constantly blunt rotary cutter?
#11
This is a case of "You get what you pay for." The cheap cutting mats are not the best for your cutter. Since you are going to be using your cutting equipment a lot, it's wise to invest (yes, this is an investment) in the best equipment. The best mats to purchase are either the Fiskars 24" x 36" - you can get it at WalMart for under $30.00, ot the Ofla or Omnigrid green mats. They are more expensive, but I would assume you could get them at Joannes with a coupon to make the cost less.
I have the original Fiskars grey with orange mat. Have had it for nearly 15 years. I do a lot of cutting. The mat is still going just fine. I'd like to get the yellow one, but keep resisting as there's nothing wrong with my grey one. It's just that my favorite color is yellow!
Now, there have been cases of a blade being duller than it should be from the get-go. I have been using the Harbor Freight blades & am loving them! The current blade is 4 months old! Probably ought to think about changing it out, but it' still cutting just fine.
Good luck.
I have the original Fiskars grey with orange mat. Have had it for nearly 15 years. I do a lot of cutting. The mat is still going just fine. I'd like to get the yellow one, but keep resisting as there's nothing wrong with my grey one. It's just that my favorite color is yellow!
Now, there have been cases of a blade being duller than it should be from the get-go. I have been using the Harbor Freight blades & am loving them! The current blade is 4 months old! Probably ought to think about changing it out, but it' still cutting just fine.
Good luck.
#13
Kneeling down? is this on the floor? is your mat on the floor? that may be the problem. Try working on the kitchen counter - a great height - or at least table height.
Then check your mat... they can sometimes be a problem if you cut in the same place(s) over and over... the invisible grooves made with the blade become clogged! They are self mending but.... and by all means, use the green Olfa ones, largest you can reasonably afford and store... the other plastic jobs are awful, in my opinion.
last... make sure you are using 1 blade... sometimes two can even look like one and that causes a problem... ask me how I know! HAhahaha
Good Luck.
Then check your mat... they can sometimes be a problem if you cut in the same place(s) over and over... the invisible grooves made with the blade become clogged! They are self mending but.... and by all means, use the green Olfa ones, largest you can reasonably afford and store... the other plastic jobs are awful, in my opinion.
last... make sure you are using 1 blade... sometimes two can even look like one and that causes a problem... ask me how I know! HAhahaha
Good Luck.
#14
Rotary mats are mats, no matter what brand. The self healing mats get cut by the blade and close up, the hard mats don't get cut so don't' need to heal. A very worn mat should be replaced. I like the hard mats better, they last much longer and do not warp. In industry the hard mats are used and the blades there cost hundreds of dollars to replace.
#15
Originally Posted by adorabowe
Hi!
I bought my Olfa 45mm rotary cutter about 4 months ago, but right from the beginning it was a bit blunt. I'm still not sure it's my method but I feel like I have to use quite a bit of force or go over the same area 2 or 3 times before I can get a cut without any thread pulling. I thought I might have just bought a dud blade so I replaced it with a generic blade but that was even worse! It felt fine for the 3 or 4 cuts but after that it was blunt as well.
Anyway I was just wondering if it's likely to just be my method (I cut kneeling down mostly) or if it's possible it's my rotary mat? I bought the cheapest/largest one I could afford and it didn't specify whether it was self-healing but I'm thinking it's not. Could the mat be blunting my blades as soon as I use them?
I bought my Olfa 45mm rotary cutter about 4 months ago, but right from the beginning it was a bit blunt. I'm still not sure it's my method but I feel like I have to use quite a bit of force or go over the same area 2 or 3 times before I can get a cut without any thread pulling. I thought I might have just bought a dud blade so I replaced it with a generic blade but that was even worse! It felt fine for the 3 or 4 cuts but after that it was blunt as well.
Anyway I was just wondering if it's likely to just be my method (I cut kneeling down mostly) or if it's possible it's my rotary mat? I bought the cheapest/largest one I could afford and it didn't specify whether it was self-healing but I'm thinking it's not. Could the mat be blunting my blades as soon as I use them?
#17
Originally Posted by marknfran
Originally Posted by adorabowe
Hi!
I bought my Olfa 45mm rotary cutter about 4 months ago, but right from the beginning it was a bit blunt. I'm still not sure it's my method but I feel like I have to use quite a bit of force or go over the same area 2 or 3 times before I can get a cut without any thread pulling. I thought I might have just bought a dud blade so I replaced it with a generic blade but that was even worse! It felt fine for the 3 or 4 cuts but after that it was blunt as well.
Anyway I was just wondering if it's likely to just be my method (I cut kneeling down mostly) or if it's possible it's my rotary mat? I bought the cheapest/largest one I could afford and it didn't specify whether it was self-healing but I'm thinking it's not. Could the mat be blunting my blades as soon as I use them?
I bought my Olfa 45mm rotary cutter about 4 months ago, but right from the beginning it was a bit blunt. I'm still not sure it's my method but I feel like I have to use quite a bit of force or go over the same area 2 or 3 times before I can get a cut without any thread pulling. I thought I might have just bought a dud blade so I replaced it with a generic blade but that was even worse! It felt fine for the 3 or 4 cuts but after that it was blunt as well.
Anyway I was just wondering if it's likely to just be my method (I cut kneeling down mostly) or if it's possible it's my rotary mat? I bought the cheapest/largest one I could afford and it didn't specify whether it was self-healing but I'm thinking it's not. Could the mat be blunting my blades as soon as I use them?
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