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Does anyone know HOW to sharpen a Guillotine Cutter? I know recently there was a post on sharpening punches and was wondering if I could use the same method(s) on my guillotine. I'm SURE there are probably others out there wondering the same thing! Thanks for your help!
REALLY???? I hadn't heard that!!!!!! I have a Tonic & just at the END of bringing down the guillotine, the paper cuts but, it isn't a clean cut. I got it for Christmas, so it's not that old! I was thinking I'd need to get something to put on it etc.! Thank you! I will DEFINATELY try this!!!!!!!!!
I make the arm go up and down quickly without paper. Slightly push the arm toward the stationary metal bar that is attached to the base. I do it quickly and 5-10 times.
I believe they are self-sharpening every time you use them. If you aren't getting a clean cut, the arm of your trimmer might be loose or bent. If it's loose, see if there is a screw that you can tighten. If it's bent, try gently pushing toward the inside when you make your cuts, and that might straighten it out. It worked for me after I did it 3 or 4 times.
Thank You Scrapjanny! I WONDERED if it might be something like that too! I've got my hubby looking NOW for the right tool to tighten the "screw!" THANK YOU!!!!!
I sharpen my guillotine and my punches by cutting aluminum foil. Helps with the dead spots and helps removes debris that might cause an imperfect cut. Try it!
Scrapjanny! The tool needed for the Tonic Cutter, to tighten the blade--- my husband tells me it's called an "Allen Wrench!" (He gave me one! No, he gave me OTHER paper crafting goodies for Mothers' Day! LOL)
Scrapjanny! The tool needed for the Tonic Cutter, to tighten the blade--- my husband tells me it's called an "Allen Wrench!" (He gave me one! No, he gave me OTHER paper crafting goodies for Mothers' Day! LOL)
Thanks for this information. I have an old guillotine, a German make called "Trim Cat". It had been a great trimmer but I stopped using it when the cut wasn't as clean over a year ago and bought the long Tonic one with the blade runner. I tried sharpening the guillotine today by using the guillotine without paper, but when I tried it, it still wasn't cutting cleanly so I repeated this but lubricated the length of the blade with foam dish soap cleaned off the bubbles and tried cutting with light card. It is cutting perfectly now.
I was also going to say have a look at the screw/bolt holding the blade arm in place. It may have worked loose, so the blade isn't running down across the guide properly. And as TLady says, they are generally Allen bolts- he hexagonal sort.
Here's another thought, the blades MIGHT have something on them like adhesive. I've cleaned them off with rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball or cotton swab. I do the base 'blade' (non-moving) and the arm blade. They dry quickly. I've also cleaned off the thumb guard because sometimes adhesive gets stuck on that as well.
Thanks for this information. I have an old guillotine, a German make called "Trim Cat". It had been a great trimmer but I stopped using it when the cut wasn't as clean over a year ago and bought the long Tonic one with the blade runner. I tried sharpening the guillotine today by using the guillotine without paper, but when I tried it, it still wasn't cutting cleanly so I repeated this but lubricated the length of the blade with foam dish soap cleaned off the bubbles and tried cutting with light card. It is cutting perfectly now.
FYI, I've bought old guillotine cutters at thrift stores. If the sharpening arm has hardware (versus being soldered together or in one piece), you can bring it to an old-fashioned local hardware store to be sharpened. I've had two sharpened that way. They take them apart, and clean/sharpen the blade.
Sharpening a Guillotine Cutter
