- Overview
- Safety
- What you need
- Tutorial
- 18mm Olfa knife
- Cutting a 3” chipboard square
- Snapping an 18mm blade
- Replacing an 18mm blade
- 45mm Olfa rotary knife
- Cutting a 3” fabric square
- Replacing a 45mm rotary blade
Overview
This tutorial will go over everything needed to become Sharps level 1 certified.
You will cut the following pieces:
A 3” square of 1/16” chip board with an 18mm Olfa knife.
A 3” square of fabric with a 45mm Olfa Rotary knife.
You will also learn how to replace dull blades on both types of knives:
18mm Olfa knife.
45mm Olfa Rotary knife.
Safety
This documentation is not a substitute for proper training and sign-off. If you don't know how to do something, don't guess! Ask someone who is trained and cleared for use on the tool for help.
A sharp knife is safer than a dull knife.
- A sharp knife needs less force cut.
- Less force means more controlled cutting.
- When you determine a blade needs to be replaced, use a sharps container for the dull blades.
Cut from top to bottom, NEVER from side to side.
Put more force on the straight edge than the knife.
- It is important to secure the straight edge to your cutting surface.
- You should NOT need lots of force on the knife. Let the knife do the work! See above.
Use the right kind of straight edge.
- If cutting with a utility blade.
- Use a metal straight edge, DO NOT USE A PLASTIC RULER!!! The knife will jump the edge and potentially cut your fingers.
- Use a non-slip Straight edge. There should be rubber or cork on the bottom. If it doesn't, DON’T CUT WITH IT! It is unsafe and could ruin your cut.
- If cutting with a rotary knife.
- Use a metal straight edge with a non-slip backing like rubber or cork.
- A thick plastic ruler specifically designed for fabric is fine. Flimsy plastic rulers are still unsafe.
Cutting in a single pass vs. multiple passes:
- Depends on the toughness and thickness of the material.
- For paper, one pass is fine.
- For 1/16” chip, three to four passes. This is another reason you want to secure the straight edge down!
Cut on a sturdy work surface with a cutting mat.
18mm blade safety
- When exposing the blade, only show one to two score lengths.
- Do not bend the blade. You may trigger an unwanted blade snap.
- When you are done cutting, retract the knife. Make it drop safe. Always store it retracted.
Wear cut resistant gloves.
- TPZ stocks gloves with an ANSI cut resistance rating of A5.
- WARNING: Theses will not protect against puncture hazards.
What you need
1/16” Chipboard
Fabric
Sharps Container for 45mm Rotary Blades (Amazon)
Cut Resistant Gloves (Grainger)
