LOKLIK iCraft Cutting Machine: Review
If you’ve been browsing cutting machines but put off by the high prices of some. Perhaps the LOKLIK cutting machine might be the answer. I’ve put it to the test in my honest review and tried to answer all the questions you might have all in one post.
Design and Build
My LOKLIK bundle arrived well packaged and if I’m being honest looks very similar to by Cricut. Out of the box it’s of a very similar size and shape. Mine came in blue, but it also comes in white, denim blue, romance pink and grace purple. With a simple user interface of four buttons on the right hand side and some tool holder pots on the left.
The buttons and layout make sense, even if you’re not a tech whiz, which is a big win for those of us who just want to get to crafting without decoding an instruction manual.
It has similar design as the Cricut for opening with a pull tab for the top panel and then the front panel releases. It doesn’t have that smooth opening function that the Cricut does.
Once the front panel is down you can see it has further storage space in the panel. It has two tool holders within the machine. One for the blade and one for a pen.
Features
It claims to be able to handle all sorts of materials. From paper, fabric and even thin metal! It came with a selection of HTV in the bundle which it cut perfectly and I’ve also tried it with vinyl, card and craft foam.
You are able to adjust the settings, such as cutting force, and speed and you also have the choice of two different angled blades. It has pre-sets included, but it’s worthwhile testing these first with scraps before committing to your projects and wasting materials if the settings need changing.
Precision and Accuracy
You know how some machines promise perfection but end up giving you wonky cuts? Not this one. The LOKLIK actually lives up to the hype. I used the calibration sheet to make sure everything was working properly before starting my first project.
It gave clean cuts and so far I’ve had zero mistakes. Whether you’re going for complex patterns or just cutting out basic shapes, it’s on point. (Word of warning though – when carrying out the calibration, don’t use a brand new mat or if you have to de-stick it a bit as my print out sheet got well and truly suck to the new mat!)
Ease of Use
This may be because I’ve used similar machines before, but I found the LOKLIK got it right with a user-friendly interface and the LokLikideastudio software has been a breeze to use.
It has a great bank of preloaded designs with over 12 thousand free ones to choose from. Some simple silhouettes like the Monstera leaf and some print then cut designs. It’s worth browsing the categories for a first project.
If you are already on to designing your own or bought svgs from etsy etc. It was very simple to import the files I needed. Such as my Chinese new year dragon and the button tin design.
What software does LOKLIK use?
LokLikideastudio software. I used the windows version which can be downloaded and installed. They offer a apple version and even apps, but I haven’t tried those out.
Performance
The machine works quickly and fairly quietly. Relative to my Cricut in terms of speed. I’ve only had it for about a week so I can’t comment on long term but so far I’m very happy with it.
LOKLIK machine price
The machine with the crafting bundle recommended retail price is £245.00 but you can often find it with offers.
Get 10% off your order with my exclusive coupon code CRAFTCARTWRIGHT10
Pros:
- It can cut through almost anything – a true crafting multitasker.
- Simple design that won’t make you pull your hair out.
- Precision cutting that even a perfectionist would love.
- Easy to import files.
Cons:
- Feels a little bit cheap in the opening mechanism.
- No magnetic strip to hold spare blades.
- No other tool options other than blade and pen.
Loklik vs Cricut
*Prices January 2023
Final thoughts
The LOKLIK Cutting Machine is a great budget friendly crafters tool. Much more reasonably priced than the Cricut. If you are looking or a easy to use cutter that gets the job done quickly then I would thoroughly recommend the LOKLIK .
