I purchased my rotary cutter Mother's day weekend, and it already seems too be getting dull. I have to press a bit harder to make the cut.

Is there a way to sharpen it? Or am I better off just replacing it?

I just wait till JoAnns has one of their super sales and get a couple extra blades really cheap...like 4 bucks
I replace mine anytime I think it is getting dull...sometimes I feel like I can mess with it being dull and if I am doing alot of cutting I put in a new sharp blade.
I do use my old blade on photos I have printed and some card and scrapbooking stuff...then throw it away.
I also keep the little plastic thing it came in to use to dispose of it so no danger of anyone getting cut from it.
Kirsten

I flip mine over before switching them Gets a few more miles out of it.

If you go to House of Hanson on the net, you'll find they have the best prices and no shipping and handling. If I remember right, you can get a pack of 10 Olfa blades for $33.00.

Walmart has blades for $4 but I still get only one quilt per blade, without using pressure....still use my wallpaper cutter to......a lot cheaper :D

When you have to start really putting alot of muscle into cutting the fabric, I'd say its time for a new blade.
I use a friskars 8mm, I tried to use the bigger cutter I have a small hand and it just didn't work for me.
One thing that is maddening is none of our walmarts carry 8mm blades anymore. I get two blades for $4.00 from hittle sewing supply. I just get $20.00 worth and that keeps me going for awhile.

Keep it rocking,
Donna Mae

I switch when it starts to leave uncut spots. I just changed one yesterday and WOW it's like cutting butter. What a treat!! :D :D :D

I noticed that sometimes I could cut quite a bit of fabric before the blade dulled and other times not so much. I think that we may get Friday/Monday blades sometimes :lol: :lol: :lol:

At a local quilt store, the owner is in love with a new blade sharpener. It uses a soapstone (I think that is the right type). She says it has worked better than any other one she has ever bought, ever. I think it runs about $20 -30.

A friend of mine told me to not throw away my blades. She said to save them and use two at a time in your cutter. Chances are they won't have nicks or wear inthe same spot so you will be cutting smoothly again.

I use mine a long time, longer than I should, I also bought a sharpener, but they don't stay sharp long.

We are supposed to change them?!?! :shock: I probably should change them a lot more than I do, but I can't remember the last time I changed it actually... oops!

I change when I make a cut and have skipped spots. I don't re cut several times, that's a waste of my time. A sharp blade will cut the first pass. I keep several roatry cutters with new blades in them available to grab. The cutters that need a new blade go in a container until I have time to re blade them. When I find a rotary cutter on clearance I buy it. I have found that the Gingher rotary cutter with Gingher blade last almost forever. I haven't changed that blade since I've bought it.

I don't think I have changed a blade since I started quilting, lol I sharpen before I start a new quilt but I always keep the same blade. IF it seems to miss spots for me that normally means the blade has a nic in it so I just grind it out flip it over sharpen and I am off again!

What type of mat are you using. I had a friend that was using a june tailor. It was really hard. I suggested she get an olfa self healing and it has made a world of difference. But could just be it is time to change the blade.

After replacing several dull blades, I finally figured out that my mat was the problem! It was a very old Olfa mat that was probably a little warped.

Donna Mae........Have your tried Ebay for your blades? I purchased a bunch from there.

I also purchased Ergo blades, and they appear to last quite a bit longer.