Rotary cutter and cutting board

**lizzie** · 12-16-2010, 10:27

Originally Posted by hikelite

Great post!

Those cutting boards at the craft store are outrageously priced! I was just looking at them last week. The cutters themselves were a tolerable price, but I wrote off being able to use them because the mats were so darn expensive. I'm pretty excited to read there are alternatives.

The difficulty I will have now is finding one of these alternatives in my small town. If Home Depot or Homeco doesn't have it, where else can I look? If HDPE is softer than the FRP, I don't mind spending a little extra for HDPE. I just couldn't make myself spend $100+ for a tiny little cutting mat that would not let me cut a full width of fabric. I'd been dreaming of a big table to work on. This might finally push me to build one out in the carport. I so wish I had a garage or basement

I recently bought a nice cutting board and rotary cutter for only $40 bucks at Joann's - they had a 50% off sale on all rotary cutting items

The thing is it was not an advertised sale; i just got lucky I was in the store that day. My local Joann's seems to have these type of sales regularly on varied items.

It may be worth sweet talking an employee into telling you when the next sale would be, or perhaps someone here knows a link to some inexpensive products.

**Stovemandan** · 12-16-2010, 10:29

For me, the self sealing boards from fiskars are better than the hdpe board. The hdpe board has a tendency to not cut all the way through at places where the cutter crosses over a pre-existing cut line indented in the board.

If you cut a lot of fiberglass/nylon fabric, re-cutting those little threads gets to be a pain.

When using the hdpe board expect it to happen. After a cut is made, separate the pieces slowly to make sure your cut is all the way through.

The hdpe board is the way to go when cutting pieces larger than 4 feet.

Watch the video Red has linked us to and you will see what I'm talking about when the very first cut is made.

http://www.eaavideo.org/video.aspx?v=82647984001

P.S. go to Joann's website and sign up for weekly coupons. Get a 50% off every week.

.

**MAD777** · 12-16-2010, 11:08

Originally Posted by jeffjenn

What was the shipping cost if I may ask??

Only $5 for a 24"x48"x1/8" sheet.
The sheet was about $16.

**MAD777** · 12-17-2010, 16:51

Originally Posted by MAD777

Thanks Red,
USPlastic was a lot cheaper than Grainger. I ordered a piece. It will come in handy as I am ready to start on another under quilt

WOW! I'm impressed with USPlastics. They shipped my order in less than 24 hours. I'm not talking about sending me an email with a tracking number that isn't activated yet ... I mean it was on the UPS truck in less than 24 hours!

I picked up a Dritz 45mm rotary cutter at JoAnns' yesterday while scooping up some Gutterman thread at 50% off ...

Now I'm just pacing back & forth, waiting the the big brown truck to turn the corner

**Barefoot Child** · 12-17-2010, 18:06

Dritz 45mm Rotary Cutter comes close to being real manly, but can't we come up with sumptin' more macho for "rotary cutter"...I mean...all it would take is a little splash of literary paint.

And besides....it is all done in the name of "Science".

**Barefoot Child** · 12-17-2010, 18:08

You know...
Remember when Opie was busting whoopie slings for research data, we referred to the whole process as "Constructive Destruction".

**MAD777** · 12-21-2010, 21:43

DANG!!! Thanks once again to HammockForums, my life has been transformed! I used my brand new rotary cutter tonight for the first time and I'm sure I heard pipe organ music in the background! I've been clueless all this time. What an awesome tool this is! I can't believe the perfect edges or the time that this thing saves! Mine is pressure sensitive and has "light" and "heavy duty" settings. This is truly a scary sharp, glorified pizza wheel!

This is the one I got from JoAnn Fabrics:

http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/p...PRODID=prd2762

I also ordered the HDPE board from US Plastics which was delivered on the 3rd day after I ordered it (very impressed). I got the 24"X48"X1/8" sheet because it's a handy size that I can hide behind a door. I got the 1/8" thick because I cut on a carpeted floor and you do need that thickness if that is what you cut on. I actually layed it on top of my rather high bed and cut tonight ... what a pleasure it was not to be on my hands & knees on the floor!

Here's the link:
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/ite...=searchresults

**gargoyle** · 12-21-2010, 21:48

Caution to those new to the wheeled world. These things cut flesh well!!

Don't ask how I know...

**canoebie** · 12-22-2010, 10:18

Amen to that G. In fact, ( testimony here) I watch Fons and Porter sewing show on PBS and they ALWAYS use a protective glove on the free hand. I think it is a worthwhile precaution.

**MAD777** · 12-22-2010, 11:05

Originally Posted by canoebie

Amen to that G. In fact, ( testimony here) I watch Fons and Porter sewing show on PBS and they ALWAYS use a protective glove on the free hand. I think it is a worthwhile precaution.

Good advice! Now I can wear one glove ... metallic no less. Hmmm, if I could sing & walk backwards, I could make some money!