Lilrain

I certainly can relate to this posting. i also wait too long, sometimes way too long.

scrappingfaye58

I have the long sharpener (cannot remember who makes it, and too lazy to get off my caboose and go look... will try to remember to look tonight when I get home from work) but it is FABULOUS!!! It reminds me of the hole punch that you would put in your 3 ring binder to make holes in paper. You put the blade (still on the handle!!!) in the slot and run it back and forth a few times (usually I do it about 10) and VOILA!!! I sharpened every blade in my "used blades" container, and was SHOCKED... worth the money (It was about $20 -- I asked hubby for it for my birthday!!!)

grannie cheechee

I was going to change the blade last night, and for some reason I decided to turn the cutting mat over first. Mat is feeling dry, and I can't remember how old it is. I picked up one of the rotary cutters, and cut a scrap to see if it was the one that needed the new blade. I didn't need to change any blades. Now I'm wondering if the blades were getting bogged down in the grooves of the mat?

Country1

I tend to wait to. I guess I reason is the cost, and the main reason is I think it's got a little life left in 'er.

romanojg

You can also check your cutting mat. A few yrs ago I got the fold out cutting table from Joanns and the also bought the matt that fit it. I had a rotary cutter that was fairly new and I saw it being used at the show but it wouldn't cut anything. I don't remember what made me pull out a small matt to cut on, but that same blade that wouldn't cut all of a sudden was cutting. The matt I don't think is self healing so only after a few times cutting on it, it wouldn't let any of my rotary cutters cut on it. I now have a smaller mat on top of it. What a difference.

BellaBoo

Walmart sells the Cutting Edge ruler online:http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?
search_query=Sullivans+ruler&ic=16_0&Find=Find&search_constraint=0

The secret of keeping a sharp blade is to sharpen a sharp blade. I use the Grace TrueCut sharpener (http://www.walmart.com/ip/17337898?w...l5=pla&veh=sem before using the cutter and my blade will stay sharp almost forever unless I get a nick. It's easy to use, just run your cutter through it several times, like a knife strap for a knife. I date my blade when I change it and the one in it now is dated 3/11. No kidding!

Dragonomine

I am so guilty!

gabeway

They recommend a new one each time you start a new quilt but who can afford that. So we all probably wait too long.

Peckish

My husband gave me a blade sharpener for Christmas and it was completely worthless, so I returned it. It was the kind where you put the blade on a spindle and spin the sharpening pin around in a circle. I tested it on a blade that had been used for 2-3 weeks, so it was in good shape. After I "sharpened" it, it wouldn't cut bread.

quiltinghere

The people who sell the blades must be the ones recommending using a new blade with each project.

When I find it difficult to cut the fabric I change the blade. I also write the date I started using the blade on the blade. That way IF I feel it's getting tough to cut, I can verify how long the blade has been in the device. I'm guessing I switch blades out about every 4-6 weeks.

Nan