Rotary cutters
 

How do you transport your cutter? I just throw in the bag with all my other notions. BUT I am travelling a distance 2 hour drive to a class and am suddenly thinking this would not be safe in an accident if the contents of the bag flew out.
I also carry the bernina pen knife gadget set in my handbag, again no knife but is. It safe in there?

Should they both be in a hard strong container with excellent lid ie glasses case.

To use they are safe and items we use daily. I was thinking of men and electrric tools just left laying around danger. Both based on familiarity.

I would have to totally empty my car . Nothing is safe if it flies. Travel safe, watch out for other crazy, preoccupied drivers. Put your stuff in the trunk if you are concerned. I drive a van. Potential projectiles are everywhere.

Sandy

I carry my cutters, scissors, knives in either tins, pencil cases or other ( box) type containers. I have some great tins that work great, no risk of scissor points poking through, tight fitting lids, ( ones from pen sets do not take up much room and work great, just right for my small Fiskar scissors

Everything sharp goes in a case that zips shut. I rolled my car once and learned the hard way about flying objects. Long ago with glass pop bottles. (Remember those!!?)

I bought a really inexpensive zippered pencil case at Target during 'back to school' sale time and it works great. I think I paid about $2 for it. It's large enough to hold my 60mm cutter, my 45mm cutter, spare blades for each and a pair of small scissors.

I don't worry so much about stuff flying around in my car (I keep it pretty empty), but more about reaching into my bag and getting cut - my 45mm cuter is the kind that auto-closes when you let go of it, but if it's just shoved in a bag with other stuff the handle can get pressed and expose the blade. Plus it's just more organized that way.

I use my F&P Klutz glove (suppose to protect your left hand from getting cut with a rotary cutter) to store my rotary cutter.

You want to keep your sharp & pointy stuff in a container that you won't accidentally grab and the stuff won't poke thru. You can use anything that won't easily crush. A small cardboard box would work
A couple years ago, Connecting Threads carried a very hard sided pencil case for this purpose. They must not have sold well because eventually they marked them down to $0.79. I bought a dozen & gave them as stocking stuffers to all my quilting friends. They hold many (but on all) brands of cutters and a single extra blade in one of those plastic clamshell holders.

This is one of the reasons I love my zippered totes. Luckily I have a lot of them from my professional days, when I got them free. I'll even put a zipper on a tote if that helps me to use it.

I do have a clear plastic cosmetic tote bag that carries my BSK [basic sewing kit.]

Crystal light containers

Went to an estate sale last week and found to travel totes one for cosmetics and one for jewelry. My rotary cutters fit into a couple zippered containers. There are a couple see through pockets with zippers that snap on with Velcro. My blades fit in those. One of the other small bags/totes holds my yo yos and hexies. Both bags/totes have places for scissors and a tape measure. Thread and the like. I paid $3.00 total. DH was about to throw out some leather gloves. I grabbed them and cut the fingers off. They work great on scissor blades for protection. All of my totes have zipper or Velcro closures.

I always keep my cutters in an old eye glass case, even when at home in my sewing drawer. It's the kind that has one end open.

I saw a little pouch made out of a pot holder. Just sew it up and stick your cutter inside. Very easy and cheap.

I have a little plastic case that I got from Hobby Lobby. It's just the right size and they come in several different colors.

I often use a pretty Christmas tin to hold items like that.

My travel sewing kit is a plastic box with the snap on lid. Cutter, pins, snips, etc. all fit nicely in it and it is really handy to grab and go.

My sentiments exactly. If you're in an accident, a rotary cutter flying through the air is probably going to be the least of your worries. My rotary cutter locks in a closed position so it's never something I worry about. If you're concerned, as Sandy said, use your trunk.

The reason it I put this question was here in UK you can't carry knives not even a pen knife. I love how we are all safety first but would police see it that way I wonder,l.

Thank you for all your replies they have given me ideas.

Be sure to seat belt in your sewing machine........safer for the machine than the trunk.....you really do not want your machine to learn to fly, it would never sit still again.:eek:

I press the lock button so they can't open and cut someone or something, and I put them in those plastic take-out food containers with other similar stuff.The blade can't get chipped or do any damage.

The pencil cases that zip shut are great. I get them at the dollar store. Canvas type material, plastic window so you can see what is inside, bright fun colors, you can put sharp items in one color, pencils,marker and chalk in another color. Not to big or bulky but will hold a lot of small items that would be easily lose. You could even put small quilt shapes already cut in them. Zippered pencil cases is the way to go for me.

