How To Use A Rotary Cutter?

How To Use A Rotary Cutter – Other Supplies

You will also need the following items when learning how to operate a rotary cutter:

• A decent cutting mat. It is essential that the mat have “self-healing” properties. This indicates that any cuts that were produced on the mat will automatically heal over time. The most appropriate size to get is one that completely covers the area you usually work on. Invest in a high-quality brand, as low-cost mats are frequently rough and might cause you to slip, in addition to wearing down your blades.
• A non-slip ruler that may be used to line up where you want to cut with the rotary cutter and then cut against. When I was younger, I used to cut leather frequently, and on two separate occasions, I seriously cut myself as a result of the ruler slipping. When I cut things these days, I always use a ruler that won’t slip, like the ones made by Omnigrip. If you are unable to find a ruler that does not slide, you can think about obtaining some silicone disks that do not slide that you can place under your ordinary ruler. One brand that makes such disks is Trucut.

Why Use A Rotary Cutter?

Cutting fabric with a rotary cutter is a lot quicker, less difficult, and more accurate than cutting it with scissors. When you’ve experienced cutting with a rotary cutter for the first time, you’ll never go back to any other approach. The rotary cutter has a blade that is extremely sharp, which allows it to cut through numerous layers of fabric and guarantees that each layer of fabric, as well as individual pieces of fabric, are cut precisely.

When a quilter or seamstress needs to cut many pieces of cloth that are all unique in terms of their dimensions and contours, the rotary cutter is the tool that will serve them best. The cutting mat and the appropriate ruler make the entire process of cutting exact forms considerably simpler and less time consuming.

How To Use A Rotary Cutter Vs Scissors

Cutting cloth with a rotary cutter is not only more quicker, but also much simpler and more accurate. You won’t be able to go back to any other manner of cutting after you’ve experienced the rotary cutter’s precision and ease of use. The rotary cutter has a blade that is extremely sharp, which enables it to cut through numerous layers of fabric and guarantees accurate cutting of multiple layers or pieces of fabric.

For the quilter or seamstress who intends to cut several pieces of cloth in a variety of sizes and shapes, the rotary cutter is the most efficient and effective tool to use. The cutting mat, in conjunction with the appropriate ruler, makes the entire process of cutting accurate forms a great deal simpler.

How To Use A Rotary Cutter –  In Systematic Way

It is usually a good idea to practice while learning how to operate a rotary cutter, so once you have made an informed decision and picked your cutter, the next step is to practice using it.

Get the most out of your rotary cutter by becoming familiar with proper usage techniques.

• Take a firm grip on the handle, and make sure that your wrist, hand, and arm are all aligned in the same plane. You will have the most effective control and pressure as a result of this.
• POSITIONS Experiment with holding the object in a variety of positions. When guiding the cutter, some people like to place their finger on the top of the handle, similar to how one would hold a pencil.
• CUT AWAY FROM YOURSELF and keep in mind that the action of pushing is what does the majority of the effort. As a matter of good practice and for your own protection, you should never pull toward yourself but rather constantly push away from yourself.
• STAND UP – When cutting something, it is ideal to do so while standing up so that you can apply pressure that is both firm and even.
• The ruler may serve both as a guide and a stabilizer, so be sure to utilize it effectively.
• PRESSURE AT A STEADY RATE: Apply pressure at a steady rate to both the cloth and the cutting board.
• FABRIC: Be sure to precisely align your fabric. Check to see that all of the threads in the cloth flow in the same direction.
• READ: Make sure you take notice of any additional safety tips that the manufacturer has provided. There will be variations in the level of protection provided by each brand.

How Do You Sharpen A Rotary Cutter?

Your rotary blade, which was once extremely sharp, may dull with time and require sharpening at some point. When the blade is dull, you will notice that it tears the cloth and has difficulty cutting through multiple layers at the same time. Always take extreme caution when removing the old blade so that you do not harm yourself in the process. It’s possible for a dull blade to have enough sharpness to cut your skin.

The following are three methods that can be used to sharpen a dull blade:

• Sharpeners: If you want to keep the blades on your rotary cutters in tip-top shape, you should seriously consider making an investment in a rotary cutter sharpener. If the sharpener does not cut blades of numerous sizes, you should always make sure that you are purchasing the appropriate size sharpener for the size of your blade. Sharpeners for rotary cutters can either be motorized (by electricity) or manually operated.
• Rulers with a Sharpening Edge Some rulers have an edge that is coated with a material called “diamond carbide,” and this allows the blade to be sharpened as it is used, so increasing the life of your blades.
• You may rapidly and inexpensively sharpen the blades of your rotary cutters by using aluminum foil, which is a common item found in households. Make a series of back-and-forth cuts through several layers of foil using your blade. Because you will have to repeat this process many times, it is not only going to take you more time, but it will also be slightly less effective than some of the other approaches. In spite of this, it has the potential to lengthen the time your blades last.

If the idea of sharpening your blades doesn’t appeal to you, you may get replacement blades relatively affordably instead of bothering with the process. Remember that the size of the blade needs to correspond with the rotary cutter you are using. In a perfect world, you would also choose a brand of replacement blade that was compatible with the cutter you were using.

Instead of investing in a sharpener, I just buy replacement blades because I don’t go through nearly enough of them to warrant the expense. On the other hand, investing in a sharpener is a better financial decision in the long term if you do a significant amount of cutting work.