I just had some blades sharpened. A note from the sharpener said that my blades were in some of the worst shape he had seen. I need to change the rubber strip under the blade due to some early plotting of a scanned logo that was not properly edited. Can any other factors contribute to early degradation of my blades? My last blade cut well over 50 yards of vinyl all letters.
Santo, I have a friend who uses a Summgraphics cutter...he changes blades for reflective(as I do as well)..and just last week he told me that he used the same blade for a few months over a year..and he cuts vinyl every day..and lots of it....Are you saying your blade is used up after one roll of vinyl?That does not sound right to me..... Carbide blades are a definate plus for long life of blade....I have good luck with resharpening..and can get 5-6 months of satisfactory service from a blade...sharpened at Bits and Bits....they advertise in Letterville...they do a nice job at a reasonable price... I am able to change cutting pressure with settings and different springs..I use just enough pressure to barely cut vinyl..but enough to make weeding as pleasant as it can be... Thick films and mylar tear a blade up quicker.I change blades for them too... Do you have a drag knife style plotter?I wonder do they use blades faster than tangential plotters?
I also use a Summa plotter and it is not uncommon to use a blade for 6-8 months. My plotter runs on the average of 8 hours every day cutting itty bitty up to the max of 27". I also change the blade for cutting reflective. When my vinyl blade gets to cutting a bit rough it get's demoted to reflective and the old reflective blade into a box to be sharpened. I have 7 or 8 blades that need to be sharpened but have never sent them in.
------------------ Greg Gulliford aka MetroDude Metro Signs and Banners 1403 N. Greene St. #1 Spokane, WA 99202 509-536-9452
mail@metrosignsandbanners.com
Posted by Santo (Member # 411) on :
Mike, My blades normally last 6-8 months, except that 1st one that I drug across the metal platten. I have since spoke to the sharpener. He notes that he can tell if a blade was used on reflective by the grooves on the blade. The last blade went very quickly. It was just creasing the material, but not cutting. That's when I normally change. The newly sharpened blade cut slick. I'll be checking my plotter adjustment and changing the rubber strip under the blade soon.
There are actual blades for reflective, and blades for regular vinyl. Some suppliers don't even know this. The reflective blade is more heavy duty and a different angle.
I have a blade for regular vinyls, a blade for reflectives and a blade for foils.
I've yet to get the blades resharpened because I'm searching for a place in Canada that does this. If you know of any place, I'd love an email. (I'll tellem to support this site, then brag about them. )
------------------ Graphic Impact located in BC Canada gisigns@sprint.ca
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