EK Tools Large Circle Crafting Punch, 2.25 inch, Silver, with Safety Lock, create perfect Circles for Handmade Cards, Scrapbooking, Gift Tags, Invitations, Decorations, and More

I purchased this for my button maker BUT found out it cut circles that are too small for my needs. Even though it didn’t work out for what I bought it for, I rated it a 5 stars for quality of cut and ease of use.

I’ve really enjoyed using this to make quick cards and small notes for people. I look forward to seeing what all I can create with it. It’s very easy to use, and it doesn’t stick even with card stock.

I used this on cardstock and inkjet photos printed on glossy photo paper. The edges of the circles are clean and you can see what you are cutting out if you flip the punch over. Plus, it locks closed. It's expensive, but it is sturdy and looks like it will last a long time. My 6 year old daughter can't quite press hard enough to use it yet, but probably soon.

My intent is to use this to cut perfect sized filters to go into the portafilter basket for making espresso. This unit was recommended on an espresso channel on YouTube as being exactly the right size. Unfortunately, mine arrived and the very first attempt to cut didn't result in a punched piece coming through, nor would it open again after that. I really worked at it and eventually pried it back open with a great deal of effort (and the locking mechanism was NOT engaged), but only after completely mangling the filter I was trying to cut, both the uncut portion and the cutout piece. I tried on several different kinds and thicknesses of paper including a single sheet of relatively lightweight laser printer paper. What I found is that this punch is poorly machined. The Cutting edge is pretty imprecise and fairly jagged and somewhat dull when you really examine it closely, and it doesn't fit very precisely to the other edge against which it is doing the cutting. One section of the "blade" is so badly machined and such a poor fit that it never ever succeeds in cutting through a piece of paper, but rather tears it in just the right way so as to get it immediately stuck firmly in the mechanism, locking the punch into a closed position with the newly shredded paper bits completely wedged between the "blade" and the other metal surface so that it's very stuck in the closed position. There is no technique to get a good cut, whether going at it slowly, swiftly, firmly, gently, or any combination. It just gets completely stuck every single time and will never produce a proper punch. Every piece of paper processed with it gets completely mangled. Returning to see if maybe I can get a good one. Otherwise I'll be seeing if anybody else makes a 2.25 inch paper punch.UPDATE: Second one arrived with exactly the same issues as the first. Cutting edge is uneven, not sharp enough in places, rips/shreds the paper rather than cutting it. The metal used on the blade is low quality relatively soft metal, not the sort that will hold an edge. Even then, you'd think their machinery could produce a decently even, sharp surface even if it doesn't last. This is useless right out of the gate. I couldn't get a single good cut from it, and the thing gets totally stuck from the wedged shredded paper every single time. Returning, and I'm now searching for another 2.25" round paper punch, which sadly looks to be a difficult item to find.

I almost returned it. When trying to cut coffee filter paper for espresso it would get stuck in the down position and tear the paper. But then I figured out if the filter paper is folded so that it is 4 layers thick and the punch is pressed hard and fast directly on the disc portion it cuts cleanly. The tolerances are simply too loose to cut just one or two layers cleanly at a time. Hopefully this helps others experiencing the same issue. I’m using Melitta #4 filters for reference.

Was the wrong size for my craft, but very Durabke item!

Works well if you use thick enough paper or more than two sheets of paper. I am using to cut out designs for a button maker and usually use multiple sheets, so it works for my needs. However, it will jam up if you try and only use a single sheet of copy paper in it. If you want to cut out a single sheet, I suggest putting another couple of pieces of copy paper behind the one you wants so it doesn't jam.

We purchased this puncher to easily cut large circles in order to make buttons for our club. We haven’t used it in mass production yet but for the samples that we created, it works great. Seems to be a very durable product and will work well for us in the years to come.