Brand- or no-name replacement blades?
 

Do you think it is worth the extra money to go for brand name replacement blades to your rotary cutter? Should I even spring for the titanium blades? Will they run the extra miles to make up for their extra cost?

Keep in mind that I live in Sweden so everything is super expensive. Any deal I can make is off eBay, more or less.

I've bought both brand name blades and no name blades from Harbor Freight. I received bad blades from Harbor Freight, but others have said there's no difference, so I would expect some problems with the no name blades. I've never bought the titanium blades,so I can't speak to those.

I buy both. But I rather buy the brand name ones, just to have some insurance they are good quality, and only buy when I find a sale or a great bargain.

I have had excellent blades from Harbor Freight, so that's all I buy now. I know that other people have had some bad blades from them, but from what I have heard HF will replace them. I don't know if they ship internationally.

I can get re sharpened blades for 2.79. It is a gamble some times. Occasionally are out of round and they make an awkward cut and don't work real well. I can take them back for replacements but how often do I want to drive 35 miles for that price. Then I can get new blades in a five pack when on sale for 15.00. Not a big difference in price but in time and driving. I opt for the new ones.
peace

I sprung for titanium... real stinkers. All I've cut with one is clue 3 bonnie hunter mystery. Dull as can be.
I'll stick to Olfa on sale.

sometimes I wonder about quilters (me)
I have a smallish stash that still must equal thousands of dollars, why do I get cheap over blades. Usually I get about 4 months work out of mine.

I used Olfa all the time until I found Martinelli's! Love them.

I try to purchase only namebrand blades, and I always look for bulk sales on eBay. Sometimes I can find good deals that way. I haven't used titanium blades as I figure a single nick will do in a titantium blade just as fast as other types.

I think rotary blades are all hit or miss...no matter what brand.
I've had good and bad blades both in Olfa and Harbor Freight.
Might as well keep buying the cheap stuff then I don't feel so bad
throwing a bad blade.

I use whatever I can get and never noticed any difference. maybe i'm just lucky

I've tried all the blades (including resharpened and Harbor Freight), and stay with Olfa and Martelli blades. Both brands last a very, very long time unless I run over a pin.

I have switched to Harbor Freight blades and before I use them I run them through my electric sharpener. Best purchase I ever made. I have been on the same blade for 5 months now. I've sharpened it 5 or 7 times already and I think my mat is going to run dull before the blade. The blade sharpener was pricey, but worth every penny. http://www.walmart.com/ip/TrueSharp-...pener/17337903

Olfa blades only for me. Never, ever had a blade from Harbor Freight that could even cut through one layer of fabric (I've tried multiple packs and ALL blades were junk).

Anita

I have always bought my OLFA blades at JAF when they are on sale.

I buy Gingher blades. They're the best blades I've ever used and I've tried several brands. They're sharper to start with and stay sharp longer.

I have been disappointed in the Harbor Freight blades and the titanium ones. I just don't buy them anymore.

Dina

I had no idea such a gadget existed... To bad christmas is just around the corner. I would have put one on my wish list!

I'm going to go for 5 noname blades from the UK. I have one spare Fiskars left... I've only had the Fiskars blades before and I'm really pleased with them. They last a long time... (more like a year actually)

We use Martelli (me) blades and Clover (she) blades for our shop cutting. The Martelli blades outlast the Clover blades by 5 or 6 to one. Olfa blades haven't done as well as Clover. And the Martelli blades get more use. I'll never use anything else again, they're well worth the premium price.

Never tried the titanium blades though.

This is a really helpful discussion! I used only Olfa blades until I tried some from Harbor Freight - but they were as dull as could be! I've used only Olfa since. Now y'all have opened my mind anew. Thanks!

Be careful! I bought DAFA blades from eBay UK and despite stating that they would fit my Fiskars cutter - they didn't. They made my cutter seem as if it had a flat tyre..............

