Thanks for the push....the next thing on my list is changing the blade. It is nice to know that I am not the only one who has this problem though.

Dina

Dina, I'll tell you if you'll tell me.

Sometimes one can get good deals on e-bay for blades.
It might be worth a look.

I do the same thing, I wait till I could not cut hot butter with it.

I have found myself cutting things two and even three times. It gets irritating. I have plenty of new one, but like you, I try to get a bit more use from it.

This is my first time giving my rotary cutter a real workout, so I hope I'll know when it's time to change the blade! :) I might just think it's me, still learning proper technique! Far as I know, it's still sharp.

I've seen those sharpening devices - anyone use them? Do they work?

Harbor Freight - I never would've thought! I like to browse hardware stores - see all kinds of things that could be co-opted as crafty. Some of my girlfriends are the same way. We're secret female hardware geeks! Now I have an excuse to go to HF.

Harbor Freight - I never would've thought! I like to browse hardware stores - see all kinds of things that could be co-opted as crafty. Some of my girlfriends are the same way. We're secret female hardware geeks! Now I have an excuse to go to HF.[/QUOTE]

You will find these blades around the carpet cutting tools. I have gotten some that are really sharp and then some that just don't last too long. I have actually quit buying them, but others are still quite happy with them. The ones I am using now are the titanium ones. I seem to have gotten nicks without knowing how....no pins or anything. I have 3 of them left and a new pack of 5 from Fiskars.

See, now I have to make another decision. Which one to put in...as I still haven't replaced the blade. I also haven't been sewing, so at least I haven't continued using the "bad" blade.

Dina

At any rate, give HF a try.

Change your blade as you could be damaging your cutting mat and they are a lot more expensive to replace.

Okay, I am now sewing....actually cutting....with a new blade, but the idea of damaging my cutting mat, well, that may motivate me more in the future! Thanks.

It is amazing how much easier it is to cut with a fresh blade. :) (duh)

Dina

I change mine just as a matter of habit, needed or not, every time I finish a project or every time I clean my room. I clean my room at the end of a project or every couple weeks whichever comes first. Cleaning my room to me means new blades, new needles. cleaning the bobbin casing, de-scaling and cleaning the iron.