Rotary Blade Sharpening
 

I've seen a few different gadgets that are supposed to help sharpen rotary blades. Does anyone use something to sharpen their blades? If so, what do you use and how well does it work? Thanks!

I have tried several of the gadjets and never found they were worth the effort. Now I just bite the bullet and order in quantity from eBay. Not sure what the prices are now, but several years ago I could get brand-name blades for about $2. Nowadays you can get no-brand blades for about $1.50 each (brand name are more). My guess is that the no-name blades will still work better than a blade sharpened in a home gadjet. Aside from the money tied up in purchasing the gadjet, the way I look at it the time and effort it takes to try to sharpen a dull blade takes away from the time I can be spending on actually creating a quilt. Plus, none of the sharpeners will correct a nick in a blade; at most all they can do is hone the edge, and that they seem to do somewhat poorly so that the new edge either does not work very well or does not last long (or both).

I've not tried one and the things I've read say to save your money and use it be buy new blades.

I have a True Cut blade sharpener from the Grace company and I can't see that it does much good. I just buy the generic blades from E-Bay. They seem to work as good as the name brands except I occasionally get one that doesn't, but rarely. At around $1 each, I don't mind getting a defective one occasionally.

Until last week I two sharpeners, I finally threw them in the trash can. Just about killed me, that was about sixty bucks down the drain. If my story helps someone else not throw their money away the toss wasn't in vain.

Save your money. I have the TruCut, too, and it doesn't work. I think it actually made my blade duller.

I had a sharpener one week. Sent it back. Took about 6 to get my money back but atleast I got my money back will not purchase another. I just buy new with coupons when I can or when they are on discount. If that doesn't happen then pay full price. I could order on line but after paying for shipping and not knowing when they would get here, I just go to the stores here an get them. I always need one at the worse time. Ido try to get them usually when I can get discount on a total purchase. Often 25%.

I've had the little blue one with the sandpaper for a while. It never worked. I guess I need to pitch it.

What do you do with all your dull or chipped blades? Do you throw them in the trash? Is there anywhere to mail them off to have them professionally sharpened? Thanks, I'm reading with interest all of your postings. I would also like to know if you go through so many blades because you sew professionally? Or are you a quiltmaker/sewer who just makes a heck of a lot of quilts?

mike's girl, I wonder if you tried to replace the sandpaper with new? Maybe then it would work better. I have this blue one, too. I sharpen my blade occasionally.

I look for blades at auctions and yard sales and get them very cheaply that way.
I have never tried to sharpen one.

I have the electric TrueCut and love it. It works great! For those of you who don't like it, try putting a drop of oil on each stone before you sharpen, then again after each sharpening pass to clean off the metal residue from the stones. Rub the oil lightly with your finger and blot off the dark oil with a tissue, paper towel or scrap piece of cotton. Reapply another drop of clean oil to each stone for the next sharpening pass. It's time consuming, but the correct method. A metal clogged stone won't sharpen. Ask anyone who sharpens knives or surgical instruments.

I agree with JustAbitCrazy. I love my TruCut

I never found anything that works. Even had a friend of a friend who professionally sharped blades and it just didn't cut as nice as a new rotary blade.

I know a shop owner that tried the blade sharpener, don't know brand, but she didn't like it.

I bought one of those do-it-yourself things too. Didn't work. I buy the carpet blades at Harbor Freight. Work well for me.

I have used my little blue one with the sandpaper since at least 2010. And have not purchased a new blade since then. But, I always turn the blue disks the same direction, never back and forth as the directions say to do it. I used to help my father sharpen knives and sickle blades on an old stone grider and he always told me to turn the handle the same direction, never backwards. His advise has worked for me many, many times.

I have had one - like Bobbielinks. I don't use it and just buy new blades.

I have the TruCut sharpener and it works as it should. The thing you have to remember is.......the blade will never be like new cause its not but if I can get a little more cutting energy out of it, I'll spend the time to sharpen them. I wait till I have a bunch to do too so I'm not continuing having to go sharpen a blade. I keep the used ones in an empty case they came in labeled needs sharpened. Have another case labeled used/sharpened so I know what they are. Once they've spent their energy for fabric cutting, I put them into a case labeled "for paper only" so I still get a little more use out of them before I toss them. I usually throw the totally spent ones in yet another case labeled throw-aways.

I also have the "blue" one. It did an ok job but the sandpaper has worn enough that probably it's not worth the effort. I haven't seen anything that replaces the sandpaper. I have it in my machine travel case for an emergency

Yonnikka and responders....
I've been saving my old blades for some time now. A few years ago I wrote down this website...lpsharp.com...send them 5 old blades and they will sharpen them and return them for $17.50. I'm guessing postage is added on making it higher. Might be cheaper to use a coupon at JoAnns.

There have been other threads discussing rotary blade sharpeners - the vast majority that have tried say that they are a waste of money - better off to buy new blades.

Don't waste your money.....the blade sharpeners just do not work....( I have tried 4 different ones, all with same miserable results)......invest in GOOD blades, and change when they become dull.......

Please don't toss them in the trash! There have been several threads on this Board in which people describe various ways they package used blades to make them safe (safer than just tossing the blade anyway) before disposing of them. I place worn-old blades in an old blade container or dental floss container and, when it's full, wrap the container tightly in duct tape and pitch the whole thing.

I wish the news were better, but this question has been asked many times on the QB and the answer seems always to be "Don't waste your money!" We all wish, but so far nothing positive has come to light. Sorry!

I take mine to thr local knife shop and have them sharpened.

When I discard blades, needles, or pins I put them in a plastic container and when it it partially full, I pour plaster of paris in the container, let it set up, then toss the whole thing in the trash. That way nobody gets cut or stuck with an old blade or sharp pin. Works great for me.

I've tried 4 different kinds, one of which was more than $50. None of them are worth the time and effort of loading the blade, going thru the motions, putting the blade back in you cutter and then finding out it's not any sharper than when you started.

I have the little blue sharpener also because a teacher on a Craftsy show says she uses one and shows how to use it. I followed her directions but didn't think it helped at all. Easier to buy new blades.

I agree.... Save your money & just buy new blades. I haven't heard a good review from any of them & the one I bought is nothing but junk

I put my used blades and used needles in a large prescription bottle. When it is full I tape the lid and put in thrash. That way no one gets cut or pricked. This was suggested by my favorite quilt shop.

I also agree with JustAbitCrazy. The secret is to keep it oiled. Love mine also.

I don't think the sharpeners work all that well.

Our quilting group bought the electric one. It sits in the cupboard because no one likes it. To much work on your part for something that does not sharpen well. Buy the large packs from ebay.

http://www.lpsharp.com/

I get my blades here...