I second the Joanns in the landfill. That is where mine is to.

You have pyramids in California??? Hmmm

Used them, work great, plan to get more. If out at local store try on line, There was a thread about a month ago, and I posted a link. :)

Good products, but the wait is terrible!

I am using the Tri-Sharp, that I bought at Hancocks in Birm.Al. It only comes in one size and seems to take out the knicks. I bought it when they had a 50% sale on quilting notions so I think I paid about $7.50 for it.

You got that right! I'm in the holding pattern now. Glad to hear it's a good product. Would hate to wait this long and it doesn't work!

I have been buying Olfa 45mm blades on Ebay. The first time I bought 20 blades; later I bought 25 blades and a new cutter. Both were under $35 including shipping.

I used the Tri sharp (blue with sandpaper/diamond discs) so much that I wore out the discs. I then purchased the Orbitol sharpener ($37 Canadian, handles all sizes of blades). It too works well but you never get a blade a sharp as a new one. I figure on the first sharpening it is about 75% as good as new and lasts about 3/4's as long, second sharpening 50% and third sharpening 25%. Neither of these sharpeners will take out nicks but will make your blades last longer. The best bet may still be to stock up when blades are on sale. Dull blades make for miserable cutting and will damage your mat. Kleen Cut blades (an Olfa clone) regularly sell for $2.99 at Len's Mills and once in a while they are on for half price. That's when I buy a couple of dozen and then further extend this supply by sharpening each a couple of times.

i haven't tried one but you can use whetstones for sharpening japanese knives.

I change blades at first skip. My blades last a long time though because I run them through the Grace vertical sharpener before I use it and in between cuttings. Sharpen a sharp blade and it never gets dull.