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.

I've just gotten in the habit of cutting each stroke twice. I had no idea the blade would dull so quickly, but then I thought about how much I've used it in the few months since I've had it. Is that about how long you all get out of a blade before it needs replacing or sharpening?

Way to go. You really scored.

You have to keep up with Harbor Freight Tools to get them. The stores around us get a Wednesday delivery and when I need them I call every Thursday morning until I get them. They don't seem to order more than 12 packs at a time, so they are usually gone in one felled swoop when they get them in.

Does anyone use the rotary blade sharpener?

I do! It extends the life for at least one project and somtimes more!

Thanks for thew reminder. I always wait too long to check my blades and change my needles!

I also use my rotary sharpener all the time. It's amazing how a few turns on the sharpener helps me cut better. I just think blades are really expensive so anything I can do to save money (buy more fabrics!) makes me quite happy!

Oh geezzzzzz I'm so bad about blades and needles!! I try to get every last smidgen out of them. Silly but true.
Funny thing, I have no problem buying and buying and buying more fabric!! :D

I too don't change my blades oftern enough....right now Im dealing with a needle on my machine that no longer has a point on it at all....but I buried the new needles in a crate that is at the bottom of my closet. Tonight I put a post it note on the machine that says..."Change Needle".

Me too, but you can't use your fabric over and over again! It's a one shot thing! Sooooo, we must be prepared for anything by having a stock of supplies. That includes fabric & more fabric. If the manufacturers wouldn't keep coming out with such wonderful choices for us, we might not have such a hard time resisting the temptation!

I always put off changing my blade too. Laziness, frugality, not wanting to fool with a loose sharp edged object. I pay for my procrastination though, with fighting to cut the fabric.

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...

I knicked my thumb one time with the blade but, I thought that it would never stop bleeding!!!

Another mention to pay attention when useing the cutters. I was cutting out a Double Wedding Ring with a brand new small 28mm cutter - and watching the Daytona 500. I glanced up when I was cutting the tail off of a scrap and took off the end of my middle finger. Took everything - nail included to the top of the bone. The bone was exposed. And I am on blood thinners. So it did take forever to stop - not until the doctor cautherized it. And the little muscle at the end is just gone. You can still see where the end of my finger is flat.

Always pay attention - remember they are sharp as surgeons tools and dangerous. Pay attention.

Since then, I have obtained my QuiltCut and running a risk of cutting has greatly decreased. But still I am extremely careful. And I try to only cut things out when DH is home, just in case.

Has anyone used the ruler that supposedly sharpens your blade with every cut? I just saw these advertised.

I have never heard of this? Do you know the brand name so I can see it on the web?

Did you get the Alto's Quilt cut? I absolutly love mine. Sure saves on fabric... No more mistakes.

I also say, thanks for the reminder. I think I will just go change my blades and needles now since I can;t remember the last time I did. Perhaps I need to put this on a schedule with the batteries for the smoke alarm!

i do tyhe same thing, kinda like if it aint broke, don't fix it, but it is broke. i guess i'm too frugal or cheap.

It's called The Cutting Edge ruler by Sullivan
diamond carbide sharpening edge- 10 sizes available
www.sullivans.net.usa
In Quilter's World mag Dec 2010

The rulers seem pretty nifty and they aren't much more expensive than a regular rotary cutter ruler. But, don't you just hate it, you buy this and like it and then what do you do with your other rulers? I guess they just call that progress.

I'll have to wait until a few people I know buy some and see what they say. Or until Joann's gets them in and you can use a 50% off coupon. LOL

I'm guilty of using blades to long also.
I have purchased the USA sharpeners orbital rotaru cutter blade sharpener. I took it on a visit to daughters and we sharpened all our blades. well they are now like new and it really works. it will sharpen 45mm & 60 mm blades.
I haven't used the sharpened blades enough to get them dull again so I'm not sure how many times you can sharpen them but at least they are great the first time around.
kjym Kathy