Hobby Rotary Cutter 172B / OLFA

• Model: 172B
• Blade diameter: 18mm
• Blade material: High-carbon stainless steel
• Body material: ABS resin (10% glass fiber)
• Compatible replacement blade: XB173 (perforating, sold separately)
• Hand compatibility: Left and right hand
• Packaging: Blister pack
• Award: Good Design Award winner

Standard rotary cutters use blades in the 28mm to 60mm range, which roll smoothly through straight fabric cuts but struggle around small curves. OLFA's 172B shrinks the blade down to 18mm, giving it the turning radius to follow tight arcs freely without tearing or dragging the material.

The body is ABS resin reinforced with 10% glass fiber, keeping it light while holding the blade mechanism firmly. A sliding blade cover exposes the blade only during use and snaps back over it for storage. The design is symmetric for both hands, and the blade replacement system is a simple slide-and-swap mechanism on the back of the body.

Beyond fabric and paper, the 18mm blade handles thin rubber sheets and film, materials that tend to snag or compress under scissors. Swapping in the separately sold XB173 perforating blade turns the same cutter into a tool for scoring dotted cut lines, adding a second function without requiring a separate tool.