die cutter help

[Emmak]

THis is probably a silly question but I have the tag-a-long and the cuttlebug and was wondering whether I should be alternating the plastic boards that run through the machine or whether I should always keep the bottom one uncut (if you see what I mean). Also if you use both sides of one of the boards to cut with does it weaken it?

[cw18]

I use both sides of one plate in my sidekick and my bigshot, but keep one clean. This allows a 'clean' plate when I try doing embossing with brass stencils.

Have only ever had one sidekick plate crack, but I'd expect that eventually of all of them. I have had other replacements just because of the amount of wear though.

When I put a new plate in I generally use the new one as the 'clean' plate, and then use my previous 'clean' one as the cutting plate -- on the basis they'll get more brittle with age, so best not to keep one of the oldest in the machine long term

[Emmak]

Great, thank you!

[Gadget Monkey]

I always use one side at a time, once it is really marked I turn it over, once they are both really marked I start on the bottom plate...