I am a believer.
 

I just changed rotary blade. Enuff said :)

Hi,

I was at a quilt camp this past week end and we discussed why is it we wait so long to change that blade? Each time we do we marvel at the difference in cutting! Enuff said!

I change my machine needle all the time, but struggle with a dull blade for a while.....difference in replacement price maybe?

Bev

Stock up on blades when you find a good sale. I often buy a dozen or two and then it is not so painful when you need to change them. You'll cut so much better and it is also much safer to cut with a sharp blade as you are not using as much pressure and force which could result in a nasty cut to you.

It is amazing that we will spend up to $12/yd for fabric with hardly batting an eye and then put the brakes on when it comes to replacing a rotary blade. Most of us probably live near a Joann's where they have at least a 40% off coupon weekly that we can use on a blade and if you can afford to get a five pack - much better for you than a six pack!

In fact Joanns has a 5 pack of 45 mm blades on sales this week for I believe $16.99 and it is also Military appreciation and if you have Military ID you get an additonal 20% off of regular and sale priced items!

LOL!!!!!

Yep, duh, as I slap heel of hand to forehead!!

I finally changed my blade. I have been cutting a Lemoine star out using Marty Mitchell templates with engineered corners. I can't believe how much easier it was cutting. Just whip me with a wet noodle.

Mary

Blades can often be found on eBay at a reasonable price.

Amen Sister!!! :)

I changed my blade yesterday because it started skipping. I just changed it last month and I haven't done a tremendous amount of cutting. I have a sufficient supply of blades that I shouldn't hesitate to change my blade when I feel like I should. Just too cheap!!!

I broke down and bought one of those linear blade sharpeners, works on any size blade and almost every style of rotary cutter. Here is a link to the product page at the Grace Company, who makes it. I got a great deal for mine on Amazon. It won't get out nicks or repair a damaged blade, but it will sharpen one that's just gotten dull. Blades are expensive, I want to make mine last as long as possible!

http://www.graceframe.com/site/rotar...inea-sharpener

That looks like an interesting set up! I had the Tru Sharp rotary blade sharpener and I wasn't too impressed with it.

I checked and you must have bought the last one from Amazon! lol

maybe they'll get some more in.

oops!! just found them on Amazon. Sorry. I ordered one and hopefully it will save a few blades.

It was a few months ago, and I thought Amazon was where I found it, but I have been known to be wrong before on at least a couple of occasions! I had looked a while to find the best price. Couldn't find one locally. If you do a search you can probably find one for less than the $40. I'm pretty sure I paid $29.99 and got free shipping, just wish I could remember who I ordered it from.

A friend of mine gave me a blade to try from Harbor Freight and it worked just as good as the name brands. She paid $1.99 for 2 blades. I couldn't believe it until I went there and saw it for myself. They are used for cutting carpet.

I just did recently as well, I am amazed at the difference!!

I can feel your pain...and your relief!

Its amazing how well they cut after a blade change isn't it? I just changed mine too. I had to learn how to cut all over again. No won't my self healing cutting board won't heal. hehehehe!

Yeah, wondered why my flannel(200 sqs for rag quilts) was getting hard to cut. Duh.

Sounds like a dead spot in your mat rather than the blade.

Does anyone have one of those new electric blade sharpeners? Are they worth the money?

I would like to hear more about dead spots in a mat. I have two very old mats and have been wondering about whether they are the ones causing more problems than old blades. But I have not been buying cheap blades either.

I bought the electric TrueSharp from Amazon a few months ago. I found it is best to use the coarse stone first a couple times before using the fine stone. It does a nice job but it takes time....what I do is sharpen a few at a time, asembly line fashon. I discovered the cutting mat makes a BIG difference. Those white mats that are sold by Joann Fabrics are way too rough on the blades and actually dull them faster. Olfa and Fiskar mats are better, but I found this Big Mat at a sew expo (also available at www.seweasyproducts.com) It has an extra smooth surface with a 5-yr. warranty. The mats come in several sizes, too. My blades actually stay sharp a lot longer. Hope this helps.

LOL Yeppers change a blade ? what ???? no way just one more cut out of it !LOL

Always sharpen a sharp blade. I sharpen my blade before it gets dull and always before I use it for a lot of cutting. I use the Grace sharpener. I will change a blade at the first sign of a skip. Usually a blade that I keep sharp will last for months of cutting.

I need to change mine more often--------but I'm cheap, cheap, cheap!

LOL! My hubby and I just had this exact conversation last week when I changed my blade for the first time in over 6 months.

I've seen rotary blade sharpeners - do they work well and do you think they're worth the purchase price?

I've tried different sharpeners over the years with disappointing results. The electric TrueSharpener by Grace Company is the best one thus far, and I do not have any regrets this time.

Yeah--I have fought that so many times...Why I don't just do it--who knows--it makes the cutting so much easier!

For me, it's because the change in the sharpness of the blade is so gradual, I don't realize it's dull until I get frustrated.

My blade starts skipping after I accidentally :mad: run into an acrylic ruler. The ruler leaves a nick in the blade.

The best way to diagnose if it's your blade or a dead spot in the mat is to leave the fabric exactly where you cut it and change the blade. If it cuts fine on a new blade, then it's not the mat.

Ok, ok, I'll change it tomorrow. Honest!
Annie

Thanks for the info on dead spots on mats. I'll try that.

No, it was the blade! When I changed to a new one, I cut in the same area on my mat and no skips! I'm sure I nicked it because I remember thinking "Dang it (cleaned up version :shock:), now I bet it will start skipping!

Yeah, what she said! ;)

I wondered if anyone else had noticed how much difference the mat makes...I am not sure what brand of white mat I got the second time, but it was just as rough on my blades as the old white mat. I bought it a few years ago at the Indiana Heritage quilt show...was a complete waste. I started using it and my blade just gave out after very little time. I do not know what made me think to change mats...I could not believe the difference. I can cut and cut and cut as long as I use the fiskar/olfa type of mat.

Yup! Mine's been skipping lately but have I changed the blade yet?? Nope... but I will now with this great reminder.:o
Thanks!

I used to put off changing blades because I always had so much trouble doing it. I never seemed to get the blade on the first time so it wasn't skipping even worse than the old one. I finally broke down and bought the Olfa quick change rotary cutter. I love it!!!!!! I used a 50% coupon at Joann's and it was worth every penny.
http://www.amazon.com/Olfa-Quick-Cha.../dp/B00168253A
And as others have mentioned, I use my discount coupons to buy blades at 40 or 50% off. :D

Does this apply to a RETIRED military ID?????