Harbor Freight rotary blades - Opinions Differ
 

I read a thread back a few months ago regarding the H.F. 45mm blades and thought I'd give them a try. The first one seamed to work fine (had to use the one between the first blade and cardboard because the plastic was stuck to the first blade). Well went to use the other blade and couldn't get it off the plastic. Opened up four more pkgs and the plastic was stuck to the top blade in all of them. Sprayed all of them with WD40 to remove the sticky plastic and thought I was in the clear. I tried three more blades before I found one that would cut. Also after using these blades my cutting mat is showing wear (mat is 4 months old). I know these blades are cheap but for me I can't justify the cost of my mat and sanity (OK I know that's already questionable).

Sadly, I have to agree with you. The thought of cheap is great but there definitely is a price in terms of time and aggravation using things that just don't work for what you need.

previous postings on this subject have given these blades good reports. I have found them to be very satisfactory.
Also....there was a posting about unsatisfactory blades and the company replaced them.

What I have learned is, if I first buy the best quality of any item, then using the less quality of it, I quickly find why the better quality does cost more.

I upgraded to the titanium rotary blades and will never want to go back to regular rotary blades.

I never did buy into the whole HF blade thing. They're meant for carpet and not meant to be used on a cutting mat either. I suspect they're not manufactured to the same standards as say Fiskars, Olfa or Gingher blades are.

I agree completely about them tearing up your mats. Those mats are expensive!

The first time I tried HF blades they were great. Just bought my second lot (same syore). These were already re-sharpened blades & were awful. I just ordered a 10 pkg. of Friskers on Ebay for 19.99, they had 10 pkg. of Olfa for 23.99.

I will never order them again either!

you should use the right tool for the project. those blades are not meant for fabric. period!

I ordered 100 blades from JHittle when they were on sale for about $140 or so...so far, so good. They seem to be sharp and last a fair amount of time...give them a try.

I use HF blades all the time and do not have problem with them. They seem to last just along as the more costly blades as long as I am careful with them such as not trying to cut my ruler

I am happy with the HF blades. I keep waiting to have a problem. Maybe in the next package :eek:

I like them, no problems! If I did have issues Harbor Freight has no issues replacing them! Gives me another reason to have to go there :)

I agree 100%. After many packages and trying again and again, I gave up. I still have many left.
I find it hard to believe that these cut carpet. As far as mine went, they would not cut butter.

The titanium rotary blades seem to last forever.

I, too, have had nothing but problems with the HP blades. I've gone back to buying the Fiskar blades at Walmart. I haven't tried any titanium blades yet.

I'll keep using the Harbor Freight Blades and save my extra money from the savings for more fabric..I've had only one problem with them and it was my fault...so it wasnt the blades after all...I see no reason to use the more expensive blades unless I have to...sorry you are having problems with them

I am with you. I had my girlfriend pick me up some. Big mistake. I have tried two of them and neither cut a darn thing. Not doing that again!

Fabricdepot.com just had an on-line sale, blades for 1/2 price. A 5 pack of Olfa 45mm at $17.00, not sure if it is still on. But I believe a 30% sale off everything is on. Check it out.

Appreciate hearing both sides of the blade issue.

I am on my 4th pack of HF blades....no problems, and just as good an edge as the others. I don't see what you mean about cutting up the mat....if you are pressing too hard with any blade you are going to cut your mat. HF will replace anything that isn't right...take those blades back and exchange or get a refund. They are good for their word!! My DH and I buy stuff from HF all the time, and their customer service is really good.

I have had repeated orders with HF as well as Hittle. I find both quite good and have never had a problem with the HF ones. In fact, I sometimes think they hold their edge a little longer. Maybe you got a bad batch. I bet they would make it right with you - just let them know.

I cannot believe that all these people COMPLAIN but do nothing about getting a refund or replacement.
Harbor Freight is like any other business...they want satisfied customers.
quite frankly, I get tired of reading the complaints. and seeing no one do anything.
if you are not going to give Harbor Freight a chance to make it right , STOP complaining!

I tried them after reading the suggestions, and thinking "what a deal!" they were terrible. They wouldn't cut through one layer of fabric, and I did not like cleaning the oil off them. I saw a post here that they are not meant for quilts, that is true, but I wonder what they should be good for. If they can't cut through a thin layer of fabric they certainly cannot cut through a rug, or vinyl, or whatever.

