and ANOTHER new toy!!

[Elizabeth]

Well,  I'm certainly sold on the Flying Beetle for straight/strip cutting!   I have a whole bunch of little 20mm (about 3/4") squares that are actually all straight and square ready to fuse myself a new watch strap (when himself fires up the kiln for me!)    I also cut up a sheet of glue chip with no problem  - AND the edges are all straight!
My only problem is also that I don't have space to leave it up permanently - but will just have to plan my straight/angle gutting well.   This is too good a tool to not use!

Love your VW camper, Yvonne!!   I remember when they were called 'sin bins' - of course the Afrikaans name was more descriptive - but not suitable for use here.....

[Judy K]

Dune buggys and Camper Vans   mmmmmmmmm youth and freedom. I bought my home on wheels in 1983 and drove north, never to look back. Ok , I looked back, but I did not go back. Mine was a 71' Ford. A bit more power than the Vdub's and the rent was the right price. I custom built the inside to keep my guitar and spare tire under the bed from the back door, and my art supplies had custom cubby holes under the bed from the front. My tiny book case had bungy straps, and ............, Oh such good memories. My home on wheels.

I love the goat photo and the dune buggy is classic!!!!!!!! purple even.

I too use a vacuum to take care of shards.

Good luck with the Grinder Becki. I have a couple projects that have been sitting for years that need grinding. When you get good at it let me know, maybe I'll pay you to do it for me.

[Lou Ann]

My only problem is also that I don't have space to leave it up permanently - but will just have to plan my straight/angle gutting well.   This is too good a tool to not use!

Elizabeth,

Do you have a spare work board you could set it up on and leave it? Before I sold my second Morton grid, I left mine set up on a special board and just stood it against the side of the workbench when it wasn't in use (not having Ray's system, I don't know if it is the same concept as the Morton where the pieces stay in place)...

Lou Ann

ps I sold my 2nd Morton grid because I needed the extra cash, not because I didn't like having it available to keep the cutter system set up

[Lou Ann]

I used to use a vac in the shop till the glass shards distroyed the filter in no time.  The cost of replacing the filter was near and dear. 

Joan,

I highly recommend the Bissell Easy Vac -- less than $40 at Walmart -- it is very lightweight, yet powerful enough to get glass out of the carpet (yes, I have a carpeted workshop, not by choice), has the canister you empty so no bags required and the filter system is washable. I am going on 3 yrs with it and it still runs like new and I don't clean the filter as often as I probably should.

Lou Ann

[Glassic]

I use a 1gal wet/dry ShopVac cost $20, I think it was Kmart maybe Wmart. Mennards sell another brand I just bought one for a mate, it's on special for $15.
Yes, freedom, that camper [and a few boats] was my home away from home for 3yrs. 
I think the Aussie name might translate well into Afrikaans.  

[Elizabeth]

I think the Aussie name might translate well into Afrikaans.   

I'll bet it would!!!

[Elizabeth]

My only problem is also that I don't have space to leave it up permanently - but will just have to plan my straight/angle gutting well.   This is too good a tool to not use!

Elizabeth,

Do you have a spare work board you could set it up on and leave it? Before I sold my second Morton grid, I left mine set up on a special board and just stood it against the side of the workbench when it wasn't in use (not having Ray's system, I don't know if it is the same concept as the Morton where the pieces stay in place)...

Lou Ann

Hmmm - that is something to think on, Lou Ann!   I could probably dispense with one or two of the odd little boards I have stashed in every available space at the moment.........

[Audrey]

Joan, the VW van would have been MY father's nightmare if he were still alive when I met my husband in '71, but we won't go there...

[AglassAct]

Is the Beetle Bit system more user friendly that the Morton? I have the Morton. I set it up and I have to say that the directions had my head spinning and I have never used it! I did not buy it. It was a prize I won at some Warner event a few years ago... I am pondering buying the Beetle Bit.

Love the VW picture!

[Glassic]

Is the Beetle Bit system more user friendly that the Morton? I have the Morton. I set it up and I have to say that the directions had my head spinning and I have never used it! I did not buy it. It was a prize I won at some Warner event a few years ago... I am pondering buying the Beetle Bit.

Love the VW picture!

The B Bits are the new kid on the block and seem to be doing great, and old just gets older.
 

[Elizabeth]

Is the Beetle Bit system more user friendly that the Morton? I have the Morton. I set it up and I have to say that the directions had my head spinning and I have never used it! I did not buy it. It was a prize I won at some Warner event a few years ago... I am pondering buying the Beetle Bit.

Love the VW picture!

Sorry,  can't help you there - had never seen either till I  got my  Beetle Bits!   But must say - I'm not good with 'instructions' - but so far I've found the B.B's easy enough to use!
I'm sure Yvonne is right- if it's newer it's probably improved!  That's how we all evolve - learning from previous mistakes!

Also love the retired Volksie Bus!!

[CC]

I tried the morton system at a store and just could not understood it. I bought the beetle system and love it.

[JoanFrances]

I had the morton set up never did figure it out.  Hubby was the one who marked all the needed numbers in it.

Bought the beetle bits, and love, love, love it.  No real learning curve

[Judy K]

Love my Morton but I keep the manual handy for anything special. I like the grid catching my shards. I like the straight edge cutter. I like the red button for weird multiple curve break outs. But I rarely use the angles measurements for straight cuts , so it is okay to have to go to the manual each time to remember how to. I use my tiny circle cutter a lot.

I bought the big circle cutter but it only had a CD for instructions and my CD drive was broken so I have never learned the system and now probably never will because I do not mind cutting them free hand. I just go slow and carefully follow my marker line. Most of these are for fusing so a little mess on the edge will disappear in the kiln

I now have a BB grid and I like how it fits together from smaller parts, rather than one big pad. I like how it is clear rather than white, Better on my light table. I love how the stoppers hold but are not a night mare to remove. I imagine all the other features I like about Morton are also improved with this new Beetle Bits. I also like how Ray is accessible on the boards to ask questions of.

If I were in vesting new I would go Beetle Bits. But being set up and happy, Morton has and does serve my needs fine. I rarely use the angles so that is fine to look them up every time.

[Alan]

I bought the big circle cutter but it only had a CD for instructions and my CD drive was broken so I have never learned the system and now probably never will because I do not mind cutting them free hand.

Does not your computer have a DVD/CD drive??

[Judy K]

The new lap top I bought last summer does, but this was several years ago and the drive in my old computer was/is broken. It was very irritating but we survived without it for years. I looked into replacing it many times but used data sticks for transferring info until I got the lap top. By then I forgot about the circle cutter and have not had the need to try it out.