OLFA 45mm Ergonomic Rotary Cutter (RTY-2/DX) - Rotary Fabric Cutter w/Blade Cover & Squeeze Trigger for Quilting, Sewing, Crafts, Replacement Blade: OLFA RB45-1H

The media could not be loaded. ► Why I like it:I looked for several key points when deciding which rotary cutter to buy. Since these blades are so super sharp, safety had to be a high priority. I wanted one whose blade fully retracted and provided protection for the blade edge all around when retracted. I also wanted one with anti-slip grips and protection for my pressing index finger in case I accidentally slipped. I sure don't want to run my finger over the top of the blade while bearing down! What an OUCH that would be!I also wanted the blade to extend and retract via squeezing and releasing of the handle so I did not have to use the lock. This would be safest as then I would not forget to release the lock before putting it down as suggested by the manufacturers. But by the same token, I wanted to still have a lock in case I was doing funny shaped turns and cuts. Without a lock, I would not be able to get in the corners and still have the blade extended nearly as easily. Since any lock would put my finger or thumb near to harms way, it needed to also offer protection to keep my finger or thumb from sliding into the blade.Having a soft grip handle to prevent fatigue was important, too. Plus, as we age, some of us start to develop arthritis in our hands. I'm not there yet, but if I reach that point, I will not have to replace my cutter with one that is more arthritis friendly if I think and plan for it now.I like being able to hang things. It makes it super easy to find vs storing in a drawer, keeps things neat and as with this, adds another degree of safety versus reaching around in a drawer sight unseen. This model comes with a nice hook for hanging.Finally, I wanted a good brand name for warranty, blade replacement and durability. I did not want to invest in a name I did not know and regret it later on. I would rather spend a bit more now and not have to replace it later on and waste that money.I didn't want a lot, did I. After all my research, I finally decided on this one and have been very happy with my decision. I just don't know why it took me so long to buy one of these in the first place.► Dimensions:2 ½” max with blade retracted x 6 ½” length► Pros:Does fantastic straight and clean cuts. Super easy and even fun to use. Makes cutting fabric quick, accurate and easy. Forget scissors. Pair this with a cutting mat and a long straight edge ruler, and you are good to go and go fast.► Cons:None.► Suggestions for Improvement:None.► Would I buy again?Yes.► Purchasing Decision & Questions:I hope I have helped your purchasing decision of this Olfa Rotary Cutter. I am not affiliated with the manufacturer, seller or any other product related company nor am I under any obligation to write this review. I do this for my own fun and pleasure! Feel free to comment and let me know if I have helped you. If you should have any questions, please post them below in the Comments. I try to answer all inquires in a timely fashion to the best of my ability. Lastly, Follow me on Amazon if you wish to be notified as I post new reviews. I promise they will always be meaningful and never of penny ante junk.

The squeeze handle makes cutting safe and easy to use.

Comfortable grip, durable blades. Fast shipping!

I recently started getting into sewing (machine sewing-I’ve been hand sewing for forever) after inheriting my husband's great grandmother’s sewing machine. In trying to not buy all.the.things right away, I thought a rotary cutter was in the “would be nice, but not necessary” category. Couldn’t I just use a good pair of scissors? Then I actually tried it...not as simple as it looks! In addition, one of my first projects involved flannel and terry cloth. Cutting the first set of pieces (one piece of each) made my hands ache and took me 30-45 minutes. I couldn’t have done much more due to the hand fatigue (I have bad hands anyway). I decided to check Amazon’s prices on rotary cutters, as the cheapest one at Joann’s was at least $20-$25. Imagine my thrill at finding this one for just over $10! It came today, and I decided to see how much faster I could cut my pieces. I got the last two pieces of flannel and two pieces of terry marked, cut, and folded in about 15 minutes! It took very little pressure, and the cuts were precise, easy, and fast. And no hand fatigue! I was concerned about needing to hold the handle to keep the blade engaged, but it only takes a light grip, and because it’s so much faster, I was done long before it would have been an issue. I like that there’s a lock button to keep it either open or closed, it’s a nice safety feature. Overall, this is an amazing price on a fantastic tool. I highly recommend!

I'm pretty happy with this brand. It definitely works better than the Cricut brand one that I bought, twice! With this, I can purchase replacement blades, but right from the beginning it's a lot sharper and has the safety cover that automatically covers the blade when releasing the handle. It's also lightweight and comfortable to use.I wish I'd have done my homework the first time. Assuming the Cricut brand would be good was not the case.

I bought an 18mm rotary cutter for tight and small corners of cutting (armholes) that I’m have a hard time cutting accurately with my sewing scissors. I felt the blade was a bit slippery and easy for me to go astray, not to mention I had to run over a few areas again where I missed going all the way through a double layer of fabric. I thought the 45mm would be a bit easier and more accurate (bought it for the larger areas of my fabric). Of course, I still had the same issues. I guess some people can handle using these things better. I can see it being very useful in quilting and projects with a lot of straight lines though. But, after using rotary blades, I just appreciate my scissors more. I am very scared one of these days I’ll slip up and end up cutting in the wrong direction and ruining my fabric pieces. But these product seems high quality. I like the squeeze handle on this.********************Few months later, with a change of heart:Practice and use of my clear rulers helped. I’m starting to like using this. I used it recently on a very large pattern, and it definitely saved me a LOT on scissor time. I still have to use my scissors in tight, curvy areas though. I like the ergonomic design of the handle, and the trigger handle. The trigger handle is especially useful to me for more reasons than one. I’m an easily forgetful person these days. I’ve numerous burns on myself because I forget my hot iron is nearby. So the automatic release after use is nice. My smaller rotary knife doesn’t have that option, so sometimes I leave the blade exposed on my table. Not very safe.Another reason I’m starting to like using this is that it’s a lot easier on my trigger finger issue on my right hand. I was told to limit use of scissors under this condition.

This rolls and cuts smoothly. I appreciate the design that locks it either with the blade out to use or in to store. It feels sturdy, is light, and has been useful so far. Definitely makes cutting precisely easier.