lynnie

i'm cheap
i cange them when they skip too much, or when iu have to push so hard, that my arm hurts

purplefiend

Me too! You can get more wear out of your blades if you turn the blade over and put a drop of oil on your cutter and then use the other side.

cathyvv

Sometimes the rotary blade isn't tightly secured in place on the cutter and that causes inconsistent cuts.

kaygee

I read the article on this board about cleaning your mats occasionally. Which I didn't know I should do. After so much cutting fabric, the mats get fabric lint in the cuts. So, thinking my cutting blades where dull, it was really the fabric being pushed into the cuts on the mat, therefore the blade was not cutting through the fabric. Does that make sense? Hard to explain. Anyway, try cleaning your mat and see if that helps.

Donna Mae

At first its almost like cutting through butter!! When i start putting muscle in it or it starts skipping, I change the blade/

simple quilter

Donna Mae

I have had my friskars mat for like 20 yeats, hubby bought me a new one for Christmas. I only use friskars rotary cutter and blades. I think the other brand mats dull your blade faster as there so hard

simple quilter

patdesign

I think there is something to the statement that if you are hitting the ruler with the blade it dulls it, and here is why. I purchased the grace ruler with the ridge on the edge that the grace cutter fits over, it cuts so smoothly and all the way through and I havent had to change the blade yet. I got this in September. I was changing the olfa much sooner.

lclang

I change the blade whenever it starts to skip spots or I accidentally run over a pin and ruin the blade. Always keep a few handy for late night changes.

gzuslivz

When you are first learning how to rotary cut, it is easy to rock your hand slightly forward or backward. Any variation in the pressure could account for a couple threads not getting cut. I would find an old shirt or rag and practice applying even pressure, making a smooth stroke. Also, if you start your cut an inch or so in from the edge, cut back towards you and then away from you you can get a smoother cut. It takes a little time to get the feel of it. Once you do, you will be off and running!

cjaye44

I've started changing blades more often and really notice the difference in the pressure needed to cut the fabric. I have quite a stash of blades accumulated over the years and it was another case of saving them for "good'. It's time to stop saving and start using. :lol: :lol: