Sharpening vs replacing rotary cutter blades
06-22-2010, 03:55 AM
#1
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Minnesota USA
Posts: 493
Recently, I put a new blade in my cutter, after having many "miles" (and a small bad/nicked area) on the old one. In a time crunch to get some written recipes out for a bridal shower, I ended up cutting recipe cards I'd printed on heavy paper stock with my rotary cutter. I know that's a dumb thing to do ... but I did it anyway. I haven't used the cutter for cutting fabric since but I don't doubt that I've dulled it. This got me to wondering how often others change his/her blades and whether you use a sharpener rather than just putting in a new blade. Don't know what a sharpener costs but even then I dislike the discard mentality and like to recycle or prolong use. Is it worth getting a sharpener? Do they do a good job?
06-22-2010, 04:02 AM
#3
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Ft. Worth, Texas
Posts: 3,674
I don't have a sharpener, but have wondered the same thing. I replace old blades, but I think I use them longer than I probably should. I don't cut through many layers of fabric at a time, so mine seem to last awhile.
06-22-2010, 04:02 AM
#4
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,391
I tried a sharpener many years ago. A waste of money.
I usually wait until my blades are about as dull as my table knives before I change them - which is an extremely inefficient thing to do - because when I finally change the blade, cutting is so much easier again!
(And I do have extra blades around.) I usually get my replacement blades through e-bay.
I usually wait until my blades are about as dull as my table knives before I change them - which is an extremely inefficient thing to do - because when I finally change the blade, cutting is so much easier again!
(And I do have extra blades around.) I usually get my replacement blades through e-bay.
06-22-2010, 04:43 AM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Long Valley, NJ
Posts: 474
I agree, but i have to say, i bought a sharpener a month ago and used it for the first time last week...I am SHOCKED how well and new it made my blade...It gave my blade a brand new life ( I don't know how many times i would sharpen the blades), but i am sold on it and will def. save $ on purchasing new blades.
:lol:
Originally Posted by bearisgray
Originally Posted by hcarpanini
Theres nothing like a brand new blade!
06-22-2010, 04:49 AM
#9
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: New Zealand in the South Pacific
Posts: 1,115
I have in the past cut pola fleece and other polyester fabrics, never again, it dulled my blade after a couple of projects, I am keeping mine strictly for my quilting fabrics and to keep accurate I do not cut many thickness of fabric at one time.
Gal
Gal
06-22-2010, 05:19 AM
#10
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Michigan
Posts: 2,916
Originally Posted by PuffinGin
Recently, I put a new blade in my cutter, after having many "miles" (and a small bad/nicked area) on the old one. In a time crunch to get some written recipes out for a bridal shower, I ended up cutting recipe cards I'd printed on heavy paper stock with my rotary cutter. I know that's a dumb thing to do ... but I did it anyway. I haven't used the cutter for cutting fabric since but I don't doubt that I've dulled it. This got me to wondering how often others change his/her blades and whether you use a sharpener rather than just putting in a new blade. Don't know what a sharpener costs but even then I dislike the discard mentality and like to recycle or prolong use. Is it worth getting a sharpener? Do they do a good job?
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