I change it when it bugs me, then, like you, wonder why I waited so long, lol... Same with my sewing machine needles, lol...

I admit to doing this too.

I use mine until it is dead, even though I have new ones on hand .Guess I am just to lazy to change it. Don't know why.

I do the same thing. I am wondering about the blade sharpeners that are out there. Has anyone used one? If so what were the results ? Is it worth the purchase?

I just say to myself - I can always go over it a second time.

You are not alone. :-)

I use to until I purchased my blades from Harbour Freight. They get dull, they go in the trash and another one comes out.

No...you are not alone....

I have a rotary blade sharpener that I bought at Hancocks made by Dritz. I will give you another two or three quilts worth after each sharpen. Less than $20.00, and has saved me $$ over the years.

If it's the same one I have (blue round disk with blade holders), I agree. It has also given my blades extra mileage.

Me too!

I'm soooo guilty of the same thing.....
I think that my sub-councious is in competition with me to see which one can last the longest !!! LOL

I do the same thing and always wondered why I didn't change it sooner. Maybe I just don't want to take the time to change it?

LOL, I'm a brand new quilter and haven't even gotten mine out of the packaging. How many cuts on average do you get with one blade? I'll try not to be a tightwad and change mine when I need to - wish me luck!!

I use the cutter blade till it cuts no more. Same with the sewing machine needle. I know it is wrong but as long as they work, I use.

i do the same thing

Do they fit a fiskar or olfa cutter?

Ummm....I always wait till my wrist tells me it's time to change the blade. :oops:
I'm heading to Harbor freight's site right now :)

I do the sanme thing. Aggravating isn't it.

I hang onto that old blade too. And it is such a struggle to cut with the old blade. I always have new blades. I just need to go get it out of the drawer and change it. I guess I just don't want to stop cutting to do it.
I get new blades from JoAnnes on sale. Our Harbor Freight doesn't carry them.

I'm going to check this out. I need blades all the time

I procrastinate. I remember when I bought the thing, and needed to change the blade, found out later on when something was not right that I had put 2 blades on at once. How dumb was that?!

Jean , go to a Lowes, Home Depot or Harbor freight. They have the blades in the carpet section. They are dirt cheap! I bought 2 for $1.39. Any hardware store that carries carpet will usually have them. Ask for the round blades.They are for the larger rotary cutters.

Jean , go to a Lowes, Home Depot or Harbor freight. They have the blades in the carpet section. They are dirt cheap! I bought 2 for $1.39. Any hardware store that carries carpet will usually have them. Ask for the round blades.They are for the larger rotary cutters.

I don't know but I usually make a habit of changing mine one the first of the month on even months unless I have done very little cutting.

I stocked up at Harbor Freight, now I change mine quite frequently, ( as soon as I start having a problem). My husband has instructions to get me a couple of packs each trip he makes to HF.

I need to go to Harbor Freight!! It is a shame that they are so much less there than at the quilt shops!

will they fit a 45 rotary cutter?

Yes absolutely yes the sharpeners do work I actually broke down and bought one abour a year or so ago and it is great. I bought mine at JoAnn's and used a 50% coupon so it was about the cost of a new blade. It will "sharpen" a dull blade but will only help a bit with blades that are knicked. But well worth the investment.

I'm just too afraid that I'll cut myself while changing the blade. Never have cut myself while changing it, but why risk it? 8-) :mrgreen:

I see from your bio that you and your husband built your own house. Judging from that I'd say you can do ANYTHING!!! Maybe DH would do the blade changing. Then you can say you quilt together.

Yeah, building the house, I fell thru an open spot (long story)in the floor that we covered up with a black plastic sheet during a very bad thunderstorm, and twisted one of my knees. Would you believe this room turned out to be my sewing room? Then there were the times I got splinters in my hands the size of toothpicks. And my neck........from looking up while DH needed help putting ceiling tiles in....the list just goes on. And that's just me -- DH has his own stories. Let's just say, we would hire the labor out next time! But we're proud of our home, and even though it's not professional, it suits us, and it's paid for.

Still, I'm impressed at your stick-to-it-ive-ness. If you lived nearby I'd change your blades for you!

Thanks, and you know what? I think I'd let you.....LOL

Back in the day I would change blades when the strip edge turned to powder instead of a nice crisp cut. Not any more.

I shop at a store that sells 45mm blades for $1.98!
peace :D

We should remind each other to COB (change our blade)
occassionally!

A trick for safety is to use a piece of masking tape to pick up the blade, not your fingers!

we are just thrifty, thats also why we save our scraps, got to get all we can out of everything

I do the same thing. Guess I'm too cheap! LOL They are expensive

I can't get through my thick head that when I can push hard enough to cut through 2 layers that a new blade will solve the problem.

As cheap as I get them, I manage to take my time to change them....and I have an electric sharpener for them, so I guess I am getting a little better with the sharpener.

Because I'm cheap, that's why!