Is there any way to sharpen rotary blades instead of buying new ones?

There is a tool out there that cost about $15 that is supposed to sharpen them. I have a friend who swears by them but I have never been able to get mine to work like I would want. They are blue and basically have sandpaper that sharpens the blade. Most people I know don't feel they work well. I did see something else once in a quilt shop. It was about $40 and it looked like it would really work. Sadly, it was during the Shop Hop (which covered Southeastern Idaho, some of Wyoming, and the edges of Utah) and I can't remember for the life of me where it was. I'm hoping I can track it down again next May when the Shop Hop comes back around. I know that's a ways off but if I do find it I will definitely post a picture.

To get more life out of your blade, simply flip it over. It only lasts about half as long but it does extend the life of the blade. Hope this helps!

The older rotary blade sharpeners don't work that great but new one is getting rave reviews. It's the Orbital Rotary Cutter Sharpener. http://www.usasharpeners.com/

Wouldnt that be lovely? I seem to get a dull blade after one quilt.. is that average? I found ebay had some pretty good deals for packages but a 40% off coupon from Joanns works pretty well too. I just hate to run out when you need one, cant afford to buy them often either. Mine is skipping right now and I am trying to hold on for just a couple more weeks (guess what I asked Santa for?)

I have heard that the sharpeners don't work that well. However there is a new blade out that I hear stays super sharp longer. Sorry I can't recall the name of it. When I find out I will post the name and where to purchase them. I'm sure they carry them in most quilt shops. Maybe someone else is familiar with them.

That's the one I saw. I've bookmarked it. Thanks!

No, I don't think that is normal, unless you are making a large quilt with a lot of intricate pieces. I can usually get a few quilts done with the blade before flipping it over and extending the life for another quilt or two. Are you pushing down too hard? Sometimes, especially if the cutting mat has a lot of cuts in it, it will dull the blade faster. If your cutting mat is worn out and you don't want to buy a new one (money's tight around the holidays!) then just flip it over and use the back. Works great and you get twice the life out of your cutting mat, which I happen to love.

I didn't know there was a "new" blade that stays sharp longer. I have found the the blades that Martelli Notions sell for there rotary stay sharp longer than the other brands. However I use all the brands.

i have an orbital sharpener. don't like it at all. the less expensive sandpaper types work better for me.

i buy generic blades in bulk now, so rarely bother to sharpen. i just hate throwing them in the trash. :roll:

What is the cutting surface you are using? It is mostly the cutting surface that determines how fast your blade becomes dull.

I buy my rotary blades in bulk on eBay so they cost much less per blade. IMO, this works better than using a sharpener. I used to use the sandpaper type of sharpener and it did help, but I resented the time it took -- especially if the blade had a nick in it I hadn't seen. Sharpeners cannot remove a nick in the blade.

Where do you buy your blades? I don't put my blades in the trash. I put them a a round metal container and when it's full I can safely trash it.

Where do you buy your blades in bulk? How many is bulk? Can you share the price? Thanks.

I have heard mixed reviews about them, I don't have one though..

I heard the Gingher blades lasted much longer then normal. Thanks for the heads up on the Orbital sharpener. I'll save my money for a Gingher blade.

I am going to be looking into a blade sharpener, thank you for the opinions on these :D:D:D

Also, I don't throw my used blades away, I give them to a scrapbooking friend...they do well for her as they are still plenty sharp to cut paper!!!

I have never purchased blades on EBay but am interested if they are less expensive. I have bought them on www.Connectingthreads.com at a reasonable price. I was told that if you use your rotary cutter to move the cut fabric away from the piece your cutting it from, IE: accross the cutting matt that it will dull your blades quickly. I really don't go through blades too often but I never use them to cut anything but fabric. I do keep old blades to cut freezer paper sometimes. Hope this was helpful.

Well that is good to know. I don't know anyone who has tried one and I trust your judgment! I guess I'll just keep flipping mine over to get more life out of it and then throw it away.

As for rotary blades, save the old package & when you are done you can slip the used blades back inside. Now be sure to mark the outside of the package "USED" so you don't get them mixed up. Then you can safely dispose of them without worrying about the blades cutting the bag, or the person carrying out the trash. :shock:

Or the garbage men, if they have to end up handling a bag :D:D:D

Ouch! You are right and my garbage man does handle our bags instead of using a fancy garbage machine to pick up the bags or cans.

I also keep old spice jars to put old and discarded needles into. It's amazing how many bent or broken or dull needles a small spice jar can hold! And it works great to take it to classes or retreats because everyone uses it.

I use blunt needles to hang pictures. They are strong and leave a very small hole in the wall.

June995 turned us on to a vendor who sells recycled rotary blades. you send him your old blades and purchase professionally resharpened blades at a discounted price:

http://www.lpsharp.com/3.html

she says she's very satisfied by the service.

