Are rotary cutter blades interchangeable with different brands?

I was at Joann's last night to pick up new blades for my Fiskars rotary cutter.

Since Olfa blades were on sale I was going to buy them, especially since Fiskars did not have a "pinking" blade which is what I wanted.

When I asked the clerk she told me she "didn't think" they were exchangeable.

My LQS did not have a "pinking" blade which is why I went to Joann's in the first place.

Although I love the sales at Joann's, the clerks at 2 stores near me do not seem to know the merchandise. Every time I ask them a question about a product they don't know the answer.

Another for instance is, while cutting on my fiskars mat the other night, it actually cut into the mat. I can feel the cut even though it is a self-healing mat. They couldn't tell me if I could exchange it. I had to speak with a manager who "comes in and out at all hours". This store is 25 miles away!

Does anyone know for sure whether the blades are exchangeable? :?:

I seem to get better answers from this board than from stores which should know their products.

Thanks in advance,
Jan

I'd say for plain round ones as long as the mm match, then you could interchange them. Check the hole where the blade sets into the handle, as long as it's round and round you'll probably be ok, too.

Martelli has their own blades that are not interchangeable, but I think the others are, I just used to buywhat ever was on sale, and did not have a problem.

I have many different cutters, and all the blades I have bought, work in all the cutters.

I've only ever bought Olfa for Olfa, but others have told me they are interchangable.

Shame about your experiences with JoAnn's.

I think they are interchangeable, I never pay attention to my rotary cutter "name" and I buy the blades that are on sale . Never had a problem

I'm with them! Whatever is on sale!

Olfa blades will not fit Fiskers cutters. The Fiskers requires a round hole while the Olfa hole is a more triangular shape with 3 little cut outs. If you try using this blade in your Fiskers, it fits but will not stay in position and handles as if your cutter has a flat tire. You can't cut that way. Rotary cutter blades are not universal. You should always keep your original rotary cutter package for reference or check your company on the internet. Most of them will give you a picture of the blade you need, describe it and even provide the diagram on how to reassemble your cutter after changing blades. The new Orbital rotary blade sharpening tool includes extra plastic bits to handle blades such as Olfa so that company also knows that rotary blades are not all standard. Do change your blade though because dull blades wreck your mat and may even cut you.

I have used olfas in my fiskars cutter without a problem.

Me too!

I only have Olfa cutters so I don't know. They run my blades on sale often enough I have not tried other brands.

Ok I just went and looked ... I have a Fiskars cutter and my blades are Olfa , so they work at least that way

I agree w/ the help at Joann's. It seems that IF you find someone to ask, they are not familar w/ their products.........I Have made errors in shopping because knowledgable personnel were not available. Sometimes I feel I know more than some . please know I am not an expert..

I have several Olfa and Fiskars rotary cutters and use either brand of blade in either brand of cutter with no problem. I do, however, have a specific Olfa pinking cutter. It still has its original blade; I will be using Olfa pinking blade replacements in it.

Our ASG neighborhood group meets at a JoAnn's. We couldn't be happier and I guess just lucked out. All the help is very knowledgeable about their merchandise and very helpful. They don't point, they take you there. They help us sponsor sewing month by letting us set up a table for demos and promoting our chapter. They also give us several items in the store to demo that they want to promote and then donate them for drawings for our annual luncheon like Ott lights, Rowenta irons and the cutting board sets. We couldn't ask for a better shop.

It's almost like a LQS because the salespeople know us so well. I might add, most of them, male and female are in the over 40 age group and sew which sure helps when you have questions. They don't look at you like you have three eyes in the middle of your head.

I forgot. We even had eleven of them go on our one day bus trip to the annual sewing expo in Tampa. When we have our meetings, they love to drop by and see our show and tells. Many have even come in to ask us opinions about sewing choices.

I asked the same question at my "local" Joann's and got the same answer. I bought Fiskers blades for my Olaf cutter thinking if they did not fit I would buy and new cutter as I need one anyway. But guess what! They fit and they are interchangeable!

I did not share this info with Joann's however. Maybe I will.

I have an Olfa straight blade on my Fiskars and an Olfa pinking on my KaiCut (ST810) model. No problems.

