New Blade/New Mat
#1
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Greater Peoria, IL -- just moved!
Posts: 6,168
New Blade/New Mat
Aahhhh! Why do I wait so long??
For the last year I've been cutting on a mat I already had removed from my quilting stuff. I had put it down on the dining room table for a painting project and then just turned it over and left it there and been using it ever since. I've been meaning to replace it but until I cut all the way through it, I kept putting it off. Sad thing is I have a suitable for cutting mat, it had just been put away and needed to be fetched (total of about 5 minutes).
Changed my rotary blade too. I'm really trying to replace those darn things sooner but I realized I was pressing down so hard my shoulder was hurting after a session of cutting. No wonder I went through the mat, I probably could have made dents in steel.
Now it's so smooth and easy and nice. I learned long ago that needles were cheap, and actually so are rotary blades. I had new ones in my kit and a way to dispose of the old ones. I also threw away an old seam ripper, don't know what happened but there was some corrosion on the point and while it still cut pretty good I didn't like the way it felt.
For the last year I've been cutting on a mat I already had removed from my quilting stuff. I had put it down on the dining room table for a painting project and then just turned it over and left it there and been using it ever since. I've been meaning to replace it but until I cut all the way through it, I kept putting it off. Sad thing is I have a suitable for cutting mat, it had just been put away and needed to be fetched (total of about 5 minutes).
Changed my rotary blade too. I'm really trying to replace those darn things sooner but I realized I was pressing down so hard my shoulder was hurting after a session of cutting. No wonder I went through the mat, I probably could have made dents in steel.
Now it's so smooth and easy and nice. I learned long ago that needles were cheap, and actually so are rotary blades. I had new ones in my kit and a way to dispose of the old ones. I also threw away an old seam ripper, don't know what happened but there was some corrosion on the point and while it still cut pretty good I didn't like the way it felt.
#4
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Greater Peoria, IL -- just moved!
Posts: 6,168
I'm trying to convince myself that a blade per large project (instead of per year) is reasonable, anything over that is gravy. If I buy in bulk/on sale my cost per blade is under $2, that seems reasonable to use on $100 worth of fabric. The problem is I'm usually pulling fabric out of my stash and not thinking of it in those terms.
But I know the newness will fade. It's just so nice right now!
edit/ps: Ever notice how almost immediately after replacing a blade, you actually do go over the ruler or knick it some way that you usually never do? Only on the new blades...
But I know the newness will fade. It's just so nice right now!
edit/ps: Ever notice how almost immediately after replacing a blade, you actually do go over the ruler or knick it some way that you usually never do? Only on the new blades...
#6
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Greater Peoria, IL -- just moved!
Posts: 6,168
I got one of the early sharpeners (so 20 years ago? sort of a biscuit cutter shape) and was not impressed. This last blade I replaced was just dull, no knicks, and I thought about digging the sharpener out of the drawer and trying it, but then since I already had the replacements on hand I just wasn't going to bother.
I keep blue tape in my sewing kit, one of the times I use it is to seal the used blades. Right now I have a spare case clearly marked as used.
I keep blue tape in my sewing kit, one of the times I use it is to seal the used blades. Right now I have a spare case clearly marked as used.
#10
I put mat (12"x 18") on top of my large mat for most cutting projects.
I just replace the blades as I need them. Cheaper than buying new mats. I have tried some cheaper blades and they were duller than my old ones. I use the old blades to trim quilts after quilting and applying binding. They cut like butter.
I just replace the blades as I need them. Cheaper than buying new mats. I have tried some cheaper blades and they were duller than my old ones. I use the old blades to trim quilts after quilting and applying binding. They cut like butter.