I have a sharpener & it does help alot. I think I bought mine at JoAnns quite awile back. It doesn't help much if there is a nick in it but just for a little sharper edge it works fine. Makes the blade last longer. I do prefer a new blade but they are expensive so I try to get my monies worth out of them. I don't remember what I paid for the sharpener now but the name of it is Dual Rotary Blade Sharpener Twist n Sharp