There HAS to be a better way......

1981 Views 44 Replies 12 Participants Last post by reilly's momma, Jun 23, 2005

Izzybee

Discussion Starter · Jun 7, 2005

of cutting fabric. Does anyone have any kind of an industrial fabric cutter?
The rotary cutter and mat are just not cutting it anymore (no pun intended)

1 - 20 of 45 Posts

mom22lilguys

· #2 · Jun 7, 2005

I have a pair of electric scissors made by Dritz. my Mom bought them for me after I asked her to help me with cutting. I guess she didn't want to help

I havn't used them much (got them just last week) but they do cut really well, a bit noisy though. She got them from our local Phaff shop, I'm not sure how much they were.

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sewingbarbj

· #3 · Jun 7, 2005

You can buy a semi industrial electric rotary cutter (J Ennis Fabrics) is were I get that type of equipment. I think it is about $300 Canadian.It can cut many layers at one time.
www.jennisfabrics.com

leahdbc

· #4 · Jun 7, 2005

We have an industrial rotary cutter. Its great although it does make me a bit nervous at times - seem so easy to lose a finger if you aren't paying full attention. Ours was around $300 new. But it has been a life saver as far as time and ease go. Our sewing team would not work without it.

And we are looking into getting an industrial stright knife cutter for different fabrics but we have only just started checking them out.

Izzybee

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jun 7, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by leahdbc
We have an industrial rotary cutter. Its great although it does make me a bit nervous at times - seem so easy to lose a finger if you aren't paying full attention. Ours was around $300 new.

Do you have a brand name?

leahdbc

· #6 · Jun 7, 2005

Sorry - here is what we have although it was a bit cheaper when we bought it over a year ago. It is a Consew which is a very reliable brand. Yamata makes a similiar one for around 1/2 the price.

http://homeembroiderymachines.com/pr...1482-0135.html

didelphus

· #7 · Jun 7, 2005

So can anyone give me a quickie rundown of how one of those works?

leahdbc

· #8 · Jun 7, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by didelphus
So can anyone give me a quickie rundown of how one of those works?

With ours, you plug it in, turn it on and it nearly runs by itself. The motor spins the rotary blade and also somewhat propels the entire machine. All you have to do is hold on and gently steer around your pattern. Cuts (through many, many layers of fabric) like butter ..... oh, and the only other thing you have to do is keep your fingers out of the way!

Izzybee

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jun 7, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by didelphus
So can anyone give me a quickie rundown of how one of those works?

Laura, are you thinking what I'm thinking? WOW! All these great cutters out there, and we're still cutting like the Flinstones.

Izzybee

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jun 7, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by leahdbc
With ours, you plug it in, turn it on and it nearly runs by itself. The motor spins the rotary blade and also somewhat propels the entire machine. All you have to do is hold on and gently steer around your pattern. Cuts (through many, many layers of fabric) like butter ..... oh, and the only other thing you have to do is keep your fingers out of the way!

What do you put underneath of it? Like underneath all your layers so you don't end up cutting through like whatever you're cutting on? LOL

Lynski

· #11 · Jun 7, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Izzybee
All these great cutters out there, and we're still cutting like the Flinstones.

That's what I'm thinking for sure! :LOL Although that thing looks pretty scarey, and not like something I could run while DS sleeps in the next room.

Izzybee

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jun 7, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lynski
Although that thing looks pretty scarey, and not like something I could run while DS sleeps in the next room.

ITA, but with the amount of layers you can cut at one time, you're gonna be cutting a lot LESS!

Got_Cloth

· #13 · Jun 7, 2005

Wow scary. It was a JUMP for me to go to using a rotARY CUTTER FOR DIAPERS. lol I ONLY USED THEM FOR QUILTS BEFORE, Sorry about the caps. typing one handeed LOL
anyway. I find my olfa cutter and my big mat work great. and I spend 2 hours a night at least.. cutting.

mabye someday if I have an extra few hundred laying around I will buy soemhting like that....

leahdbc

· #14 · Jun 8, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Izzybee
What do you put underneath of it? Like underneath all your layers so you don't end up cutting through like whatever you're cutting on? LOL

We use a rotary mat underneath but it has a built in plate underneath the blade to protect your work surface. So you kind of glide the fabric between the rotary blade and the bottom plate of the cutter.

And for what its worth - it isn't as though we just had the $300 extra dollars burning a hole in our pockets but this has by far been a worthwhile investment. It cuts cutting time down to a small fraction of what it used to be and makes the work so much easier. In the end, it reduces the production cost of each diaper. Certainly worth it if you can swing it and if you cut really large amounts of fabric at a time

But yes, dangerous with little ones running around. And they don't handle being droped to the floor too well either :LOL Our first seamstress tripped over the cord of one and sent it crashing onto her hard wood floor. It died an instant death.

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didelphus

· #15 · Jun 8, 2005

Hmm. Yes, I feel stone age! I still use regular scissors! Problem is I do so much custom stuff that I rarely cut more than one or two layers of the same stuff at a time. I usually only rough cut and use the serger for the rest. I wonder if something like that would help me/save time? You know, AllBrands is right down the road from me

!! Might have to take a little field trip!
Speaking of, ladies, what are your patterns/templates made of?

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Lynski

· #16 · Jun 8, 2005

I use regular scissors too. I'm too inept to use the rotary cutter.

: I tried it but never got it to work and then suddenly the blade was dull. Stone age Jen! :LOL My patterns are cut from thick stock drawing paper. Also very stone age, I'm sure.

If I was close to them, I'm sure I'd be there looking for a demo! Even if you do mostly customs it would probably help to cut several different fabrics in the same size at the same time.

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Izzybee

Discussion Starter · #17 · Jun 8, 2005

My patterns are made of thick/heavy poster board.

I can't believe you guys use scissors!! That's not even Flinstones, that's the Dinosaur era :LOL

How cool that AllBrands is down the road from you!! I took a trip home and realized that Mother-Ease dipes are made on MY STREET!! LOL

Lynski

· #18 · Jun 8, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Izzybee

I can't believe you guys use scissors!! That's not even Flinstones, that's the Dinosaur era :LOL

:LOL I know! In my defense, DH does a lot of cutting and he wouldn't even attempt the rotary. I gave it another try last weekend but the blade is so dull it would be easier to use my teeth

.

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umefey

· #19 · Jun 8, 2005

2

I also have an industrial rotary cutter (http://www.allbrands.com/products/abp02212-0805.html) and I would never... ever go back to cutting with anything else.
It ROCKS!
It's not a name brand, but I haven't had a problem with it and it feels solid and nice to work with. It was about $80 shipped with an extra blade.
There are also an upright handheld type (http://www.allbrands.com/products/abp02211-0805.html)
that can cut through more than the wee one I have, and if you want to get REALLY crazy, there are also bandsaws for fabric.

I just realized that someone else allready mentioned allbrands.

:
Sorry. I'm tired. Hope my post was still helpful.

Also, ETA My patterns are made on either hard paper or tyvek, And I trace them onto the fabric with a dissapearing inkpen.

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Izzybee

Discussion Starter · #20 · Jun 8, 2005

I'm debating btwn this one and this one

Anyone wanna comment on these two? Which would you go with? Money is no object because I want one that I will be happy with.

1 - 20 of 45 Posts

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