I mainly use Olfa cutters. However, two things I've learned in my journey of quilting. No. 1...Are you by any chance left-handed? I am. And found after 3 years of using a rotary cutter that it had not been converted for left-handed use. No. 2...The best thing I ever did was take a rotary cutting class at a quilt shop. I had to drive 100 miles to a shop that offered it. I learned so much about preparing your fabric for cutting and using the rotary cutter...It was worth the money. I definitely think you need to be cutting on a hard surface...not on the top of your ironing board. Do not use the grid lines on the mat for measuring...turn your mat over and use the blank side. Use your ruler for measuring. And yes, yes, we tend to always want to get the most out of our blades but change them more often than you really want too. It matters!