Harbor Freight & Rotary Blades
 

I've heard some pretty good reviews on the Harbor Freight rotary blades & was thinking of ordering some online to try. Has anyone ordered from HF online & are they reliable as to delivery, etc.? I see where I can get a package of 2 (45 mm) blades for $1.79 per pkg. That sounds like a good deal to me (even though I will have to pay for shipping). I did find a 20% coupon that will save me .36 cents if I buy 5 pkgs. like I am considering.
The blades are called Carpet Cutter Replacement Blades but says they are 45 mm & can be used for quilts.
Thanks for your opinions on this.

I haven't ordered anything from Habor Freight online before, so I can't say anything about their shipping department. But a few years ago I bought their rotary blades, the same ones you are describing, and I was not impressed. The blades were skipping continually and were so dull. They weren't worth even the couple of dollars I spent. Maybe I just got a really bad pack, but I personally won't bother with them again. Just my experience.
​​​

I've bought them in the store. They wouldn't cut hot butter. I removed it from the handle immediately and didn't even try to use the second one.
That was a couple of years ago, so it may be different now.
bkay

When I had access to Harbor Freight I used them. Sometimes one was bad but they were so cheap overall it didn’t matter. Never have tried on line

I have not ordered them from HF but I go to their store. These blades I bought do a little skip. I was wondering if there was a good reliable sharpener that would take off the skip. This was also a couple of years ago.

I have not ordered them online but have purchased them in the store frequently. They do get dull faster than some other blades but for the cost I have found it worth my time. They are great for travel blades so that I don't go through a good one with an accident. like dropping the rotary cutter.

I have not tried Harbor Freight blades.

I have had brand new Olfa blades skip a thread. Annoying!

I ordered several packages on line and had no issue with shipping. However there wasn’t 1 blade in 5 packages that worked well. All were dull or skipped. I will not order again from them. It was a waste of my money.

No worth your time, not a good blade for our lovely fabric. Just saying I would not bother with ordering.

I'm so glad I asked about these blades. I will search for better ones elsewhere. That's what I love about this board....helpful, informative & honest!
Thanks to all!!!!

Bought some at a H.F. store within driving distance. Thrilled at the price, very disappointed in performance. Not worth the money; but perhaps I got a bad batch. It soured me on every going back to buy any more. I'll buy the expensive ones from now on and I'm planning on getting a blade sharpener.

Ugh! I tried them once. You know my answer!! :)

I personally have had great luck with Harbour Freight blades, I always go get some when I'm in the US. I've never had them shipped to me so I can't speak to that.
In the 10+ years I've been using them, I have only once had one that wasn't good.

As an alternative, maybe ask for on line purchase options from board members (i.e. other sources) - I know some people have a favourite retailer where they bulk buy something like 100 or 50, and they are quite happy with their blades they order.

Ditto for me. I bought some years ago when people were just finding out about them at Harbor Freight. They were soon sold out. These purchased ones were great but I think they realized how many they could sell to quilters and the ones they've had since then have been absolute (excuse me) crap. Don't waste your money. I couldn't use any of them. They were not sharp and kept skipping. Very disappointing. Sorry.

I wonder if they are dull because they are meant to cut carpet. Just a thought. I buy my blades at a LQS or Joann's.

Don't waste your time or money. I've used them and threw them away after they wouldn't cut through a single layer of fabric cleanly. Skipped like crazy. Not worth the time nor effort to try them. JMHO.

Never tried them, I did try some years ago that some on here were very good. Not my experience at all. None of them were sharp. Now I only buy Fiskar and eat the $3.60 each.

There must have been an awful lot of us that got a "bad batch", LOL. Such a waste of our money! They are prob fine for rough cutting carpet. One experience (5 blades) was enough for me. The blades are made for carpet, not fabric.

I've had good luck with Quilters Cut on Amazon- great prices and do the job.

The only time I tried HF blades was a horendous waste of time and money. I couldn't even cut through one layer of fabric. Tried all 4 blades. None worked.

try the ones from Quilted Twins, the price is great

I have ordered them from Harbor Freight because of the cost. Each time some of the blades work very well and some don't work at all. The most frustrating happens when they are all I have left and I only have ones that won't cut at all. I worked out the math and even though I could not use some I still saved money. I kind of decided it is not worth the frustration...but I might try again.

Get the 10 pack from amazon. I have no issues with them and they are super affordable

I use these almost exclusively. They are cheap and I can buy lots of them and throw out the ones that do not work. Yes, some do not work well while others are not great. Most times a quick run through the blade sharpener works great. I used to purchase generic blades through JHittle an online site but started purchasing these. They work just fine for me.

I have not ordered from them, but we have one nearby. I haven't had any problem with them, I figure for the price, if I hit a pin or something and it gets dull, not a huge deal.

Apparently, all Amazon blades are not equal. I've purchased the "Premier" blades from amazon. They aren't very good. Most skip right out of the package. Since I have 10 of them, I will use them, but will not buy them again. (They aren't as bad as HF, which I didn't bother to use after the first try.) I just have to remember to run the cutter over every cut twice before I move my ruler.
bkay

Thank you! I placed an order for the 60mm blades and received it already.

The blades at Quilted Twins are the same as the ones I get on Amazon but right now both sites are out of 45mm. I've had good luck with them.