Blades are very expensive and if you find you are having to replace them more frequently, try flipping your olfa mat. These are two sided though many people think you only have the side with numbers.
After a few years the plastic self healing mat becomes not so self healing anymore and can interfere with your blade.
You will have a fresh surface that may make your cutting much easier and more accurate.
When both sides are no good, do not hesitate to buy a new one.
YES! I flipped mine just a couple months ago.....and my cutter runs smoothly now! I was always getting little 'misses' on the other side....wasn't my blade at all.....just a worn out matt! And I think the blank side is less distracting! Good in so many ways!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the tip, I need to do that. I thought my rotary cutter was getting numb and I just changed the blade not that long ago.
ReplyDeleteYes, we tend to cut in the same areas over and over, don't we? Sometimes I put a smaller mat on top of the bigger one to cut smaller pieces. Also, I recently bought a new, large size mat, and they are making them larger now (a full 36" wide & also deeper). It doesn't fit on my cutting table! I use kitchen base cabinets with a standard formica type top, and it has a lip at the back. The lip was perfect for keeping the mat in place - no sliding. Now, it doesn't work at all. Something to keep in mind if your set-up is like mine!
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