Resharpening blades

[smp]

I am finding that these paper models eat Xacto blades like they were candy...darn expensive candy.


Way, turn of the century, back, I used to see adds for modeling knives that had an associated sharpener. Uber Skiver I think they were called. Haven't seen an add in years.


What do y'all do about dull blades? Toss 'em or resharpen 'em? If you resharpen, how do you do it? Arkansas stone and oil? Another way? Cheapskate modelers, I count myself as one, want to know.
Thanks
sp

[rickstef]

I toss 'em
I never learned to sharpen an edge using stones and oil or water

[Madbrit]

If the Xacto blades are those manufactured for a time in China then re-sharpening them has been found to be a waste of time. The stone and oil would normally do the trick with regular blades made in the US.

[smp]

I'd like to say, "Who'd a thunk it", but I didn't thunk it. Good point there. I will have to pick up some blades in the Xacto packaging. I have been using blades from 100 packs I get from Tower Hobbies which are Chinese made and getting more expensive every order.
Thanks
sp

[Burning Beard]

I have been building models for four or five years now, I think I am on my third blade. I sharpen them with a dry pocket stone and will occasionally strop them on an old leather belt.

[Kevin WS]

As per Burning Beard.

I use Olfa blades now - you can buy their knives with a box of 10-20 blades included.

They resharpen and hold an edge well. I just resharpen with an Arkansas whetstone (a tiny Lansky one for fishhooks) - a few strokes on a dry stone each side of the blade and it's done. A homemade strop from an old leather belt, stuck on a bit of an old ruler completes the process.

[dhanners]

I had an artist friend once who worked in paper (not card models, though) and we were talking knives and he said he replaced No. 11 blades after every 10 cuts. I told him if I did that, I should buy stock in Xacto.

[Kevin WS]

Originally Posted by dhanners

I had an artist friend once who worked in paper (not card models, though) and we were talking knives and he said he replaced No. 11 blades after every 10 cuts. I told him if I did that, I should buy stock in Xacto.

Good grief! I suppose he was a very rich artist - or a very poor one depending on how you look at it!

Something I forgot to mention is that I rarely use a new blade - they just go on and on. The Olfa blades have less of an acutre angle at the tip, so they also snap less often than #11's.

[SCEtoAUX]

I use a leather strop with some green honing compound to get the edge back on the blade.
I do have a bunch of used blades in small containers, though. Quite a hoard.

[smp]

Great tips y'all thanks so much. I can get an Olfa knife W/blades, a whetstone and a belt, (been wearing suspenders for years), for the price of 100 Chinese #11s.
Thanks again
sp