When a blade starts to dull, I put it in my second rotary cutter which is a cheapy I bought and is red so easy to tell apart from my Clover one then I use it for a while on trimming up poly batting or cutting paper. This I do on the flip side (metric and so no use to me!) of my mat. I understand that a dull blade damages your mat so is false economy to carry on using it when it's dull. You're also more likely to cut yourself with a dull blade as you have to apply more pressure so it's more likely to slip.

In the same way that you shouldn't use your fabric scissors on poly batting, you shouldn't use your good blades either because it dulls them as cutting paper would. I do save the plastic case and put it in there before throwing away.

I'll try your flipping over idea Tiffany, I didn't know that was possible so thanks! :-D

Good morning, June 6995 reporting in.

I have found another source of wholesale rotary cutter blades.

http://jhittlesewing.funoverload.com...new_items.html

They are usually 10 for about %15.00

http://www.lpsharp.com/ most often exchanges your dull blades for name brand blades at a reduced cost. I do not know that he resells the sharpened blades to the public. But, this is an excellent way to recycle the blades. He will send your return order postage free.

At this point in time I am getting generic blades from JHittle and am very pleased with them. This is a wholesale sewing supply and you will find pins and needles and everything else you need. However, there is a shipping charge. I buy a number of things here and for $100 order you get free shipping. Take a look around his site.

hmmmm I might have to get one of those and try it. The blades are so expensive!

I have not read all the posts yet but want to add my 2 cents. I have both sharpeners, I don't like either one, I don't think they work. For the price you can get the blades I just change them out. I buy 5 packs with 40% or 50% off coupons. A friend buys in bulk on ebay and sells me some at her cost, sometimes as low as $1 a blade. Get together with a couple of friends and split the cost on ebay. These are all brand new blades still in orginal pkg.

The orbital sharpener sounds good on the video, but if some of you have tried it and been disappointed, I won't be buying one. The old "sharpener" I have is totally useless. I buy blades at 50% off, use the old ones (which I store in a case marked "used", as mentioned) to cut paper, etc. They go in the "used" case only have I have flipped them over, put a drop of oil on them, etc., etc., to squeeze every bit of fabric cutting use out of them.

My orbital blade sharpener works great! I haven't had to buy blades in ages!

BUT when I do buy blades I get them in bulk from this site!
http://webmail.aol.com/29970-133/aol-1/en-us/Suite.aspx
You can register for his weekly sale letter! I've bought several things, over the last couple years, feel I have saved money and the service is very good!

No, I am in no way affiliated with this company!

When I tried the URL that BJ posted, it takes me to a page that wants me to set up an AOL e-mail account. Please try again.

I'm sorry!

Try this one! http://jhittlesewing.funoverload.com...new_items.html

Thank you for the information. I just bought one today. :lol:

I have ordered my replacement blades rather inexpensively from JHittle. They work great. Someone else posted the link earlier but here it is again: http://jhittlesewing.funoverload.com...new_items.html

Thanks for all the information. What a great way to communicate when you are snow bound!

If you are storing used blades, take a piece of scotch tape and cover the edge of the blade. Even if the blade is too dull to work well on fabric it is still sharp and can cut someone. I also use a piece of scotch tape to put around worn needles before disposing of them.

The old fashioned blue, sandpaper does the trick for me. In fact my friend was over and her blade was all nicked and dull. I gave her a new one while I sharpened hers and she was so impressed when I gave her the original one back. It worked like new. I swear by mine. I looked at the ad for the orbital one and I couldn't even find out how much it was. Sounds like a lot more than the old standby.

Wow, lots of great info.

Thanks everyone.

The orbital does last longer than the sandpaper sharpener, at least for me. I wore the sandpaper sharpener out so quickly and couldn't find replacements anywhere, so bought the oribital. I've had it a couple of years and my DH has sharpened all of my blades, my friend's blades and blades that belong to some of the customers at the quilting shop where I hang out! My DH isn't one to rave about much but the orbital he says he'd do a commercial for it!

If your blades come in the plastic holder, you can use one to store your old blades in and then you don't have to worry about the scotch tape. I use old spice jars to hold broken or bent needles. Once the lid is on, no need for scotch tape. Just a thought. :wink:

Wow. Now I'm interested again in owning one. It really bothers me that a new blade stays sharp for such a short time. I continue to use them until I get to the @#$%*&^% stage and would love a sharpener that works!

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: We can do that??????????????

Yep, just don't let the company know or they'll raise the prices! :lol:

I have both a Gingher rotary cutter and an Olfa. I much prefer the Olfa--wish I'd stuck with it instead of getting the Gingher. And it gets dull faster than the Olfa.