During back to school sales, lots of items are available to help organize small items. I like the small pencil cases that are about 1" deep, 3" wide, and 8" long and the interior is a tray that slides out. They have a snapper closure and are semi- rigid plastic. I have paid .50 cents for them. The 45mm Olfa fits perfectly in the case. I've given lots of these away.

I put it in one of those clear zippered plastic bags that pillowcases now come in. I usually put the rotary cutter, blades in their plastic case (when you buy 5 at a time) and my klutz glove all together. When I'm at home, it hangs on my bulletin board above my sewing machine. I have a cat that jumps up on the sewing table and I have to have the cutter up and away from her paws.

If you drink crystal light, the containers are the perfect size for carrying rotary cutters.

I bought a cheap pot holder from the dollar store (rectangle) I folded it in half and sitched up the side and bottom. Now I put my cutter in this before putting into a zipper container, or my stackable container.

I would be reluctant to just toss my rotary cutter into a bag, I would probably use an eye glass case, a hard one if you have it, but another type if you don't; just to be on the safe side. I have seen in various magazines where someone sewed over a pot holder on 2 sides, which would be safe as well.

I always lock my cutter now, even at home. When going to a class or sewing meet, I take my tray that is always next to my sewing machine. It is a Tupperware Modular Mate rectangle one: a box about 7" X 10" by 2" high. With that cover on, everything is quite tight in there. I have a bobbin donut with a pin cushion in its center, and the other stuff I need all around. My cutter fits as well as 2 pair of scissors. Most used presser feet and a few skewers are always handy.

I bought a plastic storage box at Joann's that has little sliding latches on it. I keep all my rotary cutters in it, then padlocked. I even do this at home. I have small grandchildren and little ones can get very curious. (even though they are not supposed to be in MiMi's sewing room). I would feel TERRIBLE if one of them got a rotary cutter and hurt themselves. The key to the padlock is kept up & out of site. As with guns, knives, etc. we are educating them as we go. But, until they are all old enough to understand the consequences, they will be kept under lock & key.
This is just my idea and the way I do it.

I'm a total newb, but would a fishing tackle box be a good holder with compartments for needles and small tools of various sizes?

I have everything that cuts (rotary cutter, seam ripper, snips etc) in a small zippered case. Most rotary cutters have safety locks. I haven't had any trouble in route with anything being cut.

I use an eyeglass case that snaps shut and a cloth one with a snap.

Best to put those flying things in the truck. Even if someone bumps into you they could and will go flying. Smart thinking on your part.

I put the cutter in the klutz glove and put in a pillowcase vinyl zipper bag along with a packet of extra blades. The entire thing goes in the side pocket of my sewing machine case along with the plastic bin with sewing implements.

I've never found one that everything fit into well that wasn't just too bulky. It seems to suit me better to have several separate small containers, so I can bring just what I want with me and stuff them into various pockets in my suitcase or in my machine's case.

I think I've read of other people using and liking tackle boxes, though, so it's probably just a personal preference kind of thing. If you already have one, give it a try!

Never thought about how I carry my rotary cutter. It's tossed in my my notion box that latches and that is put in a tote that is filled with all it will hold. If it requires more then that then it can stay home.

If you have a cutter with exposed blade then get rid of it and buy a newer one.

I love my Olfa Ergonomic rotary cutters. They have a locking button on them. I just put them in my little "sewing case" (cosmetic bag) & off I go. If you're really worried about it, you could put it in a small Tupperware container & keep it on the floor in the backseat, but that's probably overkill. If something happens that causes your rotary blade to automatically extend & fly up and into your body, the cut is probably the least of your injuries. I used to work for an insurance company and heard all kinds of gory tales. Never once did I hear about one of our insureds getting injured by a flying rotary cutter. Close the blade & place it in something (purse, bag, etc) and you should really be fine. I think you have a higher chance of having a swarm of bees fly into your car and kill you than your rotary blade extending and wounding you.

Back to School sales had clear and semi transparent colored plastic pencil cases that were the exact size for storing rotary cutters. 59 cents so I bought a few.

I use pencil cases for some of mine (my 18mm) and for my 45mm. I also have a case from Omnigrid that is for a rotary cutter, that I use to carry a pair of scissors and my rotary cutter. You could also use some kind of tin.

You might try a Crystal Light container. This is what I use to put my rotary cutter in after you enjoy all of the Crystal Light drink of course. :)

I have a large zippered tote that is big enough for 18 x 24 cutting board and rulers with side velcro pockets for scissors, cutters, etc. and I also carry a pencil box for small notions: needles, seam rippers etc.