World Wide Quilting Page
Question of the Week
Question for the week of July 7, 1997:
Our question this week comes from Nancy George
What can be done to keep the blades sharp longer? Can anything be done to sharpen dull ones?
Carol G. :
www.Hancocks-Paducah.com has blades for a very reasonable price, 10 blades for under $25.00. I have purchased them in the past and my quilting group bought them from me at the price I paid. They are the replacement blades for the standard Fiskars or other main brands.
Angie: :
I've signed on again just to mention that when the blade
starts to get dull, I take the cutter apart, clean it,
and turn the blade over, you then have the opposite cutting
edge.
Lauren W :
Keep the cutter closed whenever not actually cutting. Try to incorporate shutting the cutter part of the end of your cutting stroke. Oil the cutter with light oil. Clean it regularly with canned air. I disessemble mine and give each individual piece a good blast of air.
I too bought a sharpener and have had less than spectactular results. Sharpening the blades does stretch their life a little longer. I tend to use the sharpended blades when pinpoint precision isn't absolutely necessary.
When I first started quilting I bought a Fiskers rotary cutter. The price of replacement blades seemed a little steep, so I bit the bullet and bought the cheap straight handled cutters from Jo-Ann's Fabrics (Fabri-Center). I love those cutters now, can't use the Fiskars any more. The problem is that the Jo-Ann's cutters are no longer the great bargain they used to be. They retail for $4.99 and they used to go on sale biweekly (it seemed) for $1.99. Luckily I did buy a stash of them at $1.99, but my supply is getting low. I wish Jo-Ann's would go back to reducing the price on the cutters. Their current semi-annual price reduction to $3.99 or $4.99 is no bargain.
I use my old cutters to cut paper, great for gift wrapping.
Anthony mentioned mats. What is the life expectancy of a mat? I've had mine for 5 years and I'm not sure if replacing is necessary/desirable at this point. Will it save wear and tear on my cutters if I replace the mat?
Glenda Hart :
Invest in blades when they are on sale and dont forget to close it when your done.
Anthony :
The real reason I signed on again... Forgot to mention that the type of mat can affect how long the blade stays sharp. The soft self-healing ones seem to be less harsh on blades. Don't know if others have experienced the same.
Patchlady :
The sharpener is the best way to stretch your blades. Also , as someone said, buy them when they are on sale. Watch the cataloges.
They sometimes have good prices. Happy quilting.
Kayce :
I've had really good luck with a sharpener, but prevention is the best. I save the new blades for tough fabric or multiple layers. When using a sharpener, be sure to use the coarse side first, then the fine side. I use about 10 turns per side on the sharpener to each side of the blade.
Ceola :
Cutting synthetics will dull the blade faster that 100% cotton. I got a sharpener and it does give me a bit more use of the blade, but if I'm working on a special project I just bit the bullet and put on a new blade. Alway close the blade between cuts so it doesn't get nicked, or nick someone.
Marian Gaum :
Always, and I en always close your rotary blade for one. And I d have a rotary blad sharpener that really does cut down on the os of blades.
Anthony (ajones@bigfoot.com) :
My experience was different. Sharpeners work very well for me and save a ton'o'money. Blades aren't a good as new out the package, but I figure I get about three times as much usage per blade. But, they don't help w/nicked or damaged blades. Prevention is the best medicine. Oil blade to prevent drag and dont cut over cutting pins, nick into rulers, or cut through paper or batting. Biggest proble w/my students is too much pressure; use the lightest hand possible. Apply the pressure to the ruler, not the cutter. You're trying to just cut through the fabric, not slice up the mat.
jeanne :
I agree with Angie. I also bought a sharpener, but even after one sharpening, the blades never seem to cut the same as with new. It's worth it for me to just invest in new blades rather than take the chance with a sharpened one. Buy them while they're on sale and keep a supply handy.
Angie :
I don't think there is a way, I bought one of those
sharpeners for $15 and it doesn't work. I was
wondering if I was the only person that had this
problem. I have to change the blade at least once
a month.
World Wide Quilting Page * Question of the Week