anybody had issuses with this?
 

a long while back I purchesd the olfa circle cutter WELL! I could never get it to work for me as the youtube demo of course they make it look soooo easy,I want to make different size yoyos and bought 3 sizes of the clover templates and the ez circle cut ruler not knowing that you needed the rotary cutter to go with it and dosen't say anything on instructions about it,couldn't use the 18mm I had then decided to trace lines well that didn't work either the circle template is thick and prevents the pen/pencil from reaching the fabric then went and got a pack of pencils the ones were you push the top and the lead gets longer can't think of the name of them and that works ok as long as the lead dosen't break.so I order the rotary cutter for the circle template and now come to find out it dosen't cut the 2 inch part what a struggle I chewed up the template at that mark works ok for the larger sizes but can't honestly say I am impress,anybody had issuses with this? :sheese: what a way to make circles,I know I can find lots of things in my kitchen but having the exact size at the start helps

I have the circle cutter but never use it. I just trace around a plate close to the size I need and then cut them out.

I too bought the circle cutter and blade. The trick to cutting the smaller circles is that you have to have the cutter turned around the correct way. It's on the directions but of course I didn't read the directions right away before i had shaved a little plastic off the ruler :D. The larger cutters work fine in the larger holes.

I didn't realize Olfa has more than one circle cutter. I have this one and it works wonderfully. I cut a yard of fabric into 5" circles in less than 10 mins! http://www.createforless.com/Olfa+Ro...utm_medium=cse

I can't get it to work either.

i have this same circle cutter- have had it for gosh--8 or 9 years i would guess- it works great for me- i love it & always pull it out when i'm doing circles- i'm not really clear on what you are using or really what you are doing that is causing you a problem- or the template part- i have the clover yo-yo makers which i also love & work great-
but if you have the above mentioned circle cutter & do not know how to use it- visit the website & ask for instructions (if you threw your instruction sheet away that came with the cutter)
if you have something else...
but if you are using some sort of thick template...i would use the template to draw a (thinner) template (like a freezer paper one- or shirt cardboard/card stock) so i could trace around it- or in the case of the freezer paper you can press it to your fabric then use scissors to cut out your circles. (which is how i would cut traced circles.
my only (complaint) about my circle cutter is sometimes i want a really large circle (bigger than it will make-it makes really small circles up to i think 12") when i need a larger circle i do it the way we were taught to draw circles back in gradeschool (in the 60's) tie a piece of string to a pencil- the correct size (1/2 the circle) hold one end of the string (or pin it) in the center of the circle and draw the circle with the pencil on the other end of the string....with this you can make any size circle you want...big or small.

I just purchased one a couple of days ago. I have not tried it yet. Wish me luck!! LOL

http://www.joann.com/images/11/99/2/xprd119920_m.jpg
I believe this is the ruler she refers to. It works fine using a smaller rotary cutter in the larger slots but the 2/3" slots don't work with a regular 18mm rotary cutter. You have to buy a special cutter like this one:

http://www.simplicity.com/images/VAR...on/8824012.jpg
The trick is to have the blade facing you/circle, otherwise it scrapes the outer edge of the plastic slot.

I just use, old cd's, saucers, plates, lids, I keep looking til I find the right size around here....works for me and I don't have to spend any money on another useless gadget.....can you tell I've done it before??????

If a tool works for what you buy it for then it's not useless. I use this ruler. A regular size rotary cutter fits the channels. The circles are always perfect. http://www.wonderarc.com/rulers.htm

https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/i...knLXSlJkhlx4Tw

Sorry you had so much trouble...but to address a different part of your message - if you bought the yoyo tools, you don't have to cut circles with the rotary - just put fabric in the tool and rough cut with scissors and hand stitch.

thanks for your replys.... bernie thats exactly what I have...had
the circle template first then just got the rotary cutter but didn't have instructions as matter fact my packageing is different but the cutter looks same guess i go back to old school way and only use it for the bigger circles

Thats the one I use too. Works very well. I got it at a quilt show a long time ago and it my "go-to" when I need a circle.

This is the one I have, and though I don't use it much, when I do, it's slick as a whistle!

I have this one too and it works fine. I just cut out 55 circles out of timtex that I had embroidered on for center of quilt show ribbons.

I have this one to and really like it. I do have some friends, however, that have trouble figuring it out. I think you really have to let it do the work.

I have had both the circle cutter and the template. I couldn't get either to work right and gave them away. I understand the frustration

I use a drafting compass to mark my circles, then cut with scissors. I can use this tool for a variety of things, including marking curves for fmq. Here is a link to the one I bought.

http://www.staples.com/Staedtler-Geo...product_371130

I have this one also and I love it.

That's the one I just purchased. I tried it yesterday and it seems to be fine. I think I will cut only one layer at the time.
Normally I don't buy gadgets, but I need a lot of them, so I decided to give this one a try. Seems easier than the rulers for circle cutting. At least, that's what I am hoping for.

I don't want to sound like a smart-aleck & I haven't done circles for yo yos or a quilt, but wouldn't it be easier & cheaper to just use a compass?

A member of our local quilt guild invented this Wonder Arc ruler and it is amazing the type of quilts you can create!

a long time ago I purchased a set of different sized templates that you can cut with the small rotary cutter;
don't remember where I purchased them or from whom, sorry. I use them a lot for yo yo's.
I have also used old CD's, cups, saucers, plates or made my own with cardboard boxes and freezer paper
glued on top with the size they are...and used the small cutter on them and it works.

Normally I agree with you. You don't need all these gadgets. See my answer on #21. However, I had to purchase a new compass anyways. I only paid #13.80 for my circle cutter. The prices seem to be all over the place, so you really need to search for the best price.

I have this one too and I really find no problem with using it. I also have the two templates mentioned in this thread. I think all come in handy, each used for different techniques (along with the old standby of whatever on hand that is round in the size needed, or pencil and string). As far as the clover yo-yo makers....I just cut squares, or a piece of scrap that fits and then trim when put into device.......

I have a questions not related to this....

In the digest when wanting to reply you have to reply with quote, whereas in Home....you have the choice of reply, or reply in quotes...why????????the different setup?????

just to be clear we are talking about this product? http://www.samflaxny.com/browse.cfm/...f_4,20563.html

Piece o' junk ! If someone figures out the magic please let me know.

Have you checked out how to videos on YouTube? It is very simple to use. The videos really helped me when I first purchased mine

I also have the circle cutter that auntpiggylpn has. I love it. I have a little trouble cutting the smaller circles. If I need them bigger than the cutter goes I dismantle it and tape a stick to it and then tape the parts back together. Works very well. I needed tons of paper circles and did them this way. I save my dull and nicked blades to cut paper etc.

I have most of the Clover YoYo Tools including the Oval and Butterfly shapes and with all of them I cut a squares or rectangle slightly larger than I need, place it in the tool, hold it with the sewing side up, fold the fabric out over the sides of the tool then use the side of the tool as a quide for the scissors to cut around the circle, this usually gives me plenty of turn under to complete the process, unless I use a satin or organza which frays a lot, on these I will cut the circle bigger. I don't think I would have ever made YoYo's the old fashion way, but with the Clover Tools I probably have made hundreds, the variety of different Christmas Decorations I can make has astonished even me, sorry I have no pictures, they sell as quick as I can make them. Specialty tools are not my thing, if I can use something I already have around the house I use that, I would rather spend my money on fabric.