Help! Problems with Rotary Cutter!
I've been using a Martelli rotary cutter for about a year now, been very satisfied with its performance and less fatigue in my hands and wrists. The last couple days, however, I've been having problems when I try to cut on a diagonal -- it's like the blade stops turning, the fabric develops wrinkles in front of the blade and if I continue with the cut it's very jagged. Of course I need to be making diagonal cuts right now for a large set of swap blocks due July 10.
I'm not having this problem with straight cuts; only diagonal ones. I changed the blade about a week ago so it should not be dull. Any ideas what my problem could be? Donna D., Hemet, CA |
The blades are very thin and come with oil on them that can make them stick together. Could you have perhaps put two on by mistake? That's a common problem with that.
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Thanks, Becky, I did think of that (have done it in the past) but I'm pretty sure I've only got one blade in there. A sure tip-off you've got two blades is a tiny little "sliver" of fabric every time you cut, and I'm not getting that.
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I would try loosening the screw slightly. Also, starching the fabric helps with diagonal cuts.
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Check to make sure you don't have a buildup of lint and fuzz around the screw and washer. I also agree with Prism99, try loosening the screw a little.
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Could you have a wonky blade. I got one once. It was out of round.
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A blade can be ruined in a blink of an eye ... hit a pin, run into the plastic ruler, etc.
So being a week old, yes it could be ruined. By chance did you reassemble your rotary cutter wrong? |
You said something that gives me a clue - it doesn't happen when you make straight cuts. I don't think it's the blade, I think it's the fabric. You are cutting it on the diagonal, which means bias and stretch. Are you using a ruler? I would make sure you cut only one layer at a time, hold the fabric down with a ruler, and cut slowly.
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Originally Posted by Peckish
(Post 5325088)
You said something that gives me a clue - it doesn't happen when you make straight cuts. I don't think it's the blade, I think it's the fabric. You are cutting it on the diagonal, which means bias and stretch. Are you using a ruler? I would make sure you cut only one layer at a time, hold the fabric down with a ruler, and cut slowly.
If that isn't the issue, try weighting down the other side of the fabric with a second ruler leaving yourself a channel to cut aling the edge of your main ruler with a second one a few 8ths away to hold the fabric down. |
I have found that I have to use certain blades in my Martelli. If I put the Olfa blades in it, it wobbles. If I put Fiskar blades--it works fine. Olfa blades have little Mickey Mouse ears around the center hole & the Martelli/Fiskar blades are simply round. I have also managed to crack a blade and it would push the fabric & simply stop before I discovered it was cracked.
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Originally Posted by BKrenning
(Post 5326337)
I have found that I have to use certain blades in my Martelli. If I put the Olfa blades in it, it wobbles. If I put Fiskar blades--it works fine. Olfa blades have little Mickey Mouse ears around the center hole & the Martelli/Fiskar blades are simply round. I have also managed to crack a blade and it would push the fabric & simply stop before I discovered it was cracked.
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