Cutting knives

The time has long passed when a tailor cut fabric with scissors, and with a large amount of work, even calluses appeared on the fingers. And to be honest, more than three or four layers are difficult to cut evenly with scissors. In this article we will talk about one additional tool, which today is difficult to do without when cutting out complex elements, this is a circular knife. It will also be useful for the average person to know that a tailor has quite a lot of interesting tools in his stock, without which he can cope with the task, but this can take a lot of time. And the quality of the finished product will also suffer.

Rotary knife for cutting fabric.

What are cutting knives used for?

A fabric cutting knife will make your life easier and make the cutting process more enjoyable. With scissors you can carefully cut only 2-3 layers of material. But what if you need to cut out some complex element? You definitely can’t do without a cutting knife. And some capricious or rough fabrics, such as drape or leather, are generally difficult to cut with scissors. Let's figure out what kind of fabric knives there are and how to use them.

Types of cutting knives

There are different types and models of knives for cutting fabric. In some situations, a cutting knife may not be needed to cut a small piece of fabric, so why bring this miracle tool here. In general, such small cutting knives for fabric are used in everyday life or in small industries. Let's try to sort out the types of cutting disc knives for private use, and touch a little on production models with CNC control.

Disk

The most common model for home cutting. It has a round blade that can perfectly cut fabric for sewing curtains and other household knitwear. But you need to take into account that cutting a pattern with a complex shape is quite problematic; here good old scissors will come to the rescue. The “sole” after the disk itself helps to press the fabric more tightly to the surface, so you can cut several layers.

The electric motor has already been mentioned, but not all models are equipped with it. But almost all products have a self-sharpening blade. The price segment for such a fabric knife is more than affordable and affordable for every housewife. Its second name is a roller knife.

Disc cutting knife for cutting fabric.

Basic

The next cutting knife is a type of disc device. They are mainly used for small parts and work with thin fabric. In this area he is quite “delicate”, and behaves with the material like a real gentleman. It is designed to help in difficult situations.

Basic cutting knife for cutting fabric.

Saber

This unit can already be classified as a small industry or they are often used in small studios. A cutting knife of this type is needed when working with synthetics or for fabrics that fray. It also copes well with materials that have different coatings. Such devices are also called vertical.

Saber cutting knives for cutting fabric.

Laser

Now we are already approaching models of a production nature, so to speak. Of course, it can be placed in the basement of a cottage if you have enough money to purchase it. But its ability to accurately cut any fabric is amazing. It is clear that the working tool here is a laser beam, which along the edge melts the edges of the material being cut. And he does it easily with a very large number of layers of fabric.

Laser cutting knife for cutting fabric.

Ultrasonic

Such a tool is also quite accurate during cutting, and copes with any materials with “Hurray!” And, by the way, its dimensions are not so large, and it can be powered from a regular outlet. This is a tool you can buy for home work with fabrics.

Ultrasonic cutting knife for cutting fabric.

Tape

This is a representative of real production. The dimensions are quite large and the band knife finds its application, as a rule, in the sewing workshop.

With its tape, it easily works with paper, foam rubber and even wood.

Band cutting knife for cutting fabric.

Types of fabric knives

How to choose the best cutting knife?

There is no clear answer to this question. In cutting and sewing stores you can find a large number of different fabric knives of different sizes and different shapes. Some of them actually look more like cutting machines than knives. Their appearance depends on the functions and capabilities they perform.

Breadboard knife

This fabric knife is familiar to all of us. This is the most common and simplest version of a cutting knife. Suitable for cutting paper or cardboard, as well as cutting most fabrics. The thicker its blade, the denser materials it can cut. The narrow blade is suitable for working with thin materials. The body of the knife is usually made of plastic. Less often made of metal or rubber. The second option is considered to be of higher quality, stronger and more durable.

Disc knife

Just like the breadboard knife, it is one of the most common types of knives.
The circular cutting knife has several other names - round cutter, rotary or roller knife.
Cutting with a roller knife is very convenient; you don’t need to put in much effort, and the fabric underneath doesn’t move.

The circular rotary cutter is suitable for both straight and round cuts. However, it is not suitable for cutting complex shapes or small cuts.
Some circular knives have a built-in electric motor. The more powerful the motor, the more layers of fabric it can cut.
Almost all circular knives have a self-sharpening function.

Main knife

A basic cutting knife is one of the types of circular knives. It has a small blade size. A basic knife is more suitable for working out small parts, correcting cutting errors and trimming edges.

Electric knife

An electric knife for cutting fabric is also one of the types of circular knives. Working with such a knife is less labor-intensive than with a regular disc knife. An electric fabric knife will perform its task faster and better. Works from a socket.

Thermal knife

A thermal knife (or hot knife) for fabric is used both in sewing production and in workshops. Thanks to the hot blade, the thermal knife does its job very easily. In addition, it does not crumble the edges, cauterizing them. The fabric heat knife is not only used for cutting, it can also weld the fabric in the right places or process the edges of the material. The thermal knife is suitable not only for working with fabrics, but also for cutting ropes and belts.

