It's a protective coating. Just take a soft cloth and wipe it off.

I couldn't find the blades alone so I had to buy the cutter. It did come with the blade that was in it and 2 extras. The cost was 3.99. It is still cheaper than buying the blades elsewhere and I threw the cutter away.

Good for you! I'm still waiting for my back order to come through. Harbor Freight keeps sending me a postcard to let me know they are on backorder. I hope I get them soon.

Wow, I didn't know we had an alternative to the ones made for quilting. I never even thought of it. Tell me more!

I found the carpet blades at our Harbor Freight store too. I only bought 1 set, but I'll buy more on my next trip. Can't find blades anywhere for $1.99! :thumbup:

Just cut a couple swipes through a couple layers of scraps, muslin or whatever, and you'll be good to go.
All the blades come oiled anyway.

Harbor Freight, and possibly other hardware stores but I don't know of them, sell rotary carpet cutters with the 45mm blades 2 to the package with the cutter.
The also sell 2 packs of replacement blades for those cutters.
Guess what, they fit our quilting/sewing rotary cutters!!
Have you noted the price of quilters' blades??? Of course you have, I'm just being hyperbolic.
9.00 or more for one blade in some cases.
Well, the carpet cutter blades are 1.99 for 2, used to be 1.49 but the price seems to have gone up in the past month all over the place.

Anyhoo, it's a nice break for quilters for a change.

Yep!!! $1.99 for 2 blades at my local Harbor Freight. I only bought 3 for now. They had lots on the hook, so I am not worried about them disappearing!! I am so thrilled with this!!! :-)