Learned something new about rotary cutters!
 

I have been dealing with poor cutting with my olfa rotary cutter that I have had for years. I have replaced I don't know how many blades way sooner than I thought I should have in order to get a better cut. Well, finally, I ordered a new cutter, the Splash from MSQC was on sale so I ordered it. Well, lo and behold, it cuts like a dream. I am now convinced that the cutter was bad!!! I guess I have really wasted some kind of money on blades when I didn't need to. Just passing this along in case others have had a cutting problem. just fyi!

Hmmm... Interesting - which Olfa was that? I use the OLFA ergonomic and have for years with no issues. I had the original style and could never get it to work right for me so I pitched it. I just bought the Martelli and now am trying to re-learn how to use a rotary cutter.

The Olfa ergonomic works great for me too. The trick is not to tighten
the screw too much. Each rotary cutter is different. I got a new Clover
and I can tell there's a learning curve to it. I think I'll stick with the Olfa
ergonomic.

I knew something wasn't right with my cutter when I borrowed a cutter at retreat that was on the cutting table. It was smooth cutting with light pressure. It was the same brand as mine but newer. Now when a quilting tool does not seem right after many uses, I get a new one. These tools do wear out. No use keeping them for years, the bad sneaks up on you and you don't know how bad it is until you get a new one.

I have used an Olfa for several years and like it.
I got a Martelli a few years back, but it doesn't feel right to me.
I guess everyone has something they like and works well for them.

Sometimes, it is the mat that causes the cutting problems. We have tendencies to cut in the same areas on them.

Linda in MO

Olfa has a lifetime guarantee. If you send it back to them, they'll fix it at no cost, except shipping.

I was wondering that about my fisker cutter. I tried an older but less used one and it seems to work better. Next I may try turning my mat around. I do cut in the same places very often.

I am still using the first Olfa cutter I bought about 30 years ago. It is my favorite. I have added a few - One to keep with my travel machine, and the 28 mm, and one with pinking/wavy edge cutters because they were on sale and I had a gift card.

When I had the rug business and cut lots of fabric, I would wear out a rotary cutter. The plastic stem that goes through the hole of the blade would get out of round. If it got real bad, the whole thing would hop. Take yours apart and look at the stem. If it is even slightly out of round, it's toast.

Marcia

The Splash is an Olfa rotary cutter.

I have 2 60mm, 2 45 mm and a 28mm I use often to rip seams. I have an older 60mm I use to cut paper.

I about a dozen of rotary cutters . I seldom use the same one when cutting so they all seem like new when I cut. Same with seam rippers and scissors.

I agree with this. I can cut along and then a glitch and it is because of the mat. Too easy to use the same lines to line up the fabric and recut in the same places.

Which is exactly why, unless I need the mat's grid lines, I put the mat on the diagonal or turn it over so I'm not cutting straight up and down every time. But Helen said her cutting had improved with a new cutter, not a new mat.

Being the creature of habit that I am, when my original Fiskars ergonomic cutter started to close itself when I tried to use it because the safety button had worn out, I just went and bought the same one again. (They did change slightly in the thirty years I used the first, but it was mostly cosmetic, from gray to almond). I Figueroa if I got 30 years out of the first one for my ten dollars, why spend more? The new one was a couple dollars more, but I did not mind. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

That is correct Kitsie. The only thing I changed was the cutter which of course had a new blade in it. I am convinced the fault was in the cutter. There must be a small area it is not hitting the fabric correctly as it would happen about every inch or so and leave some threads still uncut. Hard to explain but I'm happy now with the Splash cutter. I still have the smallest olfa cutter that is fine but the 45 is the one that I used the most but always had to go back and re-roll to complete the cut. I had changed blades so often I knew something was wrong.....new blade, same thing. Happy camper now! Just thought others might want to know about it too. I did not change my mat as I have a 56" mat that exactly covers my table and was quite expensive but I never cut on the same lines. I don't use the mat lines, only the ruler lines and and I place my fabric in a different spot almost all the time. just fyi!

I am in the same boat as you Quiltnlady1 - I also use the Olfa ergonomic for years and have to re-learn how to use the Martelli rotary cutter.

Ihad been using the same cutter since 1989. I asked my LQS gal if she thought I needed a new cutter. Guess I gave her a good laugh for the day. Needless to say I purchased a new one & it's made a big difference in my cutting!!;)