tool tip

[gene]

I have an electric cutter with a hex cutting blade. I needed to cut a lot of thick fabric for welt cord and I did not want to use scissors. I found the hex blade to be dull. I took a file and gently filed the 6 flat sides of the blade cutting edge, without taking the blade out of the cutter. I filed on the beveled side of the cutting wheel.

It made it cut like a new blade.

Yes, I did unplug the cutter before I put my fingers all over the cutting wheel.

gene

[Rich]

You were able to sharpen a tool steel cutting blade with a file? Must be a terrific file!
Rich

[gene]

I don't know why I put this topic here. Anyway...

It's a File Bastard made by Nickelson USA. #8 and 8" long. The machinist that told me what kind of file it is also told me that he can't believe I would use that to sharpen a cutting blade. He said there are so many better and easier ways to sharpen blades - a lot of emphasis on 'better'.

I won't be using that file to sharpen blades again. This guy felt the same way I do when someone tells me they fixed a tear in the fabric on a piece of furniture with duct tape.

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=electric+rotary+cutters+for+fabric&view=detail&id=C0772A2668CCDAA4F4060D756DD1C7B869684672

My electric rotary cutter was going slower and slower. It was getting more and more difficult to cut thin fabrics.
I put a new blade in it and it helped a little bit.
I unplugged it.
Took off the blade.
Unscrewed the 3 screws under where the blade goes.
I took out the gear.
I took out the roll pin.
I tapped the center shaft upward so the part of the unit that holds the blade is not moved up. I cleaned out a bunch of threads that had gotten wrapped around and under that part of the unit that holds the blade.
I tapped it back down, put in the roller pin, and voila.

I can cut tissue paper with it. It is amazing how fast the blade runs - like new. It was slowing down gradually over time and that's why I had not noticed that it was not running nearly as fast as it had when I first got it.

gene

[JDUpholstery]

mine has a little built in push button sharpening stone...turn it on hold the button and it sharpens the blade ..makes it pretty simple to keep it sharp....I am going to have to take mine apart and see how much thread I can find inside though, seems to be slowing down as well

[sofadoc]

My rotary cutter instructions says to grease the helix gear every 6 months:


Mine also has the built-in sharpening stone. I'm still working on the same blade that originally came with the cutter 2 years ago.

[gene]

You have the same one I do sofaD. That geared part you pick up in the video has a roller pin in it and that's what I removed to tap the center shaft up a bit to remove the threads.

Oh, all the threads were black solid stuff. Before I took out the roller pin, I put a propane torch to it thinking I could burn off the threads. They all melted into a thick black crust that made it stop turning totally.

Hey, first you hit it with a hammer and if that doesn't fix it you get the propane torch.

Thanks for the video.

gene

[Jano]

JD.
I like your setup with workbench and all. Looks good.   On your bench I just would like to ask what materal did you cover the top with??  thanks....