Saber knife

The second name of this cutting knife is a vertical knife. Some fabrics, such as synthetics, are difficult to cut horizontally and may slip or crumble. In this case, a saber cutting knife comes to the rescue. It is used for vertical cutting of fabrics in a straight line, as well as for complex shaped elements. Vertical knives are very massive and can differ in blade length and motor power.

Advantages of saber knives:

they can handle small and complex parts;
you can cut a large number of layers of dense fabric;
They have a special mechanism that sharpens the blade independently.

Laser knife

This type of cutting knife is used mainly in large-scale production. The knife itself is more like a cutting machine, takes up a lot of space and is quite expensive. Prices for laser knives start from several hundred thousand rubles. Of course, it has a significant advantage over the above-mentioned cutting knives. The laser ensures absolute precision in cutting a large number of layers of fabric and cutting out any, even the most complex, shapes. At the same time, no fabric with such a knife will crumble, because the laser melts the edges of the material.

A laser cutting knife will make the work of any seamstress easier, if, of course, there is sufficient space and funds for it.

Ultrasonic knife

An ultrasonic laser knife operates from a power outlet, it is less massive than a laser knife, and its price is much lower. An ultrasonic cutting knife is more suitable for home use. It also has high cutting precision and can cut many layers of thick material. An ultrasonic knife can handle all types of fabrics, cardboard and non-woven fabrics.

Band knife

Band knives can mainly be found in textile workshops. A band cutting knife is a cutting machine equipped with a speed control, a sharpening device and an air cushion, which is responsible for the movement of large parts along the table of this machine. These knives are also highly accurate and powerful. Of course, they are more suitable for cutting knitwear, silk, linen, cotton, wool and artificial fabrics. However, even wood can be cut with band knives.

Benefits of the tool

Cutting the material and sewing itself is actually not an easy task. If an ordinary person imagines - a sewing machine, scissors, threads and needles. There is nothing wrong with this, but in reality everything is much more complicated.

The most important advantage of this tool is its cutting ability. To obtain several identical elements when cutting, scissors will not work; it is better to take a cutting knife. When working with tougher materials, such as drape or leather, you cannot find a better “helper”.

Another advantage of this tool is the speed of cutting; with it you will complete the task faster. The clarity of the cut can also be attributed to the advantages of this modern tool. A circular cutting knife, as a rule, includes a self-sharpening blade, which allows you to forget about sharpening. The disc will always be sharp and will not have to be constantly sharpened like scissors.

They also come with an electric motor, they are called an electric knife. With such a tool, labor costs are reduced quite significantly. And if the motor is powerful enough, you can cut more layers of fabric at the same time.

How to choose a fabric knife

What factors are important to consider before buying a fabric knife? So, we list some points that are important to pay attention to before buying a cutting knife:

Firstly, frequency of use. For a seamstress who will use a cutting knife several times a month, a breadboard or circular knife is suitable. And a large-scale sewing workshop cannot do without, for example, a saber or laser knife.
Secondly, this is the quality of the knife. You should not buy a knife from little-known brands. Expensive cutting knives must have a service warranty of one year. In addition, when choosing a knife for fabric, consider the quality of its blade. High carbon steel is considered one of the best materials. This steel will keep the blade sharp for a long time.
Thirdly, pay attention to whether it is comfortable for you to hold the knife in your hand. Its weight also plays a significant role in the convenience of a knife. It is important that the hand does not get tired during the work in order to avoid errors.

How to choose a cutting knife?

Disc (roller) tools are quite popular in home use. As already mentioned, their price is reasonable and affordable for everyone. Choosing a round knife for yourself is not so easy. The main thing is to understand and decide on the purpose of purchasing it:

how often will you use it;
the type of material that is planned to be processed;
consider the volume of fabric to be processed;
type of cutting, mainly straight or figured.

Simply put, a needlewoman who will hem something around the house a couple of times a month and a small sewing workshop need completely different devices. The stores have quite a wide selection. But the cutting knife must be chosen carefully. Be sure to pay attention to how it lies in your hand; the weight of the instrument plays a significant role.

One of the types of fabric knives.

In general, a beginning seamstress should have several types of circular knives. For any type of fabric. And try not to skimp when choosing; the steel of the disc should be carbon, which will allow the tool to maintain a sharp cutting edge for a long time.

How to use a fabric knife

Before using the cutting knives, place a durable material underneath the fabric to prevent damage to the table. In sewing stores you can purchase a special mat for this purpose. If you forget about the lining, the table will be scratched and the knife will quickly become dull. When working with a knife, it is important to remember the banal safety rules for working with cutting objects. It is better to work with gloves. When it comes to thermal knives, it is important to remember that their blades are very hot. If touched, they may cause a burn.

So, the right quality cutting knife will ensure you a job well done and will open up a number of advantages in the sewing business.

How to use fabric knives?

It is definitely recommended to buy a backing. A special mat that will be placed under the fabric. Otherwise, the workbench will be damaged and the knife will quickly become dull. These mats are available in stores and are made from plastic or foam rubber. But over time, it will have to be replaced, as it will wear out and become frayed, which will interfere with your needlework. After work, remove any remaining fabrics and threads from the working tool. Do not forget about basic safety rules when working with sharp cutting objects.

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