LadyRags wrote:
I could have killed my BIL once - when he was living with us last year I caught him using my rotary cutter to cut out lables for the CD's he had just burned off our ITunes library - he was ruining my good blades!!!

I kept having that problem and changed blades quite often until I started using the very best blades I have ever used, Alto's Rotary blades. I bought a few and it is incredible what a difference they make. I can cut through 12 to 14 layers so easily and the blade lasts a long time. No more Olfa or Fiskars for me! I am hooked on Alto's blades!
http://www.sewezquilting.com/main/altosproducts.htm

JoAnne

Thanks again for all the great tips. I did go and buy a new mat (Olfa). It was still discounted at Hancocks (30%) so I didn't feel too bad I had missed out on the half-off sale! I changed out the blade again (checking to make sure there was only one & that the guard wasn't rubbing) and so far, so good. Whew. I'm back in business

cHECK the rotary cutter... if the guard is rubbing up against the blade as you cut it will dull your blade.

Some of the large white mats that are not self healing will dull your blades.

I buy generic blades for $2.00 they hold up just as well as the NAME BRANDS. .... especially since I constantly do stupid things such as run over pins... drop them on the floor.... use them to cut insulation... paper.... etc. ( MY DH did that )

Cheap mats work out to really be more expensive, since they do dull your expensive blades much more quickly. I've had the best luck with the green Olfa mats.

Pat in Rockport, TX

This may sound strange but it happened to me. I first learned about it when watching Simply Quilts and Alex explained it. It is quite possible to put two blades in at once without knowing it. I didn't think I could do that and not know. But a couple of months later I was having trouble cutting with a new blade (it did okay initially) and so I took it apart and very, very carefully, inspected it and moved it with my finger. Bingo, there were two stuck together and I wouldn't have known if I hadn't watched the show. You couldn't tell by looking.

Thanks Florence. I'm going to try it today. I do think it's probably the mat. I bought it when I first started this venture & it was the cheapest possible one I could find. I don't think it's holding up well! I so regret not picking up a new one the other day at Hancock's when they were having a HUGE sale. I got the Olfa blades half off. Rats.

yes, I think it could be your mat. Sounds like you've got the right idea to investigate it. Could be the mat has something embedded in one of the miniscule crevices that come from the cutting, I think there are methods to clean & smooth mats so you might check into that if you find the other side is OK.
Florence

Strange happenings (or not so strange?) I was cutting through several layers of fabric when I started having trouble with dull spots on the blade. The blade was due to be changed so I put on a new blade (Olfa). Finished cutting, no problem. The next day I'm cutting again and the new blade developed dull spots! It felt just as the old one had the day before. Is it possible that the mat is to blame? I'm going to try turning my mat over and using yet another new blade. But dang, this is getting expensive!