Do you have a Martelli cutter???

Just got back from the Chicago quilt show. Saw that in use. Friends bought it but since I cut part of my finger off, I am reluctant to change anything.

Don't worry. It wasn't enough to sew back on and it eventurally healed. I now have a fence on my ruler.

I only use Olfa cutters & blades. FYI - I went on Ebay and got tons of blades for CHEAP. Have enough blades now to last a few years (I hope).

[quote=Battle Axe]Do you have a Martelli cutter???

I have a Martelli along with several Fiskers and Olfas I really love the Martelli.
As long as you take time to learn how to hold the Martelli you will find that you automatically reach for it when there are choices of rotary cutters in front of you.

I have the straight Olfa and ergo Olfa and I have the Fiskars, and Fons and Porter and the new quick change Olfa and the Dritz and special flowered color designed one(When in doubt put a new cutter in MOM's Christmas stocking) and a pink one and a pretty light green one and a pretty chrome one. All the blades that are the same mm size fits all of them with no problem.

If it's the size of your cutter, it'll fit and work just fine. 28mm to 28mm, 45mm to 45mm, 60mm to 60 mm.

I have Olfa in my Fiskars and a generic cheap cutter and they work just fine have never had a problem. Have never used a pinking one so I don't know about them.
Good Luck

I, too, have had that experience with Joann personnel. I don't live near a fabric shop so I always go to Joann's but I am not happy with it either.

I have a Martelli rotary cutter that is ergonomic and I can buy any brand of blade (not fancy like pinking) and use in it. Is my Martelli ergonomic different from yours?

Did anyone try to sharpen their used blades. I wonder if that little gadget works.

I sharpen, and it works for about 3 times.

mine are very dull but I will keep using them. Penny

Me too :thumbup:

I am SO glad to hear this! I am planning on buying an Martelli ergo cutter and ruler, BUT did want to be stuck with using only their expensive blades. Hurrah! :-D

Good info. - thanks. I have always kept the orig. cardboard that came w/ the cutter, tho, for the reasons you said.

Oh! How do you cut with a dull blade and not chunk the thing through the window? :lol: :lol:

I am pretty frugal and will usually use things alittle longer then I should just so I am getting my moneys worth, but I have learned somethings just aren't worth the headache, rotary blades are one of those items. Does someone have a web site for thier favorite place to buy in bulk?

I did a little test. While picking up the "Pinking" blade, Joann's had a sale on Olfa cutters and blades at 50% off. The only pinking blades they had in stock were the Olfa. I have a Fiskars already.

Since the sale was going on, I bought the blade for $5.99 and the cutter for $8.99 which I thought was a great price. I figured I could keep one cutter with a regular blade and one for the pinking.

This morning I took the pinking blade and put it into the Fiskars. The Olfa blade has a little notch on it, however the Olfa cutter was round with no notch. I can't figure why the notch is on the blade.

I tried cutting with the pinking in the Fiskars and it worked.
Then I placed it in the Olfa and it worked even better.

Don't get me wrong. It did work in the Fiskars cutter, it was still a pinked seam. However the cut was a lot cleaner in the Olfa cutter.

I guess the answer is Yes they are interchangeable, but work the best in their own cutters. Not very scientific, just my humble opinion.

I have used all different blades with different cuttters including my Martelli cutter and have never had a problem. I say give it a try.

At the Chicago Quilt Show yesterday...I was at the Schmetz booth and they have a brand new rotary blade...titamiun blade to stay sharp longer...rep. told me that it won't be available at Joann's for awhile. Apparently, they only purchase new things every once and awhile and then have to find room for them. LQS and other places will have it very soon.

One year at the Sewing Expo, Martellis told me not to use the blade with the notch in my regular rotary cutters because they get dull quicker because the don't turn evenly with the notch so they wear out more in some spots. I save my old blades that are too dull to cut fabric and use them to cut paper, wallpaper, freezer paper. Works great for that.
Cathy

I was told at Joann's that the blades are not interchangeable. Go online to get them they are much cheaper on Ebay.

I use Olfa blades all the time in my Fiskars cutters. I have never had a problem with the blade not fitting. Fiskar blades in anything other than a single pack are hard to find here, which makes them expensive.