has anyone ever used a dent puller to cut fabric with? it is used to help hold down your rule so that it doesn't slip. ladies at the class i am taking use one and says it works great. am going to get one soon.

A dent puller? The one you would use on a car?

yes they said that it works great. it suctions to the plastic rule. and that way you can use pressure without it moving and also save you from cutting your hand because your hand is higher up.

they make handles like that for rulers, cheaper I'm sure but my suction didn't hold (maybe it was too much spit :shock: ) so after two near misses I chunked it into the "useless tools" pile.

the one I bought at the fabric store is called "The Gypsy Gripper". Costs about $20, but worth every penny. Will admit that I'm a sucker for gadgets, but this tool works really well for keeping your ruler secure on the fabric. An added plus is that he tool is also great from an ergonomic perspective. My girlfriend has severe Rheumatoid Arthritis and this tool makes cutting much easier on her hand and wrist.

I have one of those suction cup handles a friend got for me. To be honest, I don't really like it. I have the ruler with the lip and LOVE that. I have used the handle for when Courtney is cutting. It's a bit safer for her with the handle on.

When first read the thread, I was trying to think.....just HOW do you get dents in your fabric? lol

I too, prefer a ruler with a lip after trying the suction cup handles.

I'm like Kathy,bought a suction cup handle from Clotilda's catalog. It would never hold got irritated and threw it in my useless bucket. Then gave it to my Sister. LOL Don't know what she did with it.
Bonnie

I'm with you Terri- I'm thinking- why are we doing car repairs on a quilt site? Perhaps the car had a booboo needing to be fixed before hubby found out. :)

The girl at the quilt shop used one to cut my fabric purchase, but I lean on my ruler to be sure it doesn't move, I don't feel I have the arm strength to hold the ruller steady by itself. I do use a lipped one and it is more accurate.

Dents in your fabric- thanks for the smile. At least I'm not the only looney tune here. :)

I thought oh no, your quilt is dented????? lol lol Anyways, i have so much trouble figuring out why people always talk about their rulers slipping? I'm not being dumb, i just dont get it, and not being sarcastic at all, i really am asking? The reason i don't get it, is because i have never used a heavy plexiglass quilting ruler. Is it the size and weight of the ruler that makes it slip so much??? The reason i am wondering is because i dont have this problem at all. I can't afford quilting rulers, and refulse to pay that kind of money if i could afford it. I don't need a big heavy ruler with lines on it, because my cutting mat has all the lines i need. I just use a plastic 16" ruler from the dollar store. It is very lightweight and very flexible, so because it is flexible, when i press down on it, it presses right down into the fabric, and takes very little strength to hold it still. All i did was put a small piece of masking tape at either end of the ruler to stop any extra sliding.

i have a ruler with the lip on it too and love it. but with my other ruler i tend to slip and also i too have r. arthritis.

i have a ruler with the lip on it too and love it. but with my other ruler i tend to slip and also i too have r. arthritis. the ladies at the quilt class said that it does help thier hands too.

i didn't mean to repeat myself.

the dent puller that i am refering to is one with the suction cups and a handle also. i am not sure if i had mentioned that earlier. i just seen one that wasn't like what i was talking about. so i thought i would come back and describe it.

just looked it up at harbor freight i typed in suction cup handles and they had a few of them. the one i want is only around 5 or 6 dollars. so i guess it really isn't a dent puller but is strong enough to do so.

[quote=Barb M]I thought oh no, your quilt is dented????? lol lol Anyways, i have so much trouble figuring out why people always talk about their rulers slipping? I'm not being dumb, i just dont get it, and not being sarcastic at all, i really am asking? The reason i don't get it, is because i have never used a heavy plexiglass quilting ruler. Is it the size and weight of the ruler that makes it slip so much??? quote]

The plexi sometimes likes to slip a little and as quilters we know even the littlest bit can be a lot. I put small piecies of sandpaper on the back of my rulers (The fine sandpaper with the sticky back). My rulers never slip and I have read that you should mark your rulers and use the same side when cutting because there can be a difference, so the sandpaper does that job too, I always cut with the same side. Some rulers you can tell the difference, but there are some you can't and are even double sided. But the sandpaper is great and I just put a little bit at each end and in the middle. :D And I have one of those sucktion things to hold the ruler, but it is in the package, I have never used it and was going to sell it, just keep forgetting. I have never cut my fingers so I figure why have to get use to something else. I don't know where or why I have it. :roll:

Oh thank you Donna, maybe the heavier plexi slips easier than my plastic rule, sand paper sounds like a great idea :)

Hi Barb! I am one of those whose ruler seems to slip frequently. I have a problem with my arms and have less strength in my hands than I would like (have metal in both arms from shoulder to elbow). My husband is going to get me one of the ones at Harbor Freight near our house so I can try it. My quilting instructor tells us all the time not to use the grid on our mats because they can be inaccurate and a variation of 1/8" or less can be a lot more by the time you get to the end of a quilt.

