Numbers on the rotary blade?
 

For years I have used a 45mm rotary cutter and wondered what the numbers on the blade are for, or how they are to be used, but never asked anyone. Is this a stupid question that I should already know the answer to?

Well, if its a stupid question then im right there with ya cuz i didnt even know there were any numbers!

The original rotary blade was designed to fit a safety cutter that positioned each section of the rotary blade in a fixed position to be used upon the dulling of the previous section. The numbers represented each of those sections. When OLFA introduced the original rotary cutter in 1979, the numbers became irrelevant, but have been maintained as a sort of historical feature representing the original rotary blade.

I don't think my Fiskar blades have numbers. With the number of blades I use I should buy stock in the company.

Thanks, Anita - thats good info! You know the Olfa Chenille cutter has a dial with numbers on it so that you can click ahead to a different place on the blade when it get dull so the cutter must be based on the original idea you told us about.

Thank you so much ILoveToQuilt. You have taught this baby boomer something new today and it's information that I don't have to learn to use. Whoopee!!! I love this board and all of the knowledgeable and helpful members that are here.

Thanks for asking!

I saw numbers on them yesterday and wondered why they were on them. Now I know, thanks!

Now we know! I have wondered.

I had always assumed they were "batch" numbers.

Don't thank me, thank Mr. Google! LOL