Blades seem to dull so quickly. Why?

Reply Subscribe

Page 2 of 4

Thread Tools

07-10-2012, 01:32 PM

#11

snipforfun

Super Member

Join Date: Jul 2010

Posts: 1,877

I bet you are using a white mat or a June Tailor gray mat.

07-10-2012, 02:11 PM

#12

Silver Needle

Super Member

Join Date: Mar 2011

Location: Mechanicsville, IA

Posts: 1,497

I use the electric TruCut rotary blade sharpener so even if the blades are not of the greatest quality I can keep them sharp for very little cost.

07-10-2012, 04:30 PM

#13

rusty quilter

Super Member

Join Date: Oct 2010

Location: Maple City, MI

Posts: 2,135

I bought a new mat, and it pretty much cured my cutting woes...

07-10-2012, 04:44 PM

#14

nativetexan

Power Poster

Join Date: Feb 2009

Location: home again, after 27 yrs!

Posts: 19,388

it might be the mat. what are you usually cutting with it though??

07-10-2012, 04:48 PM

#15

Patti25314

Senior Member

Join Date: Jul 2012

Location: threading a needle or pulling a weed

Posts: 483

Blade sharpener is the way to go. You should be able to sharpen your rotary blades 3 to 5 times.

07-10-2012, 04:57 PM

#16

ghostrider

Super Member

Join Date: Jan 2009

Posts: 4,688

Are you cutting paper backed fusible web? Something other than just plain quilting cotton? Do you use a lot of starch? Do you tilt the blade when you cut? All of those, and more, will dull blades quickly.

07-10-2012, 05:37 PM

#17

ploverwi2

Senior Member

Join Date: Dec 2010

Location: Appleton, WI

Posts: 738

I have found that it is definitely my cutting mat and not the blades

Quote:

Originally Posted by barnbum

I bought many new rotary blades on ebay years ago--still using them up. When I put a new one in, it cuts like a hot knife through butter, but within 5-10 cuts, it feels dull already. Am I missing something? Could it be my mat? It's several years old, but still fine. I want more butter cutting!

07-11-2012, 04:57 AM

#18

damaquilts

Super Member

Join Date: Jan 2008

Location: Barnesville GA

Posts: 3,181

Quote:

Originally Posted by snipforfun

I bet you are using a white mat or a June Tailor gray mat.

Have the June Tailor grey.. And it did seem to make cutting harder. I just went out and bought a Omnigrid. Have an Olfa that's old and has lots of cuts in it. . Now I know I am not the only one
that thought the grey mat was causing problems

07-11-2012, 05:04 AM

#19

ghostrider

Super Member

Join Date: Jan 2009

Posts: 4,688

Quote:

Originally Posted by damaquilts

I, too, have a June Tailor cutting mat that is death to rotary cutter blades. I stopped using it for fabric cutting ages ago and now just cut matboard on it with a utility knife. Works great for that. I have a Fiskars mat (also gray) for cutting fabrics and love it. Still perfect after more than ten years.

07-11-2012, 05:54 AM

#20

carole315

Member

Join Date: Jan 2012

Location: Upstate NY

Posts: 28

A worn out mat could be the problem. Try using the back side . It worked for me for a while. Cutting batting and any kind of polyester dulls the blades. Faster I think.