Guns · Troubleshooting

Why is my tufting gun not cutting?

First confirm that the gun is set for cut pile. If it is, switch it off and unplug it before checking the cutting path. Scissor and knife machines use different mechanisms, so the exact model manual comes first.

Last reviewed: October 13, 2026.

Find the next check

Choose the mechanism and symptom you can identify. If you cannot identify the exact model, the checker will send you back to its manual instead of guessing at an adjustment.

The checker needs JavaScript. If your gun is set to loop pile, closed loops are expected. For a scissor machine, switch it off and unplug it before using the maker's manual to inspect the mechanism. Do not adjust an unidentified gun.

Work through the safe checks in order

Confirm cut mode. Some guns leave loops by design or when switched to loop pile. Use the manual for the exact model to change modes.
Disconnect power. Turn the gun off and unplug it before removing loose fibers or examining moving parts.
Clear visible lint. Use only the access and cleaning method allowed by the manual. Fibers can collect around scissor channels.
Check a hand cycle only when the maker documents it. Tuft the World describes a full hand rotation for its AK-I, DUO, KRD-I, and AK-5 scissor machines. That check does not identify or cover every marketplace gun.
Check the yarn fit. Tuft the World says very soft yarn can bend against the blade rather than cut. Stay within the yarn and strand guidance for your gun.
Stop before adjusting scissors. A worn blade or alignment issue may need parts or a model-specific adjustment. Ask the maker if the manual does not give a safe procedure.

These checks come from Tuft the World's scissor and cutting guide and its AK-I, DUO, and KRD-I support article. Those are maker instructions for the named machines, not a universal adjustment chart.

When the checker cannot identify the fault

Use the manual for your exact model or contact its seller before loosening a screw, changing scissor alignment, or ordering parts. Marketplace titles such as “AK-style” do not prove that the internal mechanism matches an AK model.

If the gun cuts but the yarn keeps slipping or jamming, use the yarn feed troubleshooting guide. For routine lubrication, see what oil a tufting gun uses.

Sources and limits

These checks come from maker support pages reviewed on October 13, 2026. This page does not report a hands-on diagnosis. Tuft the World's scissor guide covers named scissor and knife machines. Tufty.eu's AK-1 cutting article describes a different adjustment sequence and includes video. This page does not repeat that adjustment or its measurements because they are model-specific.

Next step

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