Pain from rotary cutters?

Pain from rotary cutters?

Group: rec.crafts.textiles.quilting Date: Tue, Jul 15, 2003, 11:33pm
(EDT+4) From: (IMS)
I started getting terrible joint pain in the top knuckle of my index
finder on right hand...this is exactly the finder that I use to hold
down my rotary cutter. I'm wondering if the pain is connected to the way
I use the cutter.
Does anyone know of a site that shows how to position these things
properly? Or can someone explain it? I have one of the FISKARS cutters.
Are there any brands considered more ergonomic than others? -------
If you go to Fiskars.com and follow the headings to sewing/quilting,
there is a detailed description and photo of the rotary cutter in use,
as well as tips, etc.

Your index finger should not be uppermost while using this particular
cutter - all your fingers should be through the opening of the handle.
Once the blade is locked in the cutting position, it should not be
necessary to have a digit (Finger or thumb) extended to hold the blade
down in the cutting position.
Jennifer in Ottawa

http://interactive.rogers.com/jennell/Quiltedprojects
http://interactive.rogers.com/jennell/photoalbum

Rest your hand for 3 days. Then change the blade! Pain is Nature's way of
telling me that my blade is getting dull.

--Lia

I drive my Fiskars with my thumb on top. I don't know why but just guess it
is comfortable to me that way. There are several rotary cutters here but the
Fiskars is always the one I come back to. Perhaps you should try other holds
and other rotarys until you find one that makes your hand happy. Polly

Howdy!
Your finger does not belong on top of the cutter.
See this demo:
http://crafts.fiskars.com/projects/rotary_hold.html
http://crafts.fiskars.com/projects/cutting_safety.html
http://crafts.fiskars.com/craft_tips.html

not-Fiskars:
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/...quilting/18383

Let the blade do the work, not your hand or finger; don't push
down so hard on the cutter.

Better luck, IMS.
Ragmop/Sandy
"IMS" wrote in message
...
I started getting terrible joint pain in the top knuckle of my index
finder on right hand...this is exactly the finder that I use to hold
down my rotary cutter. I'm wondering if the pain is connected to the
way I use the cutter.

Does anyone know of a site that shows how to position these things
properly? Or can someone explain it? I have one of the FISKARS
cutters. Are there any brands considered more ergonomic than others?

Oh my! I have the same problem only on my left index finger. It hurts when
I press on that knuckle. I have the yellow Olfa cutter. I will do the
rest thing and change the blade. Glad to know I did not imagine it.

--
Sugar & Spice Quilts by Linda E
Texas
http://community.webshots.com/user/frame242

I have a truly ergonomic rotary cutter.

http://www.hearttoheartquiltshop.com/Martelli.htm (NAYY)

I got it at a quilt show, but LQS's are starting to carry it too. I
love it and will never go back to a "regular" one. They have left
handed and right handed. The way it works is that the pressure of your
whole hand presses on it, not just a couple of fingers and joints. It
really is a joy to use.

NAYY

Melissa in NJ

(Jennifer Hepworth) wrote in message ...
Pain from rotary cutters?

Group: rec.crafts.textiles.quilting Date: Tue, Jul 15, 2003, 11:33pm
(EDT+4) From: (IMS)
I started getting terrible joint pain in the top knuckle of my index
finder on right hand...this is exactly the finder that I use to hold
down my rotary cutter. I'm wondering if the pain is connected to the way
I use the cutter.
Does anyone know of a site that shows how to position these things
properly? Or can someone explain it? I have one of the FISKARS cutters.
Are there any brands considered more ergonomic than others? -------
If you go to Fiskars.com and follow the headings to sewing/quilting,
there is a detailed description and photo of the rotary cutter in use,
as well as tips, etc.

Your index finger should not be uppermost while using this particular
cutter - all your fingers should be through the opening of the handle.
Once the blade is locked in the cutting position, it should not be
necessary to have a digit (Finger or thumb) extended to hold the blade
down in the cutting position.
Jennifer in Ottawa

http://interactive.rogers.com/jennell/Quiltedprojects
http://interactive.rogers.com/jennell/photoalbum

I just got one of those. Must really try to get used to it. Every new ache
and pain is a royal pain!

