I'm having trouble with my piece cutting. I want to try putting the sandpaper on the bottom of my ruler. I need details on how to do this. What grit sandpaper do you use? How do you attach to the ruler? Please, any advice is welcome!

Maxine

I have used both the dots and clingy plastic, I perfer the plastic. The dots work but the ruler is not always even, it wobbles on the dots. hope that makes sense

So this clingy plastic sticks on the back of the ruler & keeps it from slipping? Do I have to glue it on or does it have a glue backing?

No, the plastic has a very light adhesive and it sticks quite well to the ruler. You will have to cut it to size but it cuts fine with a regular pair of scissors.

Also, go to the disability aids at Walmart and get the shower handle. It is a large handle with suction cups on both ends. This will help you hold the ruler in place as well.

You can get the handle that is for quilters, but the shower aid works much better and it is much cheaper!

thats a great tip about the shower aid to use for rulers. you should send that into some shows and magazines maybe you can get a free subscription.

i sent a tip to fons and porter a few years back and they gave me a magazine subscription for free.

I like having both the handle and the cling film. It takes pressure off of my hands while cutting.

I love the idea of the shower handles :D:D:D

I love the tip about the handle from WalMart. Thank you for sharing that!!

I have the cling film on my rulers and it makes all the difference in the world.

I have the clear plastic stick-on things from Joann's, too. It's nice because you can still see thru them to measure. I have seen the sandpaper dots in fabric stores also. If you don't mind not being able to see thru the dots, you might try felt dots like you put on the bottom of things to not scratch your countertops. I have read that they work well.

I use the dots and the "Gripper", wish I had thought about the shower thing before spending $20 on the Gripper. Oh well, I also use the sand paper dots and at first only used three on my 24" ruler, it was not enough I still had slippage and then added more dots, no more slippage.

In the past, I was rotary cutting challenged, now I cut MUCH more accurately.
JulieM

Thanks to all of you I'll go to Joann's for the plastic. I'll also get the shower handle. Thank you!!!!
Maxine

wow, thanks for the info

I have the June Tailor ruler 6" x 24". The numbers are backed in blue so I took some heavy sandpaper and my old paper punch and punched enough to cover every other inch mark with the dots. Being backed in dark blue, you can't see the dots at all and it works great. This coming from the world's worst cutter and even better slipper!

I use a 72" and 36" steel rules to do my initial strip cutting and I use the grip tape that comes on the rolls to keep them from slipping. I have a strip the full length of each rule so there is no rocking or unevenness.

Billy

thanks for this tip Loretta as i have troubles with my rulers slipping

Loretta, does the plastic from Joann's have a brand name?

Loretta, does the plastic from Joann's have a brand name?[/quote]

Not Loretta, to answer your question, it might be Omnigrid; located in or around the rulers

Not Loretta, to answer your question, it might be Omnigrid; located in or around the rulers[/quote]

My apologies, brushandthimble :oops: . That's what happens when I get in a hurry...and keep playing with a fun website when I should be sleeping!

I use the clear plastic stick on. I also use the Gripper on the rulers, but I have found a much cheaper Gripper at Harbor Freight for about $6 that works as well. I also have a small round sucking cup for my smaller rulers and it really works great. It will keep your finger away from the blades also.
I have a vanilla folder that I put the lightest sand paper on each side. When I want to mark a template, I get it out and mark the fabric, then cut it out.

The name of the clear plastic film is 'InvisiGRIP' by Omnigrid. Here's an easy way to cut it. Using the ruler that you want to attach the film to: place the film (which is covered with a white stiff paper) with the film down and the paper up. Now, place the 1/4" marks on your ruler both horizontally and vertically along a 90 degree edge. (you can also achieve this by cutting exactly around the ruler and then removing 1/4" from just one side and one end of the cut piece.) Keep the cut piece with the film down & the paper up, carefully remove the paper. Lastly, carefully place the ruler on the plastic, centering 1/8" on all sides.
(note: the side of the film that was next to the paper is the side that sticks to the ruler) Hope this is helpful.

I have used the sandpaper dots you buy for the ruler. I've not had any problems with wobble. But, I then to place things evenly along the ruler. To me they interfere with seeing the lines. I prefer the plastic that is called "Invisi- grip". It works by static cling. It helps a good bit. I still use a suction cup handle that I bought at the quilt shop.

I'll have to make a trip to Walmart for the bath aid. I find the handle on the one from the quilt shop tends to come off the suction cups and it's not very ergonomic. I have trouble with both my hands from arthritis and from surgery to remove some tumors. The larger handle of the bath gripper would work a lot better. I have one of those in the bath.

Thanks for the info, Ponyriver...and to everyone else who has given such great ideas! I have one of the bath grips that I will be using when I get to cutting more strips/pieces. (The darned thing never would stay on the bathroom wall! It will be put to better use on my quilting rulers!)

What a great tip! I'm going to Wally's later today, and look for that handle. Thank-you for sharing.

I have a ruler with the sandpaper dots and one with the plastic. I like the plastic better, because it's easier to "scootch" if you need to move the ruler just a bit. The sandpaper does hold it firm, but making little adjustments is harder.

Okay, this is a good reminder. I had heard about the shower grip, but had not followed up. I will also try the film. I like the sand paper dots, but I notice I have to be careful when I line everything up using a long ruler. Probably more dots would take care of the situation as well. :D

Thanks for the tip about the shower handle!! I've wanted one of the suction handles for rulers, but thought they were overpriced. Now I can get one!! Thanks!! Oh, and I use the little sandpaper dots, and they work great. I never have a problem with my rulers slipping.

I had my DH make me some dots out of sandpaper and all they did was scratch my other rulers up.. so I got the cling thingies and they work great.. and I love the suction handle tip.. thanks!!

you mean like Saran Wrap?

I found one of those shower grippers at a yard sale for 50 cents. I was so excited because I knew what I was going to use it for but the girls I was with,non quilter, though I was nuts. hey i am all for saving money. I had seen thse at the quilt shop so I know how pricy they are. I love my bargin.

not Saran Wrap sorry if i miss lead you... i got it at JoAnn's it is clear plastic stick on things that keep you rulers from sliping.. that is what it is for...

Press N Seal is like Saran Wrap but it has a sort of sticky backing that makes it adhere to bowl and such and in this case, makes it adhere to the fabric. It is found in the grocery store in the same section that the Saran Wrap is found.

Re: the Press N Seal post--sorry if I confused everyone-should not 'computer' & 'sew' at the same time.

I use the InvisiGRIP by Omnigrid (clear plastic material) to keep my rulers from slipping.

I mark the Press N Seal with my quilting pattern and adhere it to the fabric or block to have a pattern to follow when quilting.

I have used the plastic for serveral years and like it very much. Every once in a while you need to wipe down the plastic to keep it working at its best. Katrina

Re: Press N Seal. Thank you! Thank you! I love this idea! :) :) :)

I use the Invisagrip plastic but I have found that a roll of automotive window tint in a light color works just as well and it is much cheaper. You can buy the automotive window tint in large rolls in the auto parts section at Walmart. I didn't have much luck with the "sand paper" dots.