Save Money By Sharpening Your X-Acto Knife Instead Of Replacing It

The X-Acto knife is one of the handiest items around, an essential toolbox addition finding daily use for everyone from professionals to average homeowners. All we ask is for this precision tool to be dependably sharp and deliver clean cuts, particularly those needed for hobby work, like forming detailed stencils or cutting models. With their tendency to dull after only a few swipes, it's no wonder we burn through the blades so quickly!

It's easy to underestimate the costs involved in changing X-Acto knife blades. Buying blades in bulk is cheap enough for many to justify swapping blades multiple times in a single project. But if you want to reduce waste and stretch your dollar, blade sharpening can double, triple, or even quadruple your blade's lifespan. There's less time spent looking for and swapping blades, and you don't have to go through extra steps like wrapping the blade in tape for safe disposal when you're ready to throw it out. 

Some hobbyists even find sharpening their X-Acto knife to be a satisfying and relaxing ritual before or after they work on a project. You can't enjoy those perks when you're quick to exchange a worn blade. And if you have a frequent need to sharpen your pocket knife and other tools, having a whetstone handy makes tons of sense. With your sharpening stone at the ready, why not try breathing new life into your dull X-Acto knife so you can press ahead on your project?

X-Acto knives are ready for resharpening as soon as they start to resist the pull, so the fine-grit side of a whetstone is typically all you need. Once the blade develops nicks or the tip breaks, you'll need to replace it anyways, generally making coarser grits unnecessary. Any stone style will work, but diamond stones are an excellent choice to sharpen X-Acto knife blades. They sharpen faster than most stones and work well with water to remove the shaved particles. Plus, you can use them dry to get back to work as fast as possible. That efficiency is important to make reusing blades a worthwhile effort. Fortunately, you have multiple ways to achieve it. The aluminum foil knife-sharpening hack may not suit a small X-Acto blade, but some fine-grit sandpaper can be a quick and easy-to-use alternative to a whetstone.

To sharpen your knife, keep the X-Acto blade at a shallow angle to match the existing bevel. Smoothly drag it across the sharpening stone several times on both sides. If you're having trouble finding the proper angle, color the bevel with a black marker. Sharpen the blade, and check how much marker has worn off. If the marker wears away evenly, you'll know you have the proper angle. Like any skill, sharpening your X-Acto knife will become easier the more you practice. You'll soon dial in the angle and technique, letting you restore your blades and get back to your projects in seconds!