Like most of you, I hate to pay the price for rotary blades, even with a coupon. My sharpener is OK, but only does a 45mm blade. I have searched and searched for better sharpeners, and they are out there, but they are relatively expensive. Today the light bulb finally lit up, and I searched for how to sharpen your own rotary blade. I haven't tried this, but it sure won't cost much to try it. Supposed to work with scissors also.


http://www.pennyshands.blogspot.com/...ter-blade.html

I have heard about this but, have never tried it. I will do that today!!! Thanks for the reminder.

Worth a try. By the time the burr is interfering with cutting you've got nothing to lose.

Has anyone actually tried this?

I think my DH would have a "fit" if I tried it with any of our knives.

I'm gonna try this right now.

cjomomma, please let us know how it worked out. :thumbup: or :thumbdown:

It has made the blade sharper. My blade had a teeny tiny little spot where it skipped when cutting now it doesn't skip. Now to try it on my 60mm that I only have 1 blade for and haven't used in a year.

I just tried it, It may have helped a tiny bit. I'll just use my HF blades.

I'm going to try it -- what do I have to lose!

Thanks for sharing this...will have to try with a dull blade, and also some scissors that need sharpening. Not sure though that I would try this with my Ginghers.

I tried it on the 60mm blade that wouldn't cut at all and now it does. I found that you just have to keep at it. When the foil is in small pieces just keep piling it up until your blade is sharp. I think it's worth it.

I would never try it on Ginghers. The company will sharpen them. Of course you do have to send it to them, but for the cost of the ginghers, it just might be worth it.

Maybe I didn't roll it across the foil enough. I'll try it again. Like it was said "What do we have to loose??

I tried it. The blade I tried it with - well it was not really a fair trial - but it WORKED. The dull blade is NOT a new blade, but it is much better than it was when I started.

I look at it this way - I was ready to permanently retire the blade, I was able to "rescue" it for more cutting. That is a winner in my book.

Thanks for sharing this.

I have done this with older scissors but not with any of my good ones. It does help for awhile. I never throw my blades away because I know if I do someone will invent a really cheap way to sharpen them. I'll get one out and try this.

How neat.. thanks for sharing...


Another point to think about:
how much did it cost you for the foil and your time... versus 2.49 2pk replacement blades?

I've never heard of it before but could see how it works. I sharpen my scissors with sandpaper; all you have to do is cut thru it a few times and your scissors are shap; thank goodness you can get sandpaper and now cheap foil at the $store.

Thanks:)

i think this is a great idea...nothing to lose but a piece of foil....and everything to gain. No I would do this with my very best scissors, however, would be great for my 'paper scissors' and such....I feel the principle is sound

Excellent link, thanks so much for sharing. Will deffinately give this a try.

My Mom was telling me about this just this morning! She says it works on all kinds of blades. Her Aunt June who quilts told her about it.

I tried this with several layers of foil and it worked great. I now have 3 blades that were ready to go. I also tried buying the 45 carpet cutter replacement blades from Harbor tools that were discussed on this site. They all have knicks in them. Tried this method to sharpen and it didn't work. Bought 12 blades and will throw them all out!

Can't you return them? I was going to order them but now i'm not so sure. I don't need anything else around that doesn't work! I may go on ebay and get one of their deals. Usually cheaper that JoAnns.

Sounds like it is worth trying.

Thanks for the info. I was thinking of buying a sharpener, but this is cheaper. I think I'm going to try this with an old blade.

I tried it on several I had lying around and they seem to be much better than they were. If you get a few extra days out of each it's worth it to me.

Ick...that's not good!! Even thought the blades are not expensive, it all adds up!!
Kif

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: Agree!! Off to the kitchen for some foil!!

I will have to try this. Also loved the patterns about hexagons. Thanks for the link.

I would, but it is a 2 hour drive for me. I paid $1.49 per pack and will consider it a lesson in bulk purchasing! Decided I should hang onto them, when I go back that way I'll take them along and see what they will do without the receipt. Thanks for suggesting that.

This is something that I am going to try....can't hurt.

If it is only a burr on your blade, I imagine you can sharpen them repeatedly. I'm buying an extra roll of foil for my sewing room. Wonder if it will work on some of my old thread nippers. worth a shot. I save my coupons from Joanns for things like rotary cutters and blades. BTW, if you have a Tuesday Morning store, check their craft area. I recently bought a new 60mm rotary for about $10.00. The replacement blades cost that much unless you have a coupon. They get in interesting sewing and crafting items. A few fat quarters. rulers, etc.

What a great inexpensive idea....never heard of this before, but will carry a 'wad' of Aluminum foil in my 'class' bag....for a quick resharpening!

I have foil, I have dull rotary blades....If this will keep the blades out of the land fill just a little longer, that would be a good thing.

Thank You, I seem to go thru the blades fast, maybe this will help,

You people have obviously missed the previous threads about the Harbor Freight carpet blades. They work great and are much cheaper than the other brands. I find that when you try to sharpen a blade it only lasts for a few cuts and then you have to replace anyway. So go the Harbor Freight way.

Hope this works!!! I will give it a try.. I have disguarded blades that I have saved - for what you ask - I don't know but I guess I was wishing for a sharpening fairy to come one night. Haha

I am a lefty and not real cordinated so I go thru blades quick. I can't wait to see if this works. Thanks for the tip.

Hello, The foil trick will work to a help but if you have a nic in your blade...sorry it is a gonner, unless it does not bother you or you press hard on the board. This will work for scissors also. FYI if you blade is really dull...it will only help a bit. But it does make it last so at least you can finish your project...I find. :)

Omg! I just started sharpening my blades that way. Thought of it on my own. I thought about how the Creative Memories consultants said to sharpen the corner rounders with foil. I took about a 3" strip of foil, folded and folded it until I couldn't fold it anymore. Ran the rotary cutter back and forth over it back and forth and wow! It was like new!!!

I have been meaning to share it with the board but just never got around to it.