What type of rotary cutter?
 

I will be in the need of a new rotary cutter. What brand or style and size do you like?

I have a Martelli Ergonomic rotary cutter which I hate, only because the wire which should act as a spring for the blade cover will. not. stay. on. Even. for a. single. cut! As a result, the blade is perpetually fully open, and very dangerous. I would love the cutter if they hadn't put in such a cheap, ineffective wire holder. I understand this was changed with their newer cutters. Would like to tell them where they should stick this one. To boot, it was expensive!
Just want you to be aware of this if you consider a Martelli cutter---make sure not to buy one like mine.

Thanks for that! I would not like that...maybe you might be interested in a new cutter too...this might help you out too!

I LOVE my Martelli cutter and think very highly of the company as well. If you have one of the older ones, they will send you a new one for $7.50. Just contact them. If there is anything defective in any of their products they definitely stand behind them.

I love my Olfa cutters, have them in 4 sizes plus a pinking blade one. I use the 45 mm size most often. The 60 is good for thicker, heavier fabrics... Wools/ flannels. The small sizes are good for using with templates, tight spaces, curves, circles. I have a couple Fiskar cutters which are fine too I just tend to grab my Olfa first.

I like my Fiskars 45 mm for most jobs, and 60mm Olfa for multiple layers. But I find the Olfa blades to be sharper and last longer.

I have Olfa cutters from when they first came out about 30 yrs ago. I hate to waste money, so I just replace the blades. One day, I'll get a new cutter, but i'm still using the original ones I had.

I like my martelli cutters so far. I also like Fiskars. Those are the only two brands I like.

DeneK, thank you for that information. I'll have to contact Martelli.

I love my 45mm Olfa, the one that has the retractable blade for safety. Good ergonomics too.

Olfa 60mm... My favorite

I really like my martelli cutter, and just recently found out it will cut through the tip of a finger without any problem. Well, it was a problem for me, but a short trip to the ER, and I'm going to be fine.

I use more then one type and size of cutters. I like the Olfa easy change blade one and the Gingher is really simple to change the blade. I buy a new cutter about every two years so end up with quite a few different brands. They all cut the same just feel different in my hand.

Do you need to use only Martelli blades in their cutter. I just got one and there seems to be a bad spot on the blade as it doesn't cut at that spot and I have to rerun the blade over the spot. I also have trouble with the cutter rearing off to the right when I cut. But I must admit that I haven't given it a fair trial because of the bad blade.

I used to love the Martelli cutter til my arthritis got too bad to use it comfortably. If you have a problem with the spring Martelli will send you a free replacement spring.

I did use the Fiskars, but that is sometimes awkward for me. Now I use the Olfa that has a squeezy handle.

I think it depends on what feels right for you. Try them out. I'm sure your quilting friends have a variety of rotary cutters between them that you can sample cut with. For example there is a Gingher [I think] but it way too heavy for me to use.

I've tried most brands of cutters but prefer Olfa because the blade is more visible & not hidden by fancy guards. Love the newest one with quick blade change option

I see you are all talking about the hand held rotary cutters, but has anyone considered the ruler/cutter combo? I bought one when there was a 60% off at J's (around $26 with tax after coupon). I didn't know I needed it until I started using it. Now I can't see how I could live without it!! You barely touch it and it cuts. It's hard to use a regular cutter now.

I like my fiskars. It came in a set with a ruler, cutter, and mat. I chose the Fiskars because of the set and because of the reasonable price for new blade because I was new to the quilting and didn't know if I would stick with it. Now that I know how much I love it I will probably get another one or two.
I've come to find that I will need a much bigger mat. This is why people have cutting tables instead of just mats on a table. LOL.

<3 Mandi <3

I like the Olfa. I have the 45 and two 60's. I use the 45 mostly. DH just bought me a 45 Fiskars and package of blades...I tried it, but like the Olfa better. I Think maybe it's because that's what I've always used??

