Members Sheilajeanne Posted September 29, 2021 Author Members Report Posted September 29, 2021 Sorry, should have clarified I was using a strap cutter not the Fiskar's blade! Since I don't have a replacement for the strap cutter blade, I am planning to use a rotary cutter on it, so thank you for the tips. I already found out the utility knife didn't work. Quote
garypl Posted September 29, 2021 Report Posted September 29, 2021 3 hours ago, Sheilajeanne said: Thanks for the info, MtlBiker! Good to know! A nearby city (Barrie) still has a fabric store where I could buy this stuff in person, but they are getting REALLY hard to find! As for the Fiskars cutter, I watched a video where they changed the blades on both Olfa and Fiskars 45 mm cutters. The Olfa seems much better designed, and has a washer, which I think keeps the blade turning better than the Fiskars cutter. My two small cutters are both Olfa. The leather I am working with is REALLY stretchy. I'm trying to cut a strap from it, but found it just bunches up in the cutter. Yes, THAT needs a new blade, too! Any tips for doing this? I'm making a tool roll and need a strap to tie it up with! Amazon sells razor blades that work great in strap cutter. Here is a link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VQPFK68/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Quote Cowboy 4500, Consew 206RB-4
Members Sheilajeanne Posted September 29, 2021 Author Members Report Posted September 29, 2021 (edited) Thanks! Will see if I can find these in a store. I had no idea where to buy them other than Tandy's! I'm in a bit of a bind at the moment - the only thing I have that's REALLY sharp is my Olfa utility knife! And this stretchy leather is an absolute PITA to cut unless the blade is razor sharp! Edit: oh good! Home Hardware has the round cutter blades! I thought I might have to go to Michael's to get them! Edited September 29, 2021 by Sheilajeanne Quote
Contributing Member fredk Posted September 29, 2021 Contributing Member Report Posted September 29, 2021 An aside; when I had diffs getting small blades for my wood strap cutter I used the blades from cheap plastic pencil sharpeners. At the time I could get the sharpener for about 10p (pence = 1/10 of a £, or about 12c maybe). The blades were just about the right size, just a wee tad (a technical term) thicker than the regular one for the strap cutter Quote Al speling misteaks aer all mi own werk..
CFM tsunkasapa Posted September 29, 2021 CFM Report Posted September 29, 2021 5 hours ago, Sheilajeanne said: The leather I am working with is REALLY stretchy. I'm trying to cut a strap from it, but found it just bunches up in the cutter. Yes, THAT needs a new blade, too! Any tips for doing this? I'm making a tool roll and need a strap to tie it up with! Try backing it with masking tape before you pull it through the cutter. I would recommend the blue or green "painter's" tape. Quote Hoka Hey! Today, tomorrow, next week, what does it matter?
Members Sheilajeanne Posted September 30, 2021 Author Members Report Posted September 30, 2021 Will try that when I can get a new blade. I totally lucked out today when I tried to find something sharp enough to cut this stretchy leather. The drugstores don't sell the injectable blades anymore, and Home Hardware doesn't sell the rotary cutter knives or blades, only utility knives. They do have them in their online websites, but there's not enough demand for them to stock them in their stores. Given how long it will take to order them online, it looks like I will be making a trip to Michael's and Tandy's in Barrie tomorrow. Quote
Members Klara Posted September 30, 2021 Members Report Posted September 30, 2021 In a pinch: What about scissors? Quote
Members Sheilajeanne Posted September 30, 2021 Author Members Report Posted September 30, 2021 (edited) You've obviously never tried cutting leather like this! Scissors would produce a horrible uneven edge. Honestly, I've never had this much trouble getting a clean edge on a piece of leather before! It's not thin leather, either - just has a soft temper and is really stretchy. It was probably meant to be garment leather. I thought I had spare blades for the 28 mm cutter. I was wrong. They are utility knife blades. Off to Barrie today... Edited September 30, 2021 by Sheilajeanne Quote
Members Sheilajeanne Posted October 1, 2021 Author Members Report Posted October 1, 2021 So, to continue the tale... No one sells the injectable razor blades that fit the strap cutter anymore. You would have to order them online, and since I also needed the rotary cutter blades, off to Barrie I went. Tandy (where I was greeted warmly by name!) had a package of 5 strap cutter blades for $3 and change. They also had a 45 mm Olfa blade for $9 and change. I decided that was too much money, and headed off to Michaels (craft store chain). I don't really need a blade for the 45 mm cutter right now - I must have bought a replacement at Tandy at one time. They had ONE 45 mm cutter hanging in the paper craft section and NO replacement blades. The employee I talked to said getting supplies in was a real problem since the pandemic hit, and no, she wasn't sure where I might be able to find blades. So, this morning, I went online, and ordered both 28 and 18 mm blades. It's $13.69 for 5 28 mm blades, (Solumex) and $12.89 for a 6 18 mm. blades (Headley). And I didn't realize until just now that I'd ordered from two different manufacturers! I thought both were Solumex. Guess I need more coffee! Will be interesting to see if there's a difference in how well they work, and how long they last! I also could have had a set of 6 45 mm cutter blades for $6.99, but when the prices is that low, I start to get reaaallly suspicious of the quality, especially when no brand name is given! Quote
Contributing Member fredk Posted October 1, 2021 Contributing Member Report Posted October 1, 2021 4 minutes ago, Sheilajeanne said: I also could have had a set of 6 45 mm cutter blades for $6.99, but when the prices is that low, I start to get reaaallly suspicious of the quality, especially when no brand name is given! I no longer worry about that. I just buy and see. On items sold here 100% of times the thing is made in some anonymous Chinese factory. The 'named' companies buy them in cheap and have them packaged in their brand packing. The other Chinese sellers buy the over-stock, excess supply, sell locally or globally thru the likes of ebay This is not based on my opinion but on reports from our trade & consumer watch-dogs, both independent and government bodies. An example; I used to buy those blades, with two oval holes, for my skivers from Le Prevo. I was told the Tandy ones were superior. I bought some from Tandy. They came in the same package, only a different 'named' insert. Both said 'Made in China'. The next lots I've bought are direct from China they come in the same package as the Tandy one, even to the colour etc of the card insert but that doesn't say 'Tandy'. But buying direct the blades are 1/10 the price of the Tandy or Le Prevo blades. Cheap enough just to change blade frequently Quote Al speling misteaks aer all mi own werk..
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