Thanks Cari,

That might do the trick. It might depend on the diameter of the stick. Did you sharpen the outside edge, or from the inside of the cutter?

~ Cindy

It's nice and clean, however, I never thought that it might be upside down. I'll double check on that. Thanks.

~ Cindy

Using the thread cutter on the machine is a habit I've never gotten into. I do use it occasionally if I realize I hauled my scissors off somewhere.

The one on the 99 is spring steel - a very hard metal so you need a file/stone hard enough to cut the metal. Otherwise you just end up wearing down the file.

Hummm...I'm wondering about taking a knife steel to the outside edge.

Round jewelers file, shouldn't be much different than a chainsaw tooth.

Jon

Of the 79 machines I've bought, only one has had its cutter removed.
I remember this number because I hadn't seen it before (or since).

I'm wondering the same thing about the thread cutter on the Kenmore 117-95 that I've just got in operating condition after 25 years in a corner. It was my mother's and is one year younger than I am. The manual doesn't mention removing the cutter but I cannot imagine sharpening it in place. I'd try sharpening it from the cutting edge inward, the way Dad taught me to file an axe. It's counter-intuitive but really works.

Usually is is dried up oil turned to varnish that cruds those up - try cleaning the oil off first.