Blade safety...
 

So, maybe I have been spoiled by the way that the Gingher blades are packaged - one really has to be careless to slice themselves when replacing the blade as the packaging directs you where to put each one...

I bought a 10 pack of Olfa blades as I was told that they will fit my Gingher rotary cutter. The do. The problem is that the blades are nicely stacked together, and with the oil that appears to come standard with the blade - they are also stuck together. I did manage to get a blade out and installed in my trimmer without slicing a finger or nicking the blade, but that was much more trouble than I would have liked. Are there tricks to using the multipacks?

K

I don't know about tricks, but I use a finger cot (rubber finger tip) or a rubber glove (when I throw away a cleaning glove I'm too cheap to throw it's mate away) and use that to work with multiple blades. Gives you a tiny bit of "grip"

Great idea Carrie, will have to try that. I've always just been really careful.

I used a pair of tweezers with my last multipack. I was able to use the very tip of the tweezers to separate the blades and then was able to put it into my rotary cutter without having to handle the blade itself. I hope you find a good solution, if you do, please share it! ;)

I've always just slid one off and installed it. I have more trouble deciding which way that funny bent washer is supposed to go.

Offhand, I can't think of one single activity that is absolutely risk free. Reasonable caution is useful. Getting enough sleep/rest is helpful for minimizing accidents. Avoiding doing risking things when under the influence of some drugs - prescribed and otherwise.

I think Fons and Porter have some mesh gloves that they used when they did rotary cutting. Meat cutters also have wire mesh gloves. Don't know how easy they are to work in.

I wonder if a circle of tape would work? Maybe I'll have to try it.

I'm laughing about the comment from bearisgray about the bent washer...stumps me every time! (Even when I swear I put it down the same way it came of...)

I agree about the bent washer. It always gives me a fit! I think wearing a rubber finger tip or gloves is a good idea. I always get a tiny bit nervous when I change a blade as it is potentially dangerous.

I, too, agree about the silly little funny shaped washer. I usually just slide one off and carefully put it in the place where it is supposed to go. (If I am lucky, it'll go on correctly. LOL)

The little washer curls up, or at least someone else told me that. Oh yes, and a small magnet helps a little with the blades, although I have troubles with it too.