Share Your Tips

Re: Best rotary blades

Rita — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 22:30:24 GMT

I purchased a package of these Cryogenically hardened blades on Ebay. I haven't tried them yet but thought it was worth a shot. I've been cutting denim for a cathedral quilt and went through a whole package of blades before getting all the pieces cut... I've considered getting a blade sharpener but I read somewhere that they don't work all that well, especially if there are nicks in the blades.

Re: Best rotary blades

Spudgrandma — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 20:50:18 GMT

Hi Connie Sue, it is nice to meet you. Thank you so much for the tips. I change mine a bit more often than most, and more than I use to, because I don't have any strength in my arms anymore and I need my blade to be supper sharp; but, I guess it is a small price to pay to still be able to quilt. Thanks again for the tips, I will definitely give them a try.

Re: Best rotary blades

Spudgrandma — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 20:44:02 GMT

Hi Rara, it is nice to meet you and I hope we see more of you.

Re: Best rotary blades

Connie Sue Tscharner — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 19:47:55 GMT

Hi Everyone!

I have been a quilter for thirty years, yikes! I sound old but like quilts, they age well when taken care of. I love using my rotary cutter and seem to get much more use out of them then I have been reading in some of the posts. I use about five a year and make a quilt every two weeks. What are you all doing to them? There is some maintance that helps. Keep the handle portion clean where the blade is connected. Sometimes you will get a build of of fibers from the fabric and in some cases there will be little metal silvers that come from new blades that arent honed correctly from the manufactor. It is like buying a new car, oil has to be changed sooner then normal because there may be tiny metal filings.

The second thing I recommend is keeping the connecting area slightly oilded. Too much friction will wear a blade down prematurely, especially if you are a speed cutter and it heats up. Just kidding. The friction does wear a blade down.

Third, you need to keep your cutting board surface smooth. If you allow gutters to build up from repeated use in the same area your blade has to work harder. I keep a sanding block intended for finishing work on furniture nearby and occasionally sand down the ruts. You can use the back side of most cutting boards also. In some cases when a board is just worn down I cut out a section that hasn't worrn down much and use it next to my machine for quick thread trimming. If all else fails I have used the in the bottom of totes that I make so that the bottom is stronger and you don't have to buy the expensive ones sold in the store.

I like getting use out of my sewing supplies. I reuse the containers you get when you buy multiple blades and label them as new or used. Occasionally I will deposit them when at my doctors office in their sharps desposal units they have in all the rooms for needles. I keep the container and put it back in use.

Connie Sue

Re: Best rotary blades

Rara — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 01:51:00 GMT

I'll be looking for these also-rotary blades seem to have gone way up in price. I always buy in the States when I cross border shop (yes I am one of those) or internet shop(I'm definitely one of those!). I have been buying the titanium blades-they do seem to last a little bit longer, but I go through a blade a quilt it seems to me, and thats getting pretty expensive. Hope those people ship to Canada!

PS Treefrog- a frog is my most favorite "animal"-I have been saving them for years-great to see one on the site.

Re: Best rotary blades

Angele — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 12:59:15 GMT

Welcome Treefrog I am glad you found this site. Even though its not perfect, I have learned so much from the wonderful and generous quilters on this site. I learned to go beyond my comfort zone and be creative! Thanks for the info on the blades. I will keep that in mind.

Re: Best rotary blades

Treefrog — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 08:33:06 GMT

I absolutely love them, I wish I lived in a place I could see them from time to time.

Re: Best rotary blades

MelodyP MO/KS — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 22:09:40 GMT

Welcome, welcome, welcome Treefrog! I have a fond memory of a tree frog from childhood.

Re: Best rotary blades

Spudgrandma — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 06:58:10 GMT

Hi Anna, it is nice to meet you and thank you for the tip.

Re: Best rotary blades

Nana — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 06:02:37 GMT

Anna

Thanks for the tip. I always go thru so many blades.

Re: Best rotary blades

Leslie — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 21:42:38 GMT

Welcome Anna

Re: Best rotary blades

Marie — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 18:48:37 GMT

Hi Anna and welcome to our quilting family! Enjoy your new passion, we sure do.

Re: Best rotary blades

gini — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 18:27:45 GMT

hi anna, welcome to the group

Re: Best rotary blades

Patti — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 17:59:28 GMT

Hi Anna,

I like Treefrog. We have several around our house, and when they croak, it always gives me a feeling that all is right with the world. They kind of semi-freese/hybernate in the winter. But when it starts to melt, even if we have a couple feet of snow left, they start announcing themselves again.

I have learned so much on this site. Everyone is so helpful. So often, even what I thought I knew, someone else had an easier, better way of doing it. We all learn from each other.

Re: Best rotary blades

Treefrog — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 17:44:30 GMT

I hope this doesn't get sent twice! Still trying to work out the navigating of things here.

I am relatively new to quilting, have always crocheted. My first attempt at quilting was 38 years ago to make a baby blanket for my son. Before rotary cutters, sorry to say it was also my last attempt. Although I loved sewing simple things all these years. My son has kept encouraging me to try to quilt. Never listened. Well one day in our talks he mentioned a friend who quilted and mentioned a rotary cutter. Well need I say more? Where the heck had I been? I am now on my 3rd quilt (tried to navigate putting a picture in-will have to keep trying to figure that out). I am now quilting daily, my granddaughters and I have created a sewing room and they are working on their first quilt. Kept it fun for them-butterflies for one and a crazy quilt for the other-they love it!

Been married for 40 years to a man that I don't have to hide my stash from. He is very happy I have found a hobby I truly enjoy and have such a passion for.

I am hopeful to continue to learn to navigate this site and put some pictures in. (Probably need my grand kids to show ME how to do that-ha ha)

I have learned to quilt by trial and error, no classes, but a great deal of help from this site, books and utube. I am looking forward to being a member here for a long time and sharing many quilts along with learning many things from the rest of you. Probably won't be a fair exchange-have a feeling I will be learning more from this site than I will ever be able to give back.