dull seam rippers
 

Does anyone out there in our sewing world know how to sharpen dull seam rippers? Years ago,I had a young male friend that kept mine sharp using his pocket knife.I was always too busy to watch him. Now I wish I had just taken the time, as he was killed in an accident in his 20's , and I lost my ripper sharpener. Anyone out there that can help me? I have a lot of very dull seam rippers.,both,cheap and expensive, they all get dull in time.

I don't know, but I'm interested to watch this thread!

I just replace them. I have taken to using a scalpel-style ripper now so I just replace blades instead of the whole thing. I'd love to learn how to sharpen the more standard kind though; I do still use them sometimes and I hate throwing things in the trash.

maybe a chain saw sharpener, they are small and round.

Tartan, how tiny are those snips? I have a couple pairs of snips and a pair of 'good' small scissors special for cutting applique, but nothing would stick into a machine-sewn thread.
??? Love to try it!

Betty I just replace them, although my Janome has the very best point of any of them for sneaking under a thread, and I am using it tho' somewhat dull.

I use a scalpel with curved blade for ripping PP tiny stitches out. Carol Doak had it in her video

I love my F&P seam ripper that I actually own 3 of them. I don't have a problem with any dullness and they fit the hand comfortably.

When mine get dull I toss it. I find them on sale or clearance and buy several at a time.

Here is a picture of my 4 inch thread snips. I LOVE them for there extremely pointed tips that allow me to clip sewn stitches. The spring action is also so easy to use. The curved blade are nice for trimming close to an appliqué to trim threads without cutting the background. The name on the package is Infiniti made by H.A. KIDD and company limited and I got them at my LQS.[ATTACH=CONFIG]518911[/ATTACH]

I like the cuticle nail scissors with the tiny narrow points - they are great for snipping and thread cutting!

I use the smallest rotary cutter if near by. I have about 5-6 seam rippers and exacto knives with replaceable blades. I pretty much use what's nearby. I also have a utility knife for scrapbooking with breakoff tips. I have couple razor blades that I tape one end so I don't cut myself.

This is how I do it, but with my seam ripper -- clip about 5 stitches apart. I use the Clover white-handled seam rippers, because they seem to have the sharpest point. When I find them on sale, I get 3 or 4. For some reason, I had never thought about sharpening seam rippers. I guess it's part of that disposable mentality. You could probably run the point over a whet stone. I wonder if taking a strip of leather and running it along the curve would help?

I also use my seam ripper instead of snips to clip the threads when removing pieces from the sewing machine. And I also use it to clip chain pieces apart instead of snips, but I place it in a holder.

I bought a set of files, either from Home Depot or Harbor Freight, which are different sizes. I bought the set in order to have the one long small round file. That is what I use to sharpen my seam rippers. The file is great to have and friends have borrowed it.

I know some people who say they don't ever need seam rippers. They are in the same category with people who never have had a cake fall, or who have never burned a pan of cookies or had a fight with their spouse. But to the point! As hard as it is to throw stuff away, seam rippers as a rule are so inexpensive that you might as well put it in the recycle bin (assuming you city has a recycling program) and buy another one. My mother always used a single edge razor blade and I still think they are the best seam rippers in the world, although they do have their draw backs. froggyintexas

I have several types as mentioned above. The thing I don't like about the F & F item is that it is round and frequently rolls itself onto the floor. I have the scissors that Tartan mentioned and really like them if I have a long area to take out. I clip the stitches on one side and pull out the thread on the other side. However, I have never had a problem with them getting dull.

I have nippers that my husband got for tying flies.

Life is too short. buy a new one.

sandy

I agree. I have better things to do than sharpen seam rippers.

I haven't tried F&P's yet. I do a lot of alterations and replacing jeans zippers. so a sharp seam ripper is a must for these jobs.I'll check out their website.

Use an eyebrow razor. These are relatively inexpensive (beauty section of drugstore). They will not cut your fabric, but do cut the thread efficiently.

So sorry to hear of your friend's tragic death.

For a lot of ripping (long seams) I prefer straight edge razor blades. You can also drag them sideways along the ripped seam and they pull out all the cut threads. They are cheap enough to throw away when they get dull.

