I have used the cheaper one and the one that cost $30+ dollars. It does extend the life of your blade, but it takes time to do each one right. Getting the blades really cheaply on Ebay, as several people have said they did, or getting them from Harbor Freight Tools is a lot less hassle.

I'm right there with you! I think it's such a hassle to change it, line the screw up just the right way, etc. If only they made a quick release blade system.

If you go on line to try to find Harbor Freight for those blades, do a search for Pack of 2 Carpet Cutter Replacement Blades
once you're on their site :)

Also to extend the life of your blade: wad up a piece of tin foil and roll you blade over it a bunch of times :)

I use mine a long as can...which is really stupid on my part..since i am thinking the whole time..change the blade...the other day my large rotery blade cracked in tooo!!!!! Ever had that happen ????

Wow, You must really press hard!! Hope you didn't get cut.

I've not done it yet, but I heard that if you put TWO nicked blades together into your cutter that it will cut like new again...unless you're lucky enough that the nicks perfectly line up with each other! LOL! Anyone else done this?

I was lucky did't get cut ....lesson learned ...don't wait so long next time....

Has anyone tried the "sharpening" rulers? I have thought about buying one, but hate to buy a "pig-in-a poke".

The last time I accidentally put in two blades together I kept getting double cuts. There was this thread-like piece that would be left after I cut the fabric. It just seemed so strange, couldn't figure out why I was getting it. Then I saw that there were two blades in the rotary cutter.

I can't imagine how you could break a blade. It must have been really scary to have that happen.

Please remember the old Chef's rule: The duller the knife, the bigger the chance of cutting yourself. The same works with rotary cutters. I always advocate safety first. I've seen and heard of too many accidents with rotary cutters.

One case in point was my friend cut the edge of her thumb and nail off because she was not only pressing too hard, but she got distracted at the same time. Fortunately, although she got a very strange manicure on her thumb nail, she only grazed the thick skin you have on the edge of your thumb and there was very little bleeding. But, I have heard worse stories...