thanks everyone for your help.

See this page for current price of 45 mm cutter blades at JHittle:

http://jhittlesewing.funoverload.com/sewing/specials/page_1.html

A note about Blades and mats: Some people are rough on their blades. They use them when they have knicks in them, then press extra hard to make them cut. This results in deep grooves in the mat. I have a friend who tried to see how long she can use a blade and when it is dull, she bears down on it harder. She told me her mat has deep grooves. If you take care of your equipment, it will last a long time.

I recently read somewhere on line that the blades should cut up to 12 layers of fabric. I have never tried that, and probably won't. I cut 4 at a time when I double fold my 45 inch fabic, and make shorter cuts. When I make a few strips from a piece, I put a pin in it to hold the cutting line in place. There have been times when I hurriedly cut another strip and had the fabric turned over and tried to cut with the pin in place. It is a good way to ruin a blade, but sometimes I just forget to check the other side of the folded fabric.

I have a sharpener which works wonders on old 45mm blades. I have a personal stash of "used" blades in their respective plastic cases. I wrote used across it with a black Sharpie... I keep using them.

I have found that a re-sharpened blade gets dull faster, and I don't know if it will hold a good edge after being sharpened more than once. I do know to use a tiny drop of sewing machine oil on the blade when sharpening. It helps with the sharpening.

Hope this helps somebody...

Anita

RE: Cutter Glide

Joann's online has it for $6.95.

Anita

Re: Cutter Glide

Thanks Anita. After seeing your post I called my closest store, they don't stock it. Think I will order it online. A posted review says it works to keep scrapbooking punches from sticking also. Another thing I noticed on sale was Marti Mitchell's book Machine Quilting in Sections for $12. I paid much more for that in a quilt shop.

I have found that the Mat Smoother is a great tool to use for grooves in your board. If you use it regularly to heal the cuts in your board it will last quite awhile. Also I change blades after every large project because a quilt teacher recommended it. Use your Joanne 40% and 50% coupons to replenish your blade supply.

Re: Cutter Glide

I, too, ordered some from Joann.com along with some batting that is impossible to find in stores, or at least the stores here. And with a coupon for free shipping over $25 it helps. The code is HUNTFS25 which takes care of that cost.

I like it that way......

Peace and happy sewing to you all,
Anita