I use a single edge razor blade most of the time.

Here is an old trick I learned long ago with potato peelers....does anyone use them anymore???. If you are a righty or a lefty you will use one edge exclusively over the other...so find a sewer that is opposite handed to you and trade seam rippers. You will then be using the sharper, unused side. It will not sharpen a seam ripper but it will extend it's life just a bit.

I use the round handled seam rippers. Love them. Seem to sharp longer than the old blue ones I used for years.

I have an old pair of snips made mostly of plastic, that I had to buy as part of my tools, when I worked in a swimsuit factory over thirty years ago, and they are still my "go to" for taking out seams (using the clip every third stitch method also) and clipping threads.

I was watching a tutorial on alterations and the instructor mentioned she was working at her mothers and tried to use her seam ripper. She discovered her mother hadn't replaced her seam ripper in forever. She said for the couple bucks it costs - replace it. Got me thinking and I bought a new one the next day - YOU CAN NOT BELIEVE THE DIFFERENCE IT MAKES!!! I now have made myself the promise that every year for my birthday I am buying myself a $3 ripper.

I don't do this, but a seamstress I met uses a razor blade. Yikes! There is a local scissors sharpener that goes to my LQS and Joann's as well. He does the rippers for $5. Ummmm, not good at math but maybe if I buy the $7. rippers? I'd like to learn as well so hope someone can shed some light.

That's what I do.

I also just use a small pair of scissors. I have a pair of folding scissors that work perfectly. I find I do more damage than good with a seam ripper.

I just purchased the electric seam ripper and it works great for those long pieces you have to unsew. For short stuff I still use a Clover seam ripper

I've found that none of the newer ones compare to my mother's old one from the 1960'sby Dritz. For some reason my newer (c.1980's) by Singer doesn't work as well, and I've heard that the newer Singer ones tend to be duller as well. That Dritz has gotten a lot of use and still very sharp. Maybe you can find an older one somewhere?

I use all of the above, depends on what is on the sewing machine where I am currently sewing--201, FW, 401, Elna, 99k, whatever. I have the small pointed thingys that my sister gave me years ago (they're great) but prefer the round handled Clover or F&P, even the old square Dritz if it isn't too dull, and I do love the Clover's little red tip that you can slip into the seam, and rip away......

I'm so sorry for you loss of your good friend and helper. We sometimes don't recognize these helpers as the lovely angels in disguise that they are until they are gone. He left you a good memory for every time you use a seam ripper.

I wonder if he used a Leatherman multi-tool or Swiss Army type knife with a hook sharpener?

I bought one of the brass seam rippers from Eleanor Burns site for half price a couple weeks ago and I just love it. The point is quite thin and is very easy to get under the stitches. Think half price was $7.50. Still a little pricey for a seam ripper but I was intrigued with the idea of it being brass. I've wasted $ on worse things LOL.

Me too.....

Like Old Hair Twister, I bought a brass one also, but it was from Pam Damour, the Decorating Diva. It looks like the same one offered from Eleanor Burns, but Pam's has a lifetime guarantee with it. There is an address to send it to should it ever need sharpening. Watch her video to see how to actually RIP the seams, not pick threads. It works like a dream and saves time. It was $26 with shipping but worth every penny. http://www.pamdamour.com/proportional-scale-clone.html

I agree w/sandygirl. they are cheap enough and not worth the effort.

I got a pair of those, guard them with my life I won't even take them to classes just in case :) I also use this Clover seam ripper https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=cl...ml%3B800%3B800 have had it for years and it is still so sharp, don't ask me how I know OUCH!!

If you rub one side of your dull blade on the edge of a piece of crockery, and then turn it over and rub the other side, back to the first side and so on, sort of like you ar stropping a straight razor, you can sharpen your blade on crockery. Also, good kitchen knives can be sharpened this way.

How about a stone sharpener? I wouldn't have thought of it myself. It was an ad at the top of my quilting board page.

I think I would prefer to replace the seam-ripper than try to sharpen it. Most of the ones you get today are made of much cheaper material and cannot truly be sharpened. As for the single-edge razor blades, yes, they are really good seam rippers, but I've been ripped by using those once too often. The cuts they inflict are painful!

Jeanette