Fiskars for me - from 18mm for cutting applique shapes, 28mm for templates, 45mm for general cutting, to 60mm for layers and my Shape Cut. :)

I have an Olfa Ergonomic which I don't like, which I keep for cutting batting, Insul-Brite etc.

sorry, I posted it twice

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Truecut rotary cutter... http://www.graceframe.com/site/rotarycutting. It has a guide for the cutter to ride on which makes it much safer to use. I think this will be my next one to buy. My sister has one and likes it. If anyone has used this one I would love to hear from you. (you do have to buy the ruler). Sandi

I just continue to use my original Olfa 45mm cutter. I also had a 28 mm which I gave to a friend. Didn't use it enough to miss it and she couldn't find her regular cutter! At least she had something to use. I've not had an issue with the Olfa so have not had a need to get something different. Was the first and only cutter I've had for the past 15 years.

I like my Olfa w 45mm blade....curved handle, retractable blade.

I bought what my best friend said she uses:

http://www.joann.com/sewing/cutting-...d&prefv1=Dritz

I like that the blade retracts and it has a comfortable handle. Just haven't found how to change the blade yet. I bought a 45mm at JAF.

I have it and hate it. The ruler I have is kind of cloudy and hard to see through and the markings don't stand out enough. The cutter is one of the older ones they used to sell and it's okay but not great. Since it doesn't really work without the ruler (at least not in the way it's meant to) and I hate the ruler, I never use the cutter either.

I bought an Olfa 60 mm back in 2011 but quickly purchased a 45 mm which I use 99% of the time... it's just a basic cutter compared to the ergonomic ones they make now but works fine for me

I have a wondrful martelli cutter that I use all the time. The blades seem to be sharper and actually do lat a lot longer. I bought them when they had their 50% off sale.

I have been using the Martelli for at least 5 years and just LOVE it! I'm a lefty, too and they specifically have a left handed one. You can use any blades in it, but I find theirs do last longer.

Forgot to say I use my martelli with the slide cut ruler? Not sure of the name. The ruler that has posts that come down when you press and holds your fabric better than normal rulers. You use the slide cut in your left hand as you use your ruler from the right. Hands and fingers are safe this way and I get perfect cuts, not like before when my ends always ended up thinner from sliding from lack of pressure that far away from my hand. This evens it up. The martelli fits this to a T.

I like the Olfa with the automatic retractable blade. However, I notice my girl friend has an olfa cutter without the automatic retractable blade....you push the button up to cover the blade with this one. Because my girlfriend is ampidexterous (sp) she is able to cut, using this cutter with either hand. Makes cutting go much faster. I love to cut with her cause I do the right hand cuts and she does the left hand cuts.

I love , love Martelli cutters. I own 5-6 of them.

Kai cutters engage and retract with pressure or the release of that pressure - no fiddly slides or buttons to push and no accidentally leaving an open blade in the wrong place. I have 8 different ones.

HANDS DOWN the Martelli ergonomic rotary cutters!!! They are the absolute best out there..If you sign up for their Redline Direct sales, you can frequently find these @ 50% off their retail price.

I recently treated myself to a Martelli cutter and 10 blades during their 50% off sale. As someone above mentioned, the cutter tends to veer off to the right at the end of a long cut. I have no idea why, have never had that happen with my other cutters. I'm disappointed in the blades. I'm on the second one (don't use it that often) and again there's a "bad spot" on the blade and I have to keep going over the areas where it hits.

I have several cutters and just checked the one I most often reach for. It has no identification, the only thing it says is "made in Korea". I've had it for years and don't remember where I got it. It's the most comfortable and dependable to use (and I have good luck with the Harbor Freight blades).

I have and use exclusively the one you have to squeeze to engage the blade. No accidental cuts yet!! Some close calls with the types you have to push the little thingy to open, I don't always remember to dis-engage, with the squeeze on, it's automatic.

I really thought that I would have a problem keeping the cover on mine but didn't want to spend so much money since I wasn't sure how successful I would actually be at quilting. So I got a mid priced Fisharks one with a button cover and it actually worked out really well. I love the cutter and because it is the kind that I started with it was easy to always remember to cover the blade. Plus I quilt on my dining room table and sometimes have my stuff laying out when the step kids come and had to warn them very sternly about the cutter.

I'm with Jeanne. I tried the Fiskars version, but for some reason this one is much better. I found the Martelli to be awkward when I've tried it at shows. I definitely prefer the retractable types for safety reasons. You still need to be careful, but being retractable does reduce the risks.

I have the new supposedly ergonomic Fiskars with the squeeze handle to expose the blade. It absolutely kills my hand and I cannot use it.

I highly recommend martilli cutters and their customer support. Their design helps with avoiding hand fatigue!