Rotary cutting helps you cut fabrics and assemble quilts in record time, but it's a technique that can cause injuries if you don't follow a few basic safety guidelines. Get familiar with rotary safety rules before you ever pick up a rotary cutter.
1. Close the Safety Latch on the Rotary Cutter Every Time You Put it Down
Get into the habit of closing your rotary cutter's safety shield every time you lay it down. Leave it open and I guarantee that someday you'll brush your hand against it and get cut. Every manufacturer makes a slightly different type of safety latch. In a few cutters, blades automatically retract when you release pressure on them after making a cut. Try out several cutters to see which ones have safety devices that are easiest for you to manipulate.2. Handle Replacement Blades with Care
Blade replacement is another area where rotary cutters differ quite a bit. Many cutter blades are replaced by removing a nut and washer to access the dull blade, then reversing the process after slipping the new blade in place. Handle the blades carefully during replacement. The blade in EZ Quilting's Quick Change rotary cutter does that for you. It comes off as a unit with its own protective cover--so you never touch the blade at all.3. Don't Throw an Old Blade Directly Into the Trash
Even dull blades are sharper than most knives and can cause serious injury to someone taking out the trash. Many replacement blades come in plastic containers. Keep them and put your used blades in them for disposal. Wrap some masking tape around the container for a bit of extra insurance. If you don't have a case, wrap blades in layers of heavy paper and then carefully surround the paper with masking tape. Put used blades into trash that kids and pets can't access.4. Keep Your New Blades in a Safe Place
Keep your new rotary cutting blades in a safe spot--one you're sure kids and pets can't find. Don't unwrap the original packaging until it's time to use the blades.5. Always Cut Away from Your Body
The rotary cutter should always roll away from your body. Never attempt to cut "backwards" towards yourself. It's just too dangerous. Move the fabric and do it the right way.6. Don't Make "Crossover" Cuts
By that I mean do not hold a ruler with your left hand and cross over the ruler to cut on its left side. There's just too much risk of injury to your arm and fingers when you attempt that maneuver.7. Keep Your Fingers Away from Ruler Edges
A right-handed cutter must hold the ruler steady with the left hand while cutting down the right side of the ruler. Lefties reverse the process. Keep those fingers away from the ruler's edge and out of the path of the cutter. Put fabric grips under the ruler to keep it from slipping around on the fabric. Your cuts will be more accurate and your fingers won't slide into the path of the cutter.8. Always Cut Standing Up
Don't attempt to rotary cut with a regular cutter while sitting down. You can't hold the ruler or the cutter correctly in that position, and that's a scenario that leads to accidents. Some quilters report that Maretelli's
Ergo 2000 cutter works nicely from a sitting position--and they love the way it works standing up.
9. Always Use a Rotary Ruler and Rotary Mat
Rotary rulers and mats are designed specifically for use with rotary cutters. Regular rulers don't have the depth that's required to keep the blade running alongside the ruler, away from your fingers instead of skipping across the top and onto your hand. Make cuts on a surface that's not meant for rotary cutting and you'll end up with damaged furniture, nicked blades and fabrics that scoot all over the place when cut.10. A Rotary Cutter isn't a Screwdriver
Use your rotary cutter for the tasks it was created for. The blade isn't a handy screwdriver. The heavy circular top isn't a small hammer. I know that sounds silly, but we sometimes grab the first thing we see when we need a tool that's not nearby. Use your cutter for the jobs it's meant for, follow all the safety guidelines, and you'll have more fun cutting fabrics than you ever thought was possible.
