Has anyone ever sharpened a paper cutter?

[backseatpilot]

I acquired a Kodak trimming board which I was hoping to use for cutting negatives and the like. Turns out the blade is extremely dull. Has anyone had success sharpening one of these? I have various grit whetstones that I use for my kitchen knives, as well as diamond files, but I've never tackled something like this before.

 

[MartinCrabtree]

That's something I'd pay someone to do. And I'm a machinist.

However can you post a photo of the blade? Can it be removed from the arm?

 

[Kino]

Both the blade on the arm and the one on the board will need to be re-ground to a flat surface. While the arm will be fairly easy to grind, the blade on the board might prove more problematic if it doesn't have enough material to allow sharpening.

If the edge of the bottom blade is exactly flush with the board edge, it will not have enough surface area to be ground unless you relocate it toward the edge a bit after sharpening. Might be easier to replace the bottom edge than adjust it.

The blades should be ground at a 90 degree angle to the sides of the blade and all burrs removed from the edge; no taper.

 

[eli griggs]

Take it to a professional for best results or buy a roto trim.

 

[MattKing]

When I investigated this a few years ago the people who sharpen knives and kitchen utensils were unable to do it.
In older days, you would be looking toward those who provided services to the printing industry.
I'm not sure where I would look now - perhaps someone with expertise in maintaining old saws and other similar tools?

 

[Kino]

At this point, it's probably better to just buy another cutter and display this one.

 

[BrianShaw]

This kind of guillotine cutters are easily sharpened but it’s a completely manual task and not a quick one. That’s why knife sharpening pros won’t touch them.

 

[eli griggs]

This thread provoke me into going ahead, tonight, and buying a 12" Pro RotoTrim cutter. (two guide arms) even though i have traditional guillotine cutters, so precision cuts of negatives, both paper and film are pain free and the cut material slides easily into dark slide holders.


Cutting medium to size is so routine, life's too short to mess around with dull or misaligned blades, IMO.

 

[BrianShaw]

Good decision.

 

[mshchem]

This thread provoke me into going ahead, tonight, and buying a 12" Pro RotoTrim cutter. (two guide arms) even though i have traditional guillotine cutters, so precision cuts of negatives, both paper and film are pain free and the cut material slides easily into dark slide holders.


Cutting medium to size is so routine, life's too short to mess around with dull or misaligned blades, IMO.

Absolutely, British made! I would get a 15 inch just to give yourself more room.

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[mshchem]

Like scissors hide them, even from your spouse. My artist wife destroyed a beautiful guillotine cutter of mine. I caught her in the act.