How Do I Sharpen the Thread Cutter on 99K?
 

I wish that my thread cutter was sharper on my Singer 99K. I end up using the scissors most of the time to cut my threads. Can anyone give advise on how to sharpen it? Thanks.

~ Cindy

I had the same problem. Finally just removed it & found it clogged up.... Give it a try...

Dried up old oil or rust might make it not cut - is it on right side up???

or you can get one of these
http://www.sewingpartsonline.com/thr...f-machine.aspx
I've seen some other types over the years.

somewhere in the far past I think I even glued a dental floss cutter on the side of a machine.

Interestingly, I've just yesterday tried filing. At an angle of the blade - no luck. Using a curved file - no luck. Giving up and using scissors unless someone can give instructions..

I remove it from the machine and use one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Lansky-Sharpen.../dp/B0001WP32W

It works pretty well.

Cari

You should be able to get replacement blades at or through a dealer. Do a search.
peace

ok I've been lookin at my 99k well at both of them and I am not finding even one thread cutter on either one. Can someone tell me where to look? Please? I haven't used these very much and not at all since my strokes and have lost a lot of memory so I probably just don't remember where to look.

On the presser bar, it's shaped so you pull thread from right to left and tug it straight down. The top of it is supposed to be sharp and cut the thread easily. There's a picture of one here

most any machine that got used way back when has had the cutter removed. most of us got real tired bleeding all over brand new fabric

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.