--
Sugar & Spice Quilts by Linda E
Texas
http://community.webshots.com/user/frame242

Change your blade OFTEN -- it can really save the muscles and joint pain.
It is truly amazing the amount of pressure that we unconciously use when the
blade isn't sharp -- I learned the hard way -- now I get my blades in
bulk -- no more pain

Mim


"IMS" wrote in message
...
I started getting terrible joint pain in the top knuckle of my index
finder on right hand...this is exactly the finder that I use to hold
down my rotary cutter. I'm wondering if the pain is connected to the
way I use the cutter.

Does anyone know of a site that shows how to position these things
properly? Or can someone explain it? I have one of the FISKARS
cutters. Are there any brands considered more ergonomic than others?

Do you have trouble with the screw falling out of that rotary cutter? I
have had two of them and the screw constantly falls out. I bought the first
one and it always fell out so I bought the second one and it does it to.
Also, do they make those rotary cutters with the 60 mm blade yet. I prefer
that size blade over the standard 45 mm blade.

Megan


"MelissaInNJ" wrote in message
om...
I have a truly ergonomic rotary cutter.

http://www.hearttoheartquiltshop.com/Martelli.htm (NAYY)

I got it at a quilt show, but LQS's are starting to carry it too. I
love it and will never go back to a "regular" one. They have left
handed and right handed. The way it works is that the pressure of your
whole hand presses on it, not just a couple of fingers and joints. It
really is a joy to use.

NAYY

Melissa in NJ

(Jennifer Hepworth) wrote in message
...
Pain from rotary cutters?

Group: rec.crafts.textiles.quilting Date: Tue, Jul 15, 2003, 11:33pm
(EDT+4) From: (IMS)
I started getting terrible joint pain in the top knuckle of my index
finder on right hand...this is exactly the finder that I use to hold
down my rotary cutter. I'm wondering if the pain is connected to the way
I use the cutter.
Does anyone know of a site that shows how to position these things
properly? Or can someone explain it? I have one of the FISKARS cutters.
Are there any brands considered more ergonomic than others? -------
If you go to Fiskars.com and follow the headings to sewing/quilting,
there is a detailed description and photo of the rotary cutter in use,
as well as tips, etc.

Your index finger should not be uppermost while using this particular
cutter - all your fingers should be through the opening of the handle.
Once the blade is locked in the cutting position, it should not be
necessary to have a digit (Finger or thumb) extended to hold the blade
down in the cutting position.
Jennifer in Ottawa

http://interactive.rogers.com/jennell/Quiltedprojects
http://interactive.rogers.com/jennell/photoalbum

I don't know that the way you hold it is necessarily causing the pain. I
think the type of cutter you use has a lot to do with it. I do A LOT of
cutting every month (900 block of the month kits, on top of the quilts I
make in my spare time) and I am one of those that holds my finger on top.
I can definitely tell the difference in the way my wrist feels according to
what rotary cutter I use to cut.
Megan

" Ellison" wrote in message
...
Howdy!
Your finger does not belong on top of the cutter.
See this demo:
http://crafts.fiskars.com/projects/rotary_hold.html
http://crafts.fiskars.com/projects/cutting_safety.html
http://crafts.fiskars.com/craft_tips.html

not-Fiskars:
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/...quilting/18383

Let the blade do the work, not your hand or finger; don't push
down so hard on the cutter.

Better luck, IMS.
Ragmop/Sandy
"IMS" wrote in message
...
I started getting terrible joint pain in the top knuckle of my index
finder on right hand...this is exactly the finder that I use to hold
down my rotary cutter. I'm wondering if the pain is connected to the
way I use the cutter.

Does anyone know of a site that shows how to position these things
properly? Or can someone explain it? I have one of the FISKARS
cutters. Are there any brands considered more ergonomic than others?