Pain from rotary cutters?

Pain from rotary cutters? Group: rec.crafts.textiles.quilting Date: Tue, Jul 15, 2003, 11:33pm (EDT+4) From: snipped-for-privacy@twcny.rr.com (IMS) I started getting terrible joint pain in the top knuckle of my index finder on right hand...this is exactly the finder that I use to hold down my rotary cutter. I'm wondering if the pain is connected to the way I use the cutter. Does anyone know of a site that shows how to position these things properly? Or can someone explain it? I have one of the FISKARS cutters. Are there any brands considered more ergonomic than others? ------- If you go to Fiskars.com and follow the headings to sewing/quilting, there is a detailed description and photo of the rotary cutter in use, as well as tips, etc.

Your index finger should not be uppermost while using this particular cutter - all your fingers should be through the opening of the handle. Once the blade is locked in the cutting position, it should not be necessary to have a digit (Finger or thumb) extended to hold the blade down in the cutting position. Jennifer in Ottawa

Rest your hand for 3 days. Then change the blade! Pain is Nature's way of telling me that my blade is getting dull.

--Lia

I drive my Fiskars with my thumb on top. I don't know why but just guess it is comfortable to me that way. There are several rotary cutters here but the Fiskars is always the one I come back to. Perhaps you should try other holds and other rotarys until you find one that makes your hand happy. Polly

Howdy! Your finger does not belong on top of the cutter. See this demo:

not-Fiskars: Let the blade do the work, not your hand or finger; don't push down so hard on the cutter.

Does anyone know of a site that shows how to position these things properly? Or can someone explain it? I have one of the FISKARS cutters. Are there any brands considered more ergonomic than others?

Oh boy, no wonder my knuckle hurts. I'm doing it WAY wrong! =20 Thanks for posting the links, Ellison. =20

I'll do the three days rest as another member suggested, and then give it a go do>Howdy!

Oh my! I have the same problem only on my left index finger. It hurts when I press on that knuckle. I have the yellow Olfa cutter. I will do the rest thing and change the blade. Glad to know I did not imagine it.

I have a truly ergonomic rotary cutter.

(NAYY) I got it at a quilt show, but LQS's are starting to carry it too. I love it and will never go back to a "regular" one. They have left handed and right handed. The way it works is that the pressure of your whole hand presses on it, not just a couple of fingers and joints. It really is a joy to use.

NAYY

Melissa in NJ

I just got one of those. Must really try to get used to it. Every new ache and pain is a royal pain!

Change your blade OFTEN -- it can really save the muscles and joint pain. It is truly amazing the amount of pressure that we unconciously use when the blade isn't sharp -- I learned the hard way -- now I get my blades in bulk -- no more pain

Mim

Does anyone know of a site that shows how to position these things properly? Or can someone explain it? I have one of the FISKARS cutters. Are there any brands considered more ergonomic than others?

Do you have trouble with the screw falling out of that rotary cutter? I have had two of them and the screw constantly falls out. I bought the first one and it always fell out so I bought the second one and it does it to. Also, do they make those rotary cutters with the 60 mm blade yet. I prefer that size blade over the standard 45 mm blade.

Megan

I don't know that the way you hold it is necessarily causing the pain. I think the type of cutter you use has a lot to do with it. I do A LOT of cutting every month (900 block of the month kits, on top of the quilts I make in my spare time) and I am one of those that holds my finger on top. I can definitely tell the difference in the way my wrist feels according to what rotary cutter I use to cut. Megan

Where do you buy in bulk? That would be great for me and my little quilting group. TIA Linda

Your LQS can order them for you. One blade is about 1/3 of the price of the ones most shops carry. Megan

thanks for the info