calling all rotary cutter users

[flippinpeedoff]

I am looking into sharpening the blades rather than simply buying new ones. I have just tried the truecut sharpener and it was rubbish tbh and expensive, so I'm sending that back tomorrow.
Do any of you sharpen your blades? If so have you found something that actually works? [hopeful emoticon]
Many thanks

nope, but I do buy a really cheap rotary cutter which comes with 2 alfa blades, and I chuck the handtool away!

Its about a fiver from hubbies work!

I think Olfa do a blade sharpener but if you look on the internet you can find places where they accept your blades back and sell you resharpened blades. I had considered going down this route.

Does it cost much to do that? I never really thought about that as an option. More as I didn't realise it existed :(

opps and meant olfa previously!!! :D

thanks I think I am going to try another blade sharpener. I don't know of anywhere round here that sells resharpened blades.
It costs a fortune!

the mileage can depend on what you are cutting. Paper will blunt the blade before fabric. I've also heard people say that they blame their cutting board for blunting the blade and that changing to Olfa/omnigrid self healing mats extend the life of their cutters.

I use a self healing mat and an Olfa cutter, and I reckon I can get at least an entire full sized quilt before I start being aware that the blade is dull (and TBH I keep using it a lot longer than that, as I can never be bothered to change it). My mat is getting a bit knackered now, and it's definitely making a difference to how long the blade lasts.

I don't reckon you'd ever be able to get them as sharp as they are new with a domestic sharpener - if you've ever run one into your finger, you'll be well aware that they're considerably sharper than a freshly sharpened kitchen knife!

I cut my finger with a bluntish one the other day and it bled like buggery
So I sent rubbish expensive sharpener back and bought cheap one from ebay and it does seem to work! The blades are not machine sharp of course but are sharper . Hooray!