I don't change my rotary blade more often.

I've been struggling with cutting for the last 5 projects. I finally decided that I had enough and changed the blade today.

Now it cuts like a knife through butter!!!

thanks for the reminder! ;-)

I do the same thing. I wait until the edges look I chewed them off and then I finally change the blade!

I am just like you. I have no idea why I procrastinate, know that changing it would make it cut so much better. I think the cost of the blades may pay a part in it, though. Maybe we feel like we have to get every last little cut before we throw them away.

If you also remember to oil your rotary cutter when your rotary cutter is getting clogged with lint, it will stay sharper longer. I take mine apart often and oil the blade and plastic as soon as see lint built-up around the blade. Just a light film of oil does it, you don't want it to be sloppy with oil.

I hesitate to change my blades because they are so expensive to buy. Nowadays you can sharpen them yourself or you can go to Harbor Freight Tools and buy blades to fit the 45mm rotary cutter for set of blades for just $2.00. So at $1 apiece I change my blades a lot more often.

Me too!!!! I try to get as much use out of a blade as possible.

I haven't been able to get my hands on any of the Harbor Freight blades, but I did buy a big lot of 45mm blades on eBay. So I have 50 - well 49 now - brand new name brand Olfa blades happily hanging on the inside of my fabric cabinet door.

BTW I paid $31 including shipping for my lot. Sometimes when you are not able to find one thing, you find something even better.

I don't change mine enough either.

But before I throw it away I turn it around and use the other side of the blade it works a little.

I know why we procrastinate - blades are so blasted expensive that we feel the need to get the very last possible cut out of one before pitching it. I even use a blade sharpener to extend the blade for another project or 2. I do turn the blade over when it begins to act up. Works fine - gives more life than before I heard about this trick. I have another rotary cutter that I use only for cutting paper pieceditems when I need to cut the paper too. I also have my original Olfa that I put the really dull blades in to cut paper only.

I am not really that green - just gripes me to have to pay so much for blades. Try to get them at Hobby Lobby with 40% coupon, but I have to remember to get there early or they are all gone.

I boughtn a lot of Olfa blades a couple of years ago. I payed 24.00 with shipping for 50 blades. I don't think I will have to purchase anymore in the near future. I must say I had to buy the HF blades to try. If I ever do run out of Olfas I will relace them with the HF. They are every bit as good as the Olfas.