Tips for Safely Changing Rotary Cutter Blades
Change Blades Often for Safety Reasons and More!
Next to the sewing machine, rotary cutters may be our most important quilting tool. Sharp blades cut through quilt fabric like butter, saving time and effort, and producing accurate cuts when used with rulers. However, to keep your cutter working at its best you’ll need to change the blade regularly.
You may not realize that the blade needs to be changed until it stops producing neat cuts. However, before that happens, most likely you’re pushing harder to cut, which invites painful accidents. You also risk damaging your rulers and even causing gauges in your cutting mat that won’t heal. It pays to change the blade as soon as you notice it becoming dull, even if it still seems to cut OK.
Rotary cutter blades are very sharp so you need to be extra careful when handling them. Laura from Sew Very Easy has a great method for changing blades safely. All you need is a stiff piece of thin plastic and a magnet. Watch how she does it – without touching the edges of the blades – in the following video.
Click here to watch the video at YouTube if it doesn’t play on your device.
The blades Laura recommends are titanium blades, which stay sharp longer. She purchases hers here, although you can find highly-rated, high-quality titanium blades for less here.
Most small magnets will work, but make sure yours is thick enough to grab easily and hold onto. A small hook or handle on the magnet would help too. Explore magnets here.
A tin box is a great idea for storing new and used blades, as well as your blade-changing tools. You’ll find several to choose from here (be sure to check sizes).
