Keeping Your Blade Sharp

Hey Folks,

Lately I’ve been reading a few posts about people trying to keep blades sharp and buy those pads (I forget what they are card) to ensure your glade doesn’t become dull.

Honestly there is no need to buy anything fancy for that. I used to work in the sign industry and we always used glass to cut on. it never dulls your blade and really doesnt scratch at all.

I thought I’d share that with you so you can save a bit of money and use scraps that you might get on the cheap at your hardware store.

Ineresting!

Thanks for the tip,

Richard

I always thought it was cutting thru the styrene/abs/wood/cardboard etc that dulled the knife blade as you used it, and that cutting mats were used to prevent you from gouging out your workbench surface (and since most have ruled grids printed on them, to help position the pieces for cutting and gluing).

That said, I tend to use small pieces of flat glass for cutting and gluing, as the plastic cement doesn’t stick to the glass if it leaks thru (or at least you can pry up the pieces easliy enough to sand and finish them).

Cutting on such a hard surface will snap the tip from the blade. Cutting mat on a solid surface or as I ended up using are blocks of MDF or other scraps of hardwood. Of coarse glass is great for cutting very thin material and sizing masking tape, etc. Just need to watch the pressure to not ruin the fine tip of the blade.

I will use a sharpening stone to hone the edge once in awhile to keep that blade going. But there’s still nothing like placing a brand new one when those cuts are rather crucial.

I’ve had glass atop my work desk for years, mostly for the benefits outlined. My current one is a shelf from an old refrigerator, with nicely-finished edges on all sides.

Glass also useful when using ca to affix metal grabirons and other such details which protrude into the car bodies: simply place a puddle of it on the glass, then use the tip of an old #11 blade to apply the glue to the model’s interior. One of those blades with the missing tip works best, as it holds a little more ca than a pointed one. When you’re finished, wipe up any left-over ca, then scrape off the dried residue with a #17 chisel blade.
When a blade had lost its tip and been honed repeatedly, don’t throw it out. Either end is useful for mixing small amounts of epoxy on a scrap of sheet styrene.
A blade which has become dull and nicked is also useful for cutting brass wire and for scoring and cutting brass shimstock. To cut brass wire up to about .015" (and stainless steel wire up to .010") simply press down firmly with the area near the heel of the blade (using the tip will generally result in breakage and flying tips). Be sure to restrain both pieces and wear eye protection, too. In most instances, the cut end will require little or no touch-up. To cut heavier brass wire (and tubing), roll the material, using moderate pressure, under the blade - the first pass or two need to be done carefully to avoid wandering off the mark.
If you’re using masking tape for painting, always apply it first to the glass, and use a new blade and straightedge to trim away the factory edges - these become nicked and dinged over time, collect fuzz and dust, and also lose some of their stickiness due to exposure to air. Likewise, if you need thin strips of tape, measure and cut them on the glass.

Wayne

This seems to have morphed into a litany of multiple uses for glass - which is good. I’m filing the ideas away.

As for keeping blades sharp, I concede that the smart maneuver is to avoid things that will dull them. If you have to use enough pressure to snap a tip you either need to sharpen the blade or refine your cutting technique.

However, blades used for cutting anything will eventually get dull. When they do, you will know. At that point, either sharpen or replace. Sharp blades cut the work piece. A dull blade may cut the worker.

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

Luckily Neurosurgeons are not like modelers - “eh, this scapel blade worked fine on the past 3 patients, it should be good for another operation or two”