A rotary cutter will sometimes struggle with basic functions. Many people struggle with them and/or face technical issues, especially if they’re new users.
Usually, This happens because of issues with the blade. But, let me help you cover every angle instead of just one by discussing why your rotary cutter is not cutting through fabric or spinning.
Rotary Cutter Not Spinning or Cutting Through Fabric
- Dull Blade
As I said, it usually comes down to something wrong with the blade. That’s because it’s the most obvious cause when it comes to issues with cutting.
So, I want to rule it out before we move on to additional troubleshooting. You can easily tell if your rotatory cutter isn’t working because of the blade by inspecting it for rusting or dull edges.
Just take a look at the blade I took a picture of above. You can tell by its jagged edges and rusted color that this thing isn’t in good condition. Does the blade on your rotary cutter look anything like that?
If the answer is yes, the issue is definitely with the blade. You’ll need to use a new one if you have any left, or order new replacements.
- Loose Screws
A lot of rotary cutters use screws to hold the blade in place. This helps make sure it doesn’t go flying, which prevents harm during use. But, these screws should always be proper.
Whenever you want to put a new blade in the device, you have to take the screws out, remove the old blade, put the new one in, and then put the screws back.
That sounds easy enough, but a lot of new users make mistakes during this. They might make these screws too loose, or even make them too tight. Loose or tight screws affect the motion of the blade.
You can see the screws of my rotary cutter in the image above. Making them too loose or tight would make the tool’s blade spin inconsistently, or not spin at all.
Personally, I have to regularly tighten the screws on my rotary cutter. Maybe you need to do the same thing. Just make sure that the screws are on properly, and that should resolve the issue.
- Using Two Blades?
When you get blades for rotary cutters, you must have noticed how they all kind of stick together in the packaging. It’s easy to accidentally put multiple blades on the tool because of this.
Even I’ve done that by accident a couple of times, and I’m sure a lot of others have too when they first started using rotary cutters. So, make sure to check if that’s the case for you.
I don’t recommend running your hand through the blade to check this.
Removing the blade to check if there are two of them is a much better option. You can use something small to feel across the edge and separate them if there are multiple blades.
- Wrong Technique
Rotary cutters look like really simple devices. But, anyone that has experience with these things knows that they’re anything but that. They have a high degree of difficulty to them.
Depending on what you’re using the tool for, you need a really good grasp of the necessary technique to get the job done. But, then there are even more factors to consider.
For example, what kind of material are you cutting, what hand are you using, what’s the size of your cutter, and more. These things all matter when you’re trying to achieve a perfect cut.
Take some time practicing if your rotary cutter is not cutting. Once you get better at using the necessary technique, I’m sure it should go much smoother for you!
