Rotary blades
 

For two days I have sat and cut up charm squares into smaller pieces for scrappy quilts. I have three rotary cutters and put a new blade in each one on the first day. Yesterday I was having to go over each cut numberous times before it was actually free. I'll have to change blades again today before starting. Has anyone else noticed a difference in their blades? I'm using OLFA brand.

Check that you don't have 2 blades. They have a tendancy to stick together with the oil that is on them. I have not had issues with any blades. I use Olfa and Friskers. The other reason could be cutting board . Is it well used. I put a new board on my table and it made a world of difference. Good Luck.

I no longer buy Olfa blades and have not for at least 10 years. Go on Amazon and search for them there, much cheaper!

No issues. Changed blades not too long ago and my Olfa blades are fine.

I had the same thing happen to me with Olfa blades. I knew it wasn't the blades because I used some out of the same package. I had 2 blades in one cutter, another one I had put the little curved piece in backwards. I've also over tightened the screw a few times and they don't work well when that happens. I've found if I'm cutting a lot of fabric I need to take the cutter apart and clean out the lint.

I find the blades seem to last longer on self-healing mats, plus flip them around, you might get a bit more life out of them. What I do with my used blades is sharpen them and then use them in my rotary cuttery for paper only. This way I get another life out of them before I toss them. I keep the little containers the blades come in and label them for "to be sharpened", "sharpened", "toss" All my rotary cutters are labled too and god be with you if you use a cutter for something other than what the label says.

Nothing better than a new rotary blade !
Years ago I gave DH the task of putting in a new blade before I went to a quilt retreat and he put 2 blades in. I was getting an extra piece about the width of a thread before I discovered it. Now I change it myself but I pay close attention how I take it apart.

I also have discovered that my mat can and does contribute to how blades cut. A few months back I was struggling with my blades and even new ones did not seem to cut well. I tried a different mat and the blades were back to "cutt'en like butta". I took a closer look at my mat and saw that there is an area where I typically cut, swiveled my mat 180 degrees and all is well or at least better. I have heard it before that we should let the cutter do the work and not push the blade deep in to the mat to make it but better. A light touch cuts just as well. I need to keep reminding me of this when cutting starts to be less than perfect.

I went to autotoolhome.com online and bought titanium blades after reading about them on the QB. They're the best I've used and I've even bought more for presents. Thank you to whoever recommended them!