How did I not know about this tool?

October 18, 2023, 11:02 AM

It's a rotary fabric cutter. Will slice through leather, canvas or several layers of cloth among other things.

I inherited a couple of dozen like-new tee shirts from Frank which left me with a similar amount of old tee shirts to cut up into rages.

I usually do that with scissors or BF&I (Brute Force and Ignorance). With the rotary cutter it took 30 seconds tops to whack off the sleeves and neck band and cut the body into quarters for rags. WAY faster and easier on my arthritic fingers.

October 18, 2023, 11:04 AM

HRK

Does it slice? dice? Julienne?

October 18, 2023, 11:08 AM

gearhounds

After you use it to cut through beer cans, it can still slice a tomato like butta!

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October 18, 2023, 01:22 PM

Fenris

Pizza cutter?

October 18, 2023, 01:36 PM

Sig2340

I use my 5hp cabinet saw with a fine tooth blade.

October 18, 2023, 02:34 PM

Johnny 3eagles

Very common in the Quilting world.

If you're goin' through hell, keep on going.
Don't slow down. If you're scared don't show it.
You might get out before the devil even knows you're there.

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October 18, 2023, 02:36 PM

PHPaul

quote:
Originally posted by HRK:
Does it slice? dice? Julienne?

Yes it does, and don't call me Julienne!

October 18, 2023, 02:56 PM

bendable

Wicked sharp,
Take care .

What do you do that works great with t-shirt rags ?

If I am not being too nosey

October 18, 2023, 03:06 PM

OKCGene

I use one all the time in my leather working hobby for cutting the leather.

Dangerous! If you're careless you can really puck up!
.

October 18, 2023, 03:16 PM

PHPaul

quote:
Originally posted by bendable:
Wicked sharp,
Take care .

What do you do that works great with t-shirt rags ?

If I am not being too nosey

Plain cotton tee shirts make great shop rags for grease/oil/general mung.

October 18, 2023, 03:20 PM

SigSentry

Reminds me when my mom would give me a head slap for using her sewing Fiskars to cut anything.

I use a rotary to cut vacuum seal bags.

October 18, 2023, 07:31 PM

Fredward

Reminds me(kinda) of the Wyoming knife we used in prison. We would occasionally get an inmate refusing a strip search. We'd hold him against a wall (gently, taking great care) and zip his uniform into a pile at his feet. Ah, good times, those.

October 18, 2023, 08:14 PM

m1009

PHPaul, where did you get that rotary cutter? We do the same with our old T-shirts, use them for rags and it’s always a pain to cut them up.
Edited to add: brand name? Am looking on Amazon for a good one now that you brought this to my attention, lol.

October 18, 2023, 08:19 PM

Hamden106

I use one to cut saran wrap and aluminium foil on a cutting board

October 18, 2023, 08:35 PM

MikeinNC

quote:
Originally posted by SigSentry:
Reminds me when my mom would give me a head slap for using her sewing Fiskars to cut anything.

I use a rotary to cut vacuum seal bags.

Mrs. Mike has hers labeled “fabric only”

"Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor.” Robert A. Heinlein

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October 18, 2023, 09:08 PM

Tailhook 84

quote:
Originally posted by Johnny 3eagles:
Very common in the Quilting world.

Yes, a tool Quilters use often and are very protective of - a lesson I learned the hard way. When we were first married, I saw her using that on her fabric and thought "Yeah! That will work great on the fiberglass matting I need to cut for the boat floor!"

It did work great, and I even put it back right where I found it afterwards. A few days later I heard shrieks of anger coming from her sewing room as she ruined some irreplaceable fabric with the dull blade. I took my lumps, apologized profusely and bought her a box of new blades. To this day I never touch her quilting tools.

October 18, 2023, 10:08 PM

YooperSigs

My kid reached up onto his mothers sewing table and gripped a rotary cutter. Very efficiently sliced his hand.
Yet another trip (and explanation) into the E.R.

October 19, 2023, 05:22 AM

PHPaul

quote:
Originally posted by m1009:
PHPaul, where did you get that rotary cutter? We do the same with our old T-shirts, use them for rags and it’s always a pain to cut them up.
Edited to add: brand name? Am looking on Amazon for a good one now that you brought this to my attention, lol.

A Walmart cheapie for $10. I wanted to try one out before springing for a $20 Fiskars. Probably won't get a Fiskars anyway, this one works fine and they sell extra blades in bulk.

October 19, 2023, 05:48 AM

MelissaDallas

quote:
Originally posted by PHPaul:
quote:
Originally posted by m1009:
PHPaul, where did you get that rotary cutter? We do the same with our old T-shirts, use them for rags and it’s always a pain to cut them up.
Edited to add: brand name? Am looking on Amazon for a good one now that you brought this to my attention, lol.

Olfa brand are better than Fisker

A Walmart cheapie for $10. I wanted to try one out before springing for a $20 Fiskars. Probably won't get a Fiskars anyway, this one works fine and they sell extra blades in bulk.

October 19, 2023, 08:14 AM

StarTraveler

If you use a good, self-healing cutting mat below you may avoid damage to the blade and get better cuts. At least that’s what my wife says about hers (I think she has the Fiskars on her sewing table, along with her sewing scissors I’d better never use to cut paper, etc.).