I am a Silhouette newbie and only used my Portrait for the first time a few weeks ago. When I was doing my first Silhouette project, I had scrapbook paper and cardstock all over my craft table. It was only after I finished up the first project and moved onto my second project did I realize that I lost my rachet cap. I didn’t keep track of it because I didn’t realize its importance. The only way to change the blade depth (described by the manual and on the machine itself) is with the rachet cap. I looked high and low in our office and did not find it. I searched online to see if I could find another way to change the blade depth but with no success. Finally I ordered a new Silhouette replacement blade because it comes with a rachet cap. Luckily, I only had to wait 2 days for the blade to arrive, thanks to Amazon Prime‘s 2 day shipping. I have had the rachet cap hanging on my bulletin board above my desk and I regularly look to see if it is there.

Today when I was cutting something, I happened to look at my Portrait and on the right side was a hole that looked about the size of the blade housing.

I realized that it must be a built in rachet cap! I took the blade out of the Portrait and tried it. I was able to change the blade depth! I wish I had known this earlier before I bought the new blade. I’m posting this in the hope that it will save another Silhouette newbie some frustration.

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