Linda

Linda, put sandpaper that has a sticky back on it on your rulers. Just use fine sandpaper not rough and not xtra fine. Just regular fine. The rulers will not slip anymore if you do that. I have had three neck surgeries and am on total disability due to nerve damage, loss of partial use of one arm and hand and non fusion of the neck bones. I will tell you without the sandpaper I was going nuts because I could not keep the rulers from slipping because of my left arm and hand. The sandpaper works and is cheap!! Even if you get the dent puller the rulers can still move. They basically are to protect your hands and give you more control. Was this long winded? Give it a try. :D

Thanks DonnaRae, I will. I'll let you know how it works. I just love this message board. Everyone is so helpful...I've learned tons in the last 6 months.

Linda

Oh, I forgot, the sandpaper does not hurt your fabric or mat..and that's a good thing :!: :D

For you ladies with r arthritis, why not try the lipped ruler along with the "dent puller" so you can have less slippage and be able to apply pressure without bending your wrist and fingers backwards. I don't have either tool, or R.A., but my sister had RA and I know it was easier for her to do any kind of chore involving her hands if she could use the palm to apply presssure instead of fingers. Just a thought..

I don't have arthritis, I wish I did instead of what I have, but anyway doesnt the lip ruler have to be on the mat edge, and if not what keeps it from slipping :?: If it has to be on the edge it sure limits what you can do with it. I have another ruler that the cutter and ruler are all one piece and you just put your fabric under and away you go. It is great for strips. I bought it before they got so pricey, about $22.00 Now I see the same thing for $40. and up. But it helps alot and always perfect cutting. When I use my other rulers for all the rest of cutting I use the sand paper. I have thought about trying the clear film that is suppose to keep it from slipping but right now the paper works and is cheap. So I figure if it aint broke don't fix it. But I still am wondering about the lip ruler. :?: :D

Donna, my sweet hubby bought me the ruler with the cutter a few weeks ago and I absolutely agree it is great for me with my hand and arm problems for doing strips. I have a little piece or two of fine sandpaper and some double stick tape. Do you think that would work on my regular ruler?

Linda

Great that you have the ruler&cutter combo. It is a little cumbersome but so what, it works great. The sandpaper yes but I don't think you want to use the double stick tape. It is going to stick to your fabric. The sandpaper can go on your fabric and it will not hurt it. I don't think so but give it a try. I won't last long (tape) sticky side down. But def put on the sticky sandpaper. :D

Thanks again Donna, hope I didn't wake you up. My first chance to get to the computer today. Hubby helped me clean the family room up. Until last week my grown son who was severely injured in an auto accident lived in there. What a mess. You know how that is. I did take a little time to put a block together and do a little quilting.

Linda

I have a ruler with the lip but I seldom use it. I prefer the lipless 6X24" but I also put the clear cling grip plastic on the bottom of all my rulers/templates so they are not slipping. Doesn't alway keep my cutter for going awry though. :oops:

What :shock: no sticky paper, sand paper nothing for cutters :?: Hee hee hee, is not that the truth. :lol: If only we could find something to control our rotary cutters we would be set.

Quote
" But the sandpaper is great and I just put a little bit at each end and in the middle. :D And I have one of those suction things to hold the ruler, but it is in the package, I have never used it and was going to sell it, just keep forgetting. I have never cut my fingers so I figure why have to get use to something else. I don't know where or why I have it. :roll: [/quote]

Just be careful now, everytime I say " I have never..." I then do it, regretting my boasting!!!! :cry: :? :oops:

Still laughing about the dent puller - you had us all going!

Was reading through the messages and on the adverts at the end of each page was a panel beater offering to beat the dents out of cars! laughed even more.

On the next page there was a suction ad that sounded like it was for unplugging baths and basins!

Ok its late here and my mind is on a funny track!

At a course I went to, one of the ladies there was a hand therapist and she talked about carpel tunnel and joint problems in quilters hands. With the ruler she said you should use the flat hand to hold the ruler and not just your fingers. Not only will this give you a better press on the ruler but will also help prevent damage to your thumb joint and the inside wrist joint as well.

Never tried the suction things but I have seen a cupboard handle screwed into a ruler (holes were drilled) and the lady swore by it.