Rotary cutters depression
 

I love my cutters but I swear they spend the night nicking each other. I am careful but I can't get a blade to last a month. Is that normal?
They are so expensive. I know there are a few sights where you can return or buy bulk, but I haven't looked at them yet.
I sewed all my life but I didn't "find" the rotary cutter until I started to quilt.
How did we cut all the pieces before? Chalk lines ?

Not sure how they get nicked but I don't take them out of the package until I need them

I think I have the same trouble and it is because I have to many groves in my mat.

Light bulb goes off. Never thought the grooves in my mat might be causing the rotary blade to get nicked. Wow. Maybe need a new mat or condition the old one. Thanks for the tip.

I just replaced my cutting mats. And my NEW rotary cutting blade cuts like butter. I knew I needed them though.

Unless you absolutely need the lines on the mat, flip it over and get the use of the back. As someone here said, "You paid for both sides".

No, the grooves don't cause the blades to get nicked... they just open up under the pressure of the blade and do not provide enough resistance behind it to produce a cut. Your skipped spots in your cut can be caused by a worn out mat, even with a perfect, un-nicked blade. Flip your mat over when it gets like that, and wear out the other side.

By the way, "conditioning" old mats doesn't work. I know it's all over Pinterest, but it's a crock. All the soaking in the world isn't going to seal up those grooves.

Before rotary Cutters, we used a ruler, #2 lead pencil for marking, and scissors!!