I seemed to be going through rotary blades pretty quickly. My instructor suggested that my knicked & banged up cutting board is the problem!

Yes, indeed! I just replaced one of mine last week with a 40% Joanne coupon and will replace another next weekend -- just got the Labor Day specials - a 40% coupon plus 10% additional off all regular and sale stuff.

Thanks for sharing this.

thanks Dotty, didn't know the mat could do that

I didn't know that either....Time to turn it over or replace it! :thumbup:

Has anyone else noticed that blades from Joannes - even "Olfa brand" seem to be dull or skip very frequently right out of the package? I've sen it for years in classes I've taught.

It's gotten so that now I usually order mine 10 to the pack from Hancocks of Paducah at something like $3 a blade.

Great to know.

Some cutting mats can be very hard on the rotary cutters...I am a big fan of the self-healing Olfa mats.

Here's a suggestion for your old mats: Taken from Muskogee Area Quilter's Guild newsletter for March, 2010.

Recently, while at a show, I had the opportunity to speak with a representative of the Olfa company. One of the questions he asked me - after determining that yes, I did have an Olfa cutting mat and rotary cutter (amongst others), how often did I perform maintenance on the cutting mat? Cutting mat maintenance? What was that? Was I a bad mat owner? Obviously, I had managed to achieve that "deer in the headlights" look, as he chuckled and told me that most people do not realize there is maintenance for the mat and through good maintenance the mats will last many years longer. Okay, I admit, he had my attention now, we all know how expensive cutting mats are especially if you have a larger one, rotating / revolving, etc. He told me the maintenance is simple: #1. after cutting a project (or at least once a month), wipe off any fuzzies or debris from the mat #2) then wipe down the mat with a mild soap and water solution - dish soap in warm water is perfect and a sponge with a scrubbie side dipped into the soapy water and wrung out well will really do the job #3. wipe dry. All right simple enough. Then he went on to explain that just like our hands, fabric has a habit of pulling moisture out of the mats, resulting in them failing sooner - deeper cut marks will appear and they can actually become very hard which can result in damage to the rotary cutting blades. Now I could see my savings doubled - mats and blades. I did scrub down my mats as he suggested and was surprised as to the amount of moisture they absorbed and the amount of dirt that was removed - I thought they were clean. My cutting mats that were getting that tired and worn look are now fresh and ready for the next project.

thanks for sharing
any maintenance on the blades?

Great info. I will clean my mats tomorrow! Thanks. Probably why my smaller mat is not "healing" so well.

My sisters & I used to let my BIL sharpen our blades when they got dull, but it just didn't seem worth the trouble. They never really held the sharpness (is that a word?) for long. One day at my lqs the clerk was having difficulty cutting the fabric with her rotary cutter. I made a remark about time to replace the blade and she said they always re-sharpen their blades until they are no longer useful. This really seems like maybe "not such a good thing" to the person purchasing the fabric.

I saw a rotary blade sharpener for about $25. Anyone use one?

i use one and i love it i got it at hancocks on sale i think it was only 7.00 i dont know the brand,but i havnt bought a blade scince

Has anyone read the thread about Harbor Freight and their "carpet blades"? These are the absolute same blades as the Olfa 45 mm blades AND they cost $1.49 for two. I've been using the same "carpet blade" for two weeks with VERY HEAVY cutting and it still cuts like a hot knife through butter. I understand the blades are on backorder until October if you order online, but I picked up 12 packages (24 blades) from two Harbor Freight stores and shared them with my bee. AND, I found a 20% off coupon, so they only cost $1.29 with taxes. Good luck hunting. Belles

I've heard that if you take the blade out and flip it over it will go a little longer, unless it's got a knick in it. It will still be knicked when you flip it.

I bought a blade sharpener at Hancock's on sale also but have not used it yet. Also ordered 10 pkgs of blades from Harbor Freight but have not yet received them. If the sharpener works, I will never have to buy another blade! Doesn't that sound wonderful! :)

Has anyone read the thread about Harbor Freight and their "carpet blades"? These are the absolute same blades as the Olfa 45 mm blades AND they cost $1.49 for two. I've been using the same "carpet blade" for two weeks with VERY HEAVY cutting and it still cuts like a hot knife through butter. I understand the blades are on backorder until October if you order online, but I picked up 12 packages (24 blades) from two Harbor Freight stores and shared them with my bee. AND, I found a 20% off coupon, so they only cost $1.29 with taxes. Good luck hunting. Belles[/quote]

Hallelujah, this is the second time in as many days that I've heard this. Can't WAIT to get to Harbor Freight to check out their blades. (Of course, we'd better buy up a ton of them 'cause you just KNOW the price will jump when they discover quilters have found them!!)

Yes, I read the hint on the blades at Harbor Freight. Also so the magnetic wrist band for "catching" pins......went to Harbor Freight in Bend......SOLD OUT!!! Yeah, so how many quilters on this forum live within driving distance of Bend, Oregon :shock: . LOL -- I bought a LOT of blades on Ebay. I love the hint on cleaning the mat! I was getting ready to buy a new one payday...you may have saved me $$ so now I can buy more fabrics.

Oh - I have a tip for OP....do NOT cut your finger with a blade...I'm sure that dulled my blades!!! :oops:

They also have a gripper for your rulers too. So no cut fingers...

actually i was noticing that the other day.. there fore a while i was going thru them like crazy. same way you are saying and i have now had the same one in for 3 months..must've been a bad batch..

I had never heard of Harbor Frieght - and there's one a couple of miles from my house! Going there tonight, right after I wash my mats :)

Where in New Jersey?? I never heard of Harbor Freight but tomorrow is a beach day for sure!

There's one on Rte1 in Woodbridge (Iseln) - that's the one close to me and

SADDLE BROOK NJ #237
441 MARKET ST
SADDLE BROOK, NJ 07663