Has anyone tried using one of those nifty gadgets that supposedly sharpens a worn rotary cutter blade? Do they work?

I just bought one about a week ago. I also bought a new blade, after I had cut quite a few squares I decided to sharpen it, it was ok but you could tell it was getting on the dull side. Well, to my surprise and disappointment it was worse after the sharpening than before, seemed to have a nick in it. I am hoping that maybe I just got a bad sharpener or pressed to hard or something. I may try to get a new one and see if that helps, tho they are pricey to keep buying, almost three blades.

Donna

On another board, there was a thread describing things posters wish they hadn't bought. The blade sharpener was one of the most common items listed.

Jezebel George, thank you so much for posting this info, I will not try another then.

Donna

I had one also. I used it to help keep blades longer. In between cutting it did help some, but to my way of thinking it wasn't enough to warrant the price tag on it and it wore out faster than the blades. Needless to say I have never bought another. If they had a longer lasting sharpener I would probably invest in it as I don't get to many uses out of blades. I am awfully hard on blades. I can have spaces that skip before I even finish one project. So it was nice to at least help make it thru one. I guess we all try the gadgets and keep or reject. Hope this helps.

Rita

Excellent advice, all. Thank you! I"m still gonna follow the little trick of taking apart the cutter, reversing the blade, cleaning it up and applying a drop of machine oil. That's been getting a little extra mileage out of each blade for me. The blade sharpener seemed an idea too good to be true--and I guess it was! :thumbup:

Exellent information, ladies! I too was considering the investment. Not only have you saved me from throwing money away, you also explained the problems with the sharpener. I love quilters! :D Do you realize how many fat quarters we can buy now? :thumbup:

I take donations at *******. :lol:

Hi, yes, I bought one. Mine was blue, has two sand paper disks that you screw a little blue handle into the blade and rub against for sharpening. It was pricey, but I used a 40% coupon! :) I found when cutting cordura nylon and heavier fabrics that it really did the job in keeping the nice sharp cuts I wanted. It does not replace a new blade, but if you can't go out and get one right away or are in a quilting circle and someone's blade is too dull, it gets you out of a fix. :)

Yes, I have one which I purchased several years ago. It works fine. The only problem is NO ONE carries the replacement sandpapers circles. I have watched for them, but no luck.
Has anyone found a source for the replacement sandpaper circles? Suzanne

My husband has adhesive sandpaper for his shopsmith. He made me replacement disks...

I Have one and hate it. Don't waste your money.

Carole

I have one, and I kind of like it. I get a little more mileage out of the blades with it, but it definitely does not make them "like new" again. I've been thinking I would try to replace the sharpening disks on it with some emery cloth to see if it would sharpen better. I think the concept is good, but the design could use a little work.

I have one and like it. The trick is (a)don't cut yourself & (b) be sure to turn the blade over and sharpen both sides of the blade. You also have to use both sides of the sanding disks, so that means 15 revolutions; turn over for 15 more revolutions; & repeat on the other side of the sanding disks, so yes, that means a total of 60 revolutions. No, it's not the same as a new blade, but it sure gives a new life to the old ones. Wait for a 40 or 50% off sale, and then get one. BTW, you need to get one for each size blade you use, so no, you cannot sharpen a 28mm blade on a 60 mm sharpener.

I am so glad I read this. I was planning a trip to Hancock Fabric this weekend and a blade sharpener was on my list of things to buy. Since my local fabric store charged me $35.99 for a pack of 5 blades, I thought I might see if I could make them last longer. But this will not be one of the options.

I have tried one too; actually I was at a retreat and a quilt store was a "guest" there so I bought one from her and it didn't work for ____ so she took it back; no questions. It was way worse than b/4 I tried to sharpen it. Also, if you have a JoAnn's or at your Hancock, use a 40% off coupon to buy your blades or when they have their quilting notions on sale. Helps a lot! I sure wish I could find a tried and true method to give new life to old blades though.

In the Fall 2010 Keepsake Quilting catalog, page 117, they show some new acrylic rulers with a "diamond-powdered-encrusted edge" that's supposed to sharpen your cutter as you use it. Then, onpage 122, they show 2 different types of blade sharpeners. I have the one mentioned before that has the sanpaper discs and I'm not thrilled with it. Either I waited too long to try to sharpen my blade, or it just doesn't work the way I had hoped it would. (Now I know why it was on clearance - LOL) I don't know if the other ones in the catalog are any better, but I'm leary now. Think I'll just replace them with ones from Harbor Freight.

Who is Harbor Freight or why them?

Harbor Freight is a hardware type store. They sell carpet cutting blades that fit the rotary cutters. There are several posts on the boards about them. They sell blades that fit the 45mm cutter $1.99 for a pack of 2. Sometimes in the weekly sale flyers there is a coupon for 20% off. I haven't tried them but the posts on here speak very highly of them.