rotary cutter blades?

On the same note -- I have seen "sharpeners" for rotary blades. Does anyone have any experience? Do they work?

The best way to kill a rotary blade is to hit the edge of it on your ruler. Try hard not to do that. Another way is to use a worn-out cutting mat. How long has it been since you replaced your mat? and do you routinely turn it so that you're not cutting on the same line again and again? We've just replaced the cutting mats here and you should see the happy smiles on the rotary cutters. Polly

You may want to take note to see if the sharp part of the blade in coming into contact with the ruler when you make your cut - that would dull it very quickly. Otherwise you seem to be doing everything right, maybe the brand?

I do a lot of cutting. Bargain blades were not a bargain for me, they seemed to dull very quickly. Fiskars weren't much better. Then I switched to Olfa. My first 5-pack of Olfa 45mm blades lasted almost 2 years. The first blade in the pack was good for almost 3 months, another lasted over 5 months. (Yes I do make a note when I change blades). I use an old-style Olfa handle, not sure if that would make a difference. It just might be karma. ;o)

Mickie

While we're asking about rotary blades: is anyone able to tell me why I am religiously keeping my old blades, in cases, to the tune of 10-12?

Sorry I can't answer your question Lia - perhaps you can answer mine? >gg< . In message , Julia Altshuler writes

I have a couple, Kate. They do work as a temporary solution (unless the blade is actually nicked). It is really just about enough to get you to the next shopping trip, though. Don't rely on them for doubling the life - or anything like that. . In message , Kate G. writes

To avoid having to safely dispose of them?

I keep 2-3 around: one for cutting paper, and another spare for craft (like last year I had to cut several hundred little squares of felt for the Cub Scouts and their families to make pirate's eye patches from - I was cutting on a piece of chip board at camp, don't ask about the "ruler").

But 10-12 - must be the disposal issue!

Hanne in London

eful to use them

ons on blades.

han others? =A0As

ghly the same

That's weird, I bought a Fiskar blade and really liked it. I thought it lasted longer than the Olfa. Could be what thicknesses/fabric I was cutting at the time, though. Here's a question, re: rotary blades. I bought a multipack of Fons & Porter blades (they were on sale)... I opened the package, they're stacked right on top of each other and STUCK together. I can't get them apart without risking a trip to the ER. Wonder what I could do.

Sherry

Take them back and get your money back!

Donna in (SW) Idaho

I> opened the package, they're stacked right on top of each other and

Sherry

to dispose of blades: you can wrap them in tin-foil and then cardboard and tape, take them to your doctors' office and ask them to put them in the sharps container. or the local pharmacy. that way, their not in your trash for the garbage man to cut himself on, or the birds at the dump to get hurt on. another thing you could do is save the old ones for wall paper projects. i keep an old cutter and blades for that reason. works great! and i only buy Olfa.

amy in CNY

you can wrap those extra blades in foil then in cardboard with tape and bring them to your local doctor's office. they might put them in the sharps/biohazard container for you. or your local pharmacy might too.

another thing for the old blades, save a couple for wall paper projects, and an old cutter. works great!

i only buy Olfa. they seem to be the best, and last the longest.

amy in CNY

That always happens with mine, too. It is the oil I think. I always use the tip of a pin or stitch ripper and slide them apart. . In message , Sherry writes

I'm curious. Why and how would an old mat dull the blades?

Maybe you're hoping they'll recover on their own and be sharp again? I toss them in the trash.

I took a small Glad food container and used an exacto knife to cut a slit in the lid, put a few dabs of glue on the top of the lip of the container and then put the lid on. The used blades drop right through the slit. Even if the container gets tipped or shoved off the table or shelf when my QI is inspecting or stretching the blades won't fall out and the lid doesn't come off. My original plan was to put a piece of tape over the slit when the container was full and toss it in the trash but as it got heavier I use this as one of my fabric weights when cutting out patterns.

Val

There are a few tricks to helping the blades to last longer.... first make sure when you replace a blade that you have the nut tightened properly. Drive the blade along your rotary mat and make sure it isn't tightened until it won't turn or so loose that it wobbles- it should roll along nicely with just a little bit of pressure on it. Periodically take your rotary cutter apart and clean out the lint and put a tiny bit- less than a drop- of sm oil on it. Be sure to not run over any pins or the corners of your rulers or clunk it down on the ruler. Always keep the safety closed so if it falls or bumps something it won't damage the blade. Don't use any more pressure than you need to cut thru the fabric- you don't need the blade to be pressed into and cutting the cutting mat! Don't use a good blade to cut polyester, batting, paper, etc. Have a spare well-marked cutter with an old blade for that stuff. Some cutting mats are notorious for dulling blades. Stick to the well-known ones- says me with a strange feeling milky colored one from Joann's... but it's 3X5 ft. and fits the top of my cutting table, so I sacrifice blades to it for the convenience of the size.... and it was cheap!

Leslie, Missy & The Furbabies in MO.

Why? Karma. ;)

How? By developing a rough surface over time. We've had a couple cutters in our employ over the years who habitually cut right on the lines printed on the mats, concentrating & accelerating the natural wear. It made a big difference in the life of the blades.

JA

Maybe you plan a 'new' craft item, something real 'edgy?' (I just couldn't resist. Smirk!)

Here's what I do: I have an old magnet stuck in bottom of empty Altoid Tin. Old blades and such go in there. When I start with a new Tin, I tape the old shut and dispose. So, I guess I dispose of it at the rate we use up little tins. Works here.

PAT in VA/USA

I bought a JoAnns rotary mat last summer and I hate it! A blade will feel like it's dull on that mat. Then when I use the blade on a good mat, there's nothing wrong with it. That JoAnns mat has all kinds of marks and cuts in it after just a few months use. I'm going to replace it just as soon as I can!

Donna in (SW) Idaho

The oil is to keep the blades from rust, I THINK. Anyhow, I place the stack on an tiny OLD mat. Using a metal thimbles to protect my fingers, I push the top blade off. Work slowly and with extreme caution. HTH. PAT

Here's a question, re: rotary blades. I bought a multipack of Fons & Porter blades (they were on sale)... I opened the package, they're stacked right on top of each other and STUCK together. I can't get them apart without risking a trip to the ER. Wonder what I could do.

Sherry