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.

My experience with new blades is that they dull after just a few cuts. So I get used to working with a blade I have to press down on. Enjoy that 'newness' while it lasts.

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...

Hive seen blade sharpening tools out there..... do they work?

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.

Ahhh...quilting heaven!

~ C

Tartan, I have been buying blades through Amazon for years and am very happy with them (several brands). eg: Premier has 15 for $12 and have stood up really well. Worth a try!

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.