My Fiskars cutter's hole is a perfect circle, whereas Olfa and other blade centres are fluted. Perhaps your is different. The seller did, however, refund my money. Happy quilting. :)

I buy at a fraction the price through www.jhittle.com . They don't last quite as long as the name brand, but are much cheaper and help me to change blades more regularly without qualms.

I buy Olfa multi packs (2 or 5) when they are on sale @ Joanns. Or Martelli's when they have them throught their redline direct sale. To get that, you need to go to their website (www.martellinotions.com/) and sign up for redline (go to bottom right of home page). They have monthly redline sales on specific items by month. One month will be cutters, another rulers, etc. Each year in late Noveber/early December, they have a 50% off everything sale By signing up, you will get notifications of the monthly redline sale.

Thanks for the heads up. Sometimes they show the same picture for all brands so given your information I will ask before purchase.

Thanks to everyone who has replied for sharing your experiences!

Do the Martelli blades fit in other cutters, such as the Olfa and Fiskars cutters?

I use the Olfa blades, but always look for a good deal, stock up on sales, that sort of thing. I'm one of those Harbor Freight drop out's, mainly because I had to put so much pressure on the cutting blade to get through the fabric that it was chewing up my cutting board. I also have some titanium blades (a birthday present from Hubby), and I have to say I adore them. Light pressure cuts through anything, IMHO. I also second the Martinelli brand. I used one during a "group quilt" and it was light, well balanced and cut beautifully. I haven't been able to afford to buy one for myself, but I will when I can.

I can tell you that the Martelli blades do not fit in my Olfa cutter, because I tried. But if I switched to Martelli I'd get the cutter as well because it feels so nice in my hand and makes cutting easier.

I use the Harbor Freight blades and have had no problems or issues.

Mqriatherese. I sent you a private message. Did you receive it.

All I use are Olfa cutters. I was lucky to find 6 packages of 5 new blades at an estate sale this fall for $5 each. That should do me for a while.

I always buy Olfa blades...when on sale....I mostly use my 60mm cutter, and the Harbor Freight blades are not that size.

I SWEAR BY the Martelli rotary cutter blades.............They have a "Redline Direct" sale periodicaly (3-4 times per year) (sign up for the monthly notices at their Martelli Notions website)..where these are 50% off..........I am super hard on blades, and these far outlast ANY other blades I have used ( and I have used them all I believe).......

I did. Thank you again for your very generous offer to assist!

I have been a Harbor Freight blade person for at least four years now. Occasionally I have to toss a blade but at $1 a piece that isn't bad.

Harbor Freight blades
 

This is exactly how I feel about blades. I bought several packages of their blades and not one of them cut. Reordered some more, foolish me, and got 4 more packages that also did not have one that cut thru even one piece of fabric. Contacted them with agreement they would send me a return mailer and never heard from them again. Contacted them a second time and finally gave up. It's Olfa for me.

I purchase Martelli blades when they are on sale for half price. I buy 20-30 or 50 at a time. I need to hear opinions on the True Sharp or whatever type of sharpener quilters have used. Is it worth buying?

I agree with KalamaQuilts. I bought the titanium blades and they didn't stay sharp as long as some cheap ones I tried!

titanium blades
 

I have the titanium blades and now use only those. They last FOREVER !!! I think I've cut fabric for 7 quilts and it still cuts like butter!! I got mine on Ebay. Good luck!!

I have purchased blades from a supplier that offers non-brand blades. I can say that although they cut the fabric begins to fray once you start working with it. I finally sprung for the brand names and have no problems.

I used the HF blades for a while, then stocked up on them and the oil separating the blades dried into a superglue like substance, noting to do, but soak them in oil or toss them, too busy to wait, tossed and replaced with olfa

I agree with you............

In Canada, we pay approx. 10-12 dollars for one blade, whereas I can get 10 Olfa blades from LPSharp.com for approx.
$33, therefore you can see the savings by shopping with them. I can also send my used blades to that company, rather than tossing them in the trashl I never purchase generic blades.