lynn7448

Do you use your rotary cutter with the metal t-square? If so, doesn't it dull your blade at all?

Joyce

I personally do not like to use my rotary cutters with metal. I have, but it is with a blade I have marked with a Sharpie as to it's use. I mainly use metal tools for marking.
Over the years I have accquired numerous types of tools because of the different types of jobs I have taken on.
I believe strongly in taking good care of my tools.
With rotary blades, I start out cutting just good fabrics, as they become duller they are used for different purposes, like for paper or plastics.
I cut a lot of paperback book bindings off so I can coil-bind my own books. It irritates me when an instruction book won't lay flat on the table. I even do quilt mags.
I'm covering more than just your question but we quilters do an awful lot of different things. I would add... We are Women hear us Roar, but Billy might take offense :-D

wraez

Have you heard of the carpet cutter blades from Harbor Freight hardware store? In another group, they are all abuzz about using them for rotary blades cuz they are so inexpensive. 2 blades are only $1.49 and the actual cutter that comes with 3 blades is only $3.99.

But the cutter doesn't look like it would work for cutting fabric beside a ruler for cutting guide. Can't help but wonder if the blades are more durable since they are for cutting 'tough' carpet. The blades do not have the 'notch' in them that most of our rotary cutting blades have.

http://www.harborfreight.com/catalog...carpet+cutter+

guess the best thing to do is to go see if they'll work, they aren't expensive. I hear that that are now on back order online...wonder if it is cuz so many quilters have ordered them, LOL.

I'll see if hubby wants to go to one of his favorite hardware stores :D

warm quilt hugs, sue in CA

leiladylei54

I buy as many metal rulers (like an L shaped one) from the hardware section or a straight metal ruler from the office supply store. Helps when I straight cut fabrics. I line up the ruler and the lines on my cutting mat to make sure everything is all even and so easy to just run my to rotary cutter along the metal ruler. Also, have purchased from Wal-Mart, in the ktichen plastic area, a 9X13" type plastic cake carrying pan. It has blue handles on top of it and my sister says it's the most wonderful thing to place her finished quilting blocks in so that they don't get wrinkled. She swears by it.

plainpat

Remember when everyone had bread slicer stands...to use with bread made by machine? I use the wooden slicer to hold rulers. You can find them in thrift stores.Can also use old record holder for rulers.
I use a quilt stand for strips when making scrappy quilts. Set beside me,it has to open rows of wood for quilts & holds the strips...easy to see the color/size needed.
Harbor Freight gets $6.98 for ruler handles that a LQS charges $20 for.Pat Ce

Cathleen Colson

OK, I'll chime in. I went to the auto parts store (Kragen) and bought a telescoping magnetic wand to pick up pins off the floor without getting down on my hands and knees. It came with an adjustable mirror on an extension handle that I use to check the back of my quilt when quilting on a frame. Total cost $3.99! I have a drywall T-square ruler, 4 feet long, metal, for cutting along long stretches of fabric. Came from Home Depot. I clip my rulers to a metal shoe rack hanging on the back of the sewing room door. The clips are plastic "chip" clips and clothespins from the Dollar store. I found 5 round plastic containers ($1.00) at the same store and use one under each corner of my acrylic extension table when I go to quilt classes. That way I can use the same table that fills in the hole around my machine when it is dropped into my sewing table.

RugosaB

I haven't read the whole thread yet, but wanted to add I too think these ideas are great!
I'll add, after seeing a post about a mallet disappearig, when I paint the handles of my 'tools' a bright, almost flourescent,
pink, they seem to stay around longer. For some reason my husband and pink handled tools do not mix

seasaw2mch

ROFLMAF
Finally a person after my own heart! Before I even started sewing, I was an industrial mechanic so I have always use my tools on my sewing projects or any other project for that matter. People would think I was nuts but now I see there are more nuts out there that are just like me.
Thanks for sharing! You made my day!

seasaw2mch

I use it all the time with a metal ruler and NO it doesn't make it dull faster. You are not cutting the metal, the metal is just a guide.

seasaw2mch

Plexiglass is easy to cut with a band saw as well. Once you have your shape cut, use a fine piece of sandpaper to smooth the edges. Works great!
I almost forgot, you can also use a wood burning tool to etch designs onto the plexiglass as well.