I've been using the H F blades for over a year and have never had a problem with them. They are sharp and I use way less pressure on the cutter when using them. Have noticed no difference in the mat. Is it possible that to much pressure is being used when cutting? Several friends use them all the time and so far no one has had any defective blades. I do use the Martelli cutter, that requires a round center hole in the blade maybe that makes a difference in how they perform.

This sounds like a thread just before this one about fabric. People can and do ITCH and complain about anything. This topic as well as the fabric one has been kicked around for months and months and has been complained about and praised. First of all, there are many products that are not just for a single type use. These are made for cutting carpet. There is no reason to not expect these blades to cut fabric. Have you ever cut carpet? They are sharp enough to cut fabric as well. If you got a bunch of blades that don't cut. maybe YOU got them in backward or maybe they are defective. Many people have returned the blades and got a refund or replacement. If you haven't done even the minimum then why are you whining? You would return a sewing machine that didn't work properly. If you don't wish to return them and CHOOSE not to use them, then buy the expensive blades and use them. YOU are the one paying for them, same as with LQS material. THOSE ARE YOUR CHOICES BUT DON'T TRY TO FORCE THEM ON EVERY ONE ELSE. We may all express our opinions. Simple statements with out bashing. This board is difficult now without conflict. If you use HF and Walmart fabric and it is all you can afford, bless you. You will still have a lovely product and your family will still cherish and love you just because it you made it. If you use OLFA or other brand,and LQS fabric bless you too, because your family will also cherish and love you for it. Aren't quilts made because we want to make something for ourselves and others? Because we want to practice a craft that means something to us and we want to pass them along? My mother made quilts because she wanted us to be warm. She did make a couple, one a wedding ring, because it was beautiful. She, and all the other older ladies who quilted made them out of whatever they had and could afford. They are still around. I hope we can make them because of love too.

I thought it was a discussion.

LOL...so did I! And doesn't it seem a bit hypocritical to COMPLAIN about the COMPLAINERS?

On this, I have to agree. While the Harbor Freight blades were super at cutting fabric, they were doing incredible damage to my cutting mat. I finally switched to the Olfa titanium blades, and I love them. They are very sharp without tearing up my mat, they last longer, they go through layers of fabric easily, and I'm sticking with them. Now all I have to do is think about replacing my mat, all because I wanted to save a few bucks on blades. Live and learn!

I have no problem using the HF blades as I said earlier. I do not have any issues with my cutting mats either by using them. I guess if they work for you, great! If they don't, do something diffrent. To each his own.

I thought so too! I didn't feel like anyone was forcing their opinion on anybody else. I felt like everybody was just sharing their experience with HR blades. Some of us have had great luck while some of us have had no luck at all. It puzzles me as to what the difference is.

I am going to try the titanium blades soon -- they sound like they are worth a try!

I also agree with scissor queen that they are not manufactured to the same standards as Fiskars, Olfa, or the Gingher blades. But I have used some of them from HF, and had no problems with them what so ever

Small add on....I wanted these blades to work for me. This might be why I bought 20 of them. Just like others, i would much rather spend my money on fabric. It is good to hear that they will take them back. I guess I will have to go that route. Bottom line, I wish they worked for me, they just did'nt.

So true.
I bought a pack and did not like them. I am not complaining just stating a fact.

i have tryed the one s from HF i don't like them the first one was find then i had to but a new one in and it has been the same, oh yes my mat board is looking pretty bad too/

I've tried blades from HF about 4 times and I sure do not like them. They were a waste of my money.

I"ve been using them for a while now, (HF Blades) and not had any trouble with them. I can't tell they have hurt my cutting mat any worse than the friskars blades. I may run into some in the future that don't "cut it" but so far have been very pleased with them. Bottom line, if they don't work for you, don't use them. For those of us that do like them, we will continue to save $$$. At least until I find that they are defective, then I'll take them back.

I LOVE them, but I put another true "cutting mat" (vs. self healing one for our good rotary cutters) out when I use it. Just yesterday, I cut some professional mat board for a picture frame. Worked like a dream with minimal pressure. I love them for paper piecing too. I have a small, thicker mat that I bought at Science and Surplus for the paper piecing cutting right by my machine. Great stuff.

Do those of you who use the blades from H.F. have a problem with them being out of stock? Seems like every time we go, they are out of stock.