We often witness the quilters and seamstresses use rotary cutters to cut fabric. The fabric can be cut using a pair of scissors as well but they do not use one. This is because the best rotary cutter for fabric guarantees far more efficiency and is easy on the hands and wrists. In short, rotary cutters provide a fluid cutting experience with reduced pain and greater effectiveness.
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Best Rotary Cutter for Fabric
The word best rotary cutter for fabric has been repeatedly used, but what is it exactly? To answer this, here is the definition. A rotary cutter is a tool that consists of a handle with rotating blades (hence the name rotary cutter) and is generally used by quilters and seamstresses. The blades are sharp and can be resharpened again and again. These rotary cutters come in variable sizes; the size depends on the type of fabric it is used to cut and the size of the blade. The smaller curves are made by using small rotary cutters while straight-line cutting and broader curves are cut using larger-sized rotary cutters.
The history of rotary cutters goes back to 1979 when the company Olfa introduced the first best rotary cutter for fabric. Its primary objective was garment making. However, the best rotary cutter for fabric gained popularity very soon and every quilter was seen using one. The main reason behind it being widely adopted as a cutting tool was the ease of use and faster cutting. The old pair of scissors had large blades and were heavy to hold. On the other hand, the best rotary cutter for the fabric was ergonomically designed and had better cutting efficiency.
Best rotary cutter
The best rotary cutter for fabric is dominated by Fiskars and Olfa companies. Two of the best rotary cutters for fabric are Olfa 45mm deluxe rotary cutter and the Fiskars 45mm contour roller rotary cutter. Both these rotary cutters have a 45mm stainless steel blade and are ergonomically designed for both left- and right-hand use. They are capable of cutting materials like felt, vinyl, tarp, fleece, and thick materials. Fiskars rotary cutter comes with a lifetime warranty, thus ensuring that your investment is safe. Fiskars also offers a Titanium rotary cutter which is used for even heavy workloads that are for thicker materials such as foam.
Best rotary cutter for quilting
The best rotary cutter for fabric available for quilting in today’s market is the Fiskars 60mm Titanium soft-grip rotary cutter. It is a smooth cutter that offers 6 layers of fabric cutting with additional features. These features include a retractable blade that prevents cuts after leaving the blade exposed, the blade remains sharp enough even after repeated use, and is designed in such a way that it prevents hand fatigue too, thus allowing the user to use it for longer durations of time.
Best rotary cutter for sewing
The 45mm Fiskars Classic loop rotary cutter is overall the best rotary cutter in the market, primarily for sewing and all other purposes too. The quality, functionality, and durability are simply unmatched. Fiskars uses premium quality materials to manufacture its products and has therefore earned the trust of all its customers. This particular item is ideal for cutting multiple layers of fabric and other materials too. The cutter is well suited for both left and right-handers. The functionality offers at its price point is exceptional and is worth it.
Best rotary cutter for leather
Again, the Fiskars Classic 45mm comfort loop rotary cutter is considered the best rotary cutter for fabric that is currently available and is used to cut leather. This rotary cutter is like the all-in-one package. It is a one-time investment as it comes with a lifetime warranty. Suitable for both left and right-handers, this rotary cutter has been conquering the rotary cutter market for quite some time. Since leather is thin and fragile, this 45mm blade can cut it with ease and precision. Professionals have always suggested either use this best rotary cutter for fabric or the Olfa 45mm deluxe handle rotary cutter for best results and ease of use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a rotary cutter better than scissors?
The best rotary cutter for fabric is any day better than a pair of scissors. A rotary cutter is a lightweight, easy-to-use fabric cutter unlike a pair of scissors which is heavier and cumbersome to use. The best rotary cutter for fabric might be expensive than a pair of scissors but it is eventually a long-term investment and most of the rotary cutters come with a lifetime warranty that means they can be replaced or fixed at any point in time. The ease of use also plays a major factor in buying a rotary cutter as they are more ergonomically designed which makes them comfortable for long-time usages, unlike scissors.
Also, the blade retraction feature in many new rotary cutters is very beneficial as it retracts the blade when you do not wish to use it and prevents any unnecessary cuts. Cutting fabric using a pair of scissors is a cumbersome task as it forces you to twist and turn your wrist which, sometimes, is very uncomfortable and painful. Thus, a rotary cutter is a must-buy if you are into sewing or quilting.
What size rotary cutter do I need?
Choosing the right rotary cutter for yourself primarily depends on the thickness of the fabrics you work with. A 60mm blade rotary cutter is considered for thicker fabrics like foam and is used to cut 8 layers of fabric while a 45mm blade is ideal for most of the jobs right from 6 layers cutting to fine detail as well.
The smaller blades with 18mm and 28mm diameters are used for even finer detailing. However, the 45mm blade does all the jobs pretty well and should be your primary best rotary cutter for fabric. It can cut through fabrics like fleece, vinyl, and tarp with ease.
Are titanium rotary cutter blades better?
The regular rotary cutter blades are made up of tungsten or carbon steel. They do their job pretty well but get dull with regular use. However, the rotary cutters that use titanium blades last longer than the ones made up of tungsten.
Regular use of the titanium blades does not make them dull for longer durations of time, thus justifying the quality. These titanium blade rotary cutters are expensive but are worth the price. The titanium blades last almost 5 to 6 times more than the regular blades.
So yes, titanium rotary cutter blades are by far better than the others.
When should I change my rotary cutter blade?
It is always advised to change your rotary cutter blade every time you begin a new project. However, this also depends on your current blade condition. For instance, if you use a titanium blade, you might not need to change it as frequently as you would while using others.
Also, while working with heavy and multi-layered fabrics such as foam, you might want to change the blades frequently otherwise the work done will not give a precise output.
Can rotary blades be sharpened?
Yes, the rotary blades can be sharpened. Although the new blades are not that expensive, if you do a lot of cutting using the best rotary cutter for fabric then resharpening of the blades can save you a lot of money. The blades can be sharpened using the blade sharpener.
If you do not have a blade sharpener then you can take heavy-duty tin foil, make 5 to 6 layers of it and keep trying to cut it using the old blade rotary cutter. Also, keep a scrap fabric with you to keep checking if the blade is sharp or not. The resharpening methods are not a long-term solution but will serve the purpose in emergencies.
How do I keep my rotary cutter blade sharp?
People face the issue of their blades not cutting effectively as they used to earlier very often. This mainly happens because of the usage of a dull blade. A dull blade will need you to put more pressure and do less work. There are a few precautions that must be kept in mind while working with the best rotary cutter for fabric.
Firstly, never put too much pressure while working with a rotary cutter; this makes the blade blunt and good for nothing. Next, keep the mat clean. Keep cleaning it with a soft bristle brush and a solution of water and mild dish soaps. This should be done after every project to protect the blades and the mat as well.
Lastly, choose the type and size of the blade depending on the project and fabric that needs to be cut; using a 60mm rotary cutter to cut a thin fabric might damage the fabric as well as the blade. Similarly, using a 28mm rotary cutter for a thick layered fabric like foam can cause major damage to the blade. Thus, rotary cutter blades must be carefully used and taken care of.