SHARPENING STITCH GROOVERS

[Django]

Hi folks, can anyone give me advice on the best way to sharpen a stitch groover blade?

Tandy have a mini file set but i can only seeing this being useful if there is a burr inside the hole after sharpening, that is if you sharpen the outside of the blade, is this correct?
Thanks
Django.

[Slowhand Bob]

According to the Stohlman big book on sewing you tie an appropriate sized thread/string off to your table, thread coated with metal polish compound.  Thread the string through the blade eye and slide blade at the correct angle away from the edge to avoid cutting the string.  That is why I like the Craft brand version, the interchangeable blades are cheap enough that I just swap them out occasionally.  I save the old ones and swear that I will sharpen them one day but never do.

[ChuckBurrows]

What Slowhand said.............they can be sharpened but IMO it's too much of a pain in the butt when the blades are so cheap - I keep three or four on hand all the time.

PS - dampening the leather before grooving will often give you a cleaner/smoother cut - water when used right is your friend when working leather, it just takes time and experience to learn when......

[Django]

According to the Stohlman big book on sewing you tie an appropriate sized thread/string off to your table, thread coated with metal polish compound.  Thread the string through the blade eye and slide blade at the correct angle away from the edge to avoid cutting the string.  That is why I like the Craft brand version, the interchangeable blades are cheap enough that I just swap them out occasionally.  I save the old ones and swear that I will sharpen them one day but never do.

Thanks Bob and chuck, i did try this a while ago with linen thread but it kept breaking it!
i suppose a man made thread would be better for this job?
Tying it off to an anchor point sounds a sensible move.
Django

[Slowhand Bob]

I think the Stohlmans had a corner on the cup hanger market, they used to have the bottom edges of their bench lined with them for hanging tools, stretching thread for waxing and more chores than I can remember.  And dad said I would never learn to read!!!!  (Well, actually I picked thet up from the pictures.)