejector foam pushes the cut product back out of the die.