Ok guys, this may sound silly but I can't find a single edge razor blade that will stay sharp to cut tag ends. Seems like I am going thru way too many . Is there a brand of blades that is better than the others? I'm lucky to get one or two rods out of a blade until I'm sawing the thread into. I'm not using the blade for anything but cutting thread. Any help is appreciated.
Howard Hodges

Razors are cheap - I buy them by the hundred and throw them away when they don't cut clean

I go through two to three blades per rod build. Depends if I use metallic thread. Can't stand fuzzes from a dull blade.

Tom

Try a scalpel it's far sharper. You will still change them often though. Also, a double edge old school razor blade is sharper than a single edge blade.

Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..

I generally dedicate one per rod, and then relegate it to the workbench bin for less precise work. For the cost and time involved in building a good custom rod, a nickel for a single edge blade, per rod, isn't much to worry about.

..............

I use #10 scalpels

The razorblades sold today are not the same quality as they were a few years ago. I hear this complaint all the time, from people who laugh at me for sharpening mine. I'll use the same blade as long as I don't lose it, makes no sense to keep throwing away a dull blade just to take another dull blade out of the cardboard wrapper.

Go to a beauty supply store (like Sally's) and get the long thin single edge blades used for cutting hair. They are more expensive but are also much sharper. I saw this tip on this forum about a year ago and was skeptical but I've become a believer in them. I use them for trimming the tag ends. I also keep a box of the regular single siders for lots of other tasks.

Steve Hartzell
Lake Conroe - Willis, Texas

Steve has it exactly right - Personna Hair Shaper Blades from Sally Beauty Supply are fantastic. I first saw Bill Stevens post this and they work. You can also get them on Amazon, etc.

Just be careful - they are MUCH sharper than you are used to and you can easily cut too deeply when cutting fizzles, etc. Easy does it for sure.

I'll add my voice in favour of the Personna Hair Shaper blades .I also use a new blade with every rod

Regards Baz

Bundeena
NSW Australia

I'm with Tom and Barry, a new blade for every rod, they don't cost much and there are plenty of uses for them in the work shop.
I looked for those Personna hair blades but couldn't find them here. I'll see Barry on Sunday and he can enlighten me.

ESFNEM Col
Port Kembla, NSW
Australia

heck
I do what Billy does Run it on a piece of 400 grit sandpaper had the same one for Don't know how long now

Bill - willierods.com

Ordinary double edged blades are MUCH sharper than single edged. Break them in half lengthwise and fold a piece of masking tape over the broken edge. You will get two very sharp blades for one, you won't pay a premium (beauty salon) price, and you won't have to drive all over looking for them.

Double edge blades here too. I put a piece of masking tape over one edge when I take it out of the holder and write "new" on it. then when one side gets dull I cover that with tape and write"old" on it. when both sides are shot I wrap the whole thing in tape.

I buy single edge blades by the 100 for $8..... one rod and throw it out....tack on the 8 cents to the price of the rod.

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Super Tight Lines......Don

I have a ton of double edged blades, the problem I have with them is that they are too sharp, thin and small and I sometimes cut my fingers/palm with it. I wrap holding the razorblade in my palm and flick the blade onto my fingertips.

Don, the problem with the new blades is some of them aren't even sharp out of the box and you end up cutting with a dull blade which leaves a fuzzy cut. And some metallics dull the blade after one cut.

I use scissors on all thread except for feathering the thread of a butt wrap when wrapping the retaining bands. I don't get nubs.

Billy Vivona Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have a ton of double edged blades, the problem I
> have with them is that they are too sharp, thin
> and small and I sometimes cut my fingers/palm with
> it. I wrap holding the razorblade in my palm and
> flick the blade onto my fingertips.
>
> Don, the problem with the new blades is some of
> them aren't even sharp out of the box and you end
> up cutting with a dull blade which leaves a fuzzy
> cut. And some metallics dull the blade after one
> cut.

I have not had that problem yet....knock on wood, guess if I had a dull one out of the pack I would have to eat the cost.....LOL

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Super Tight Lines......Don

People started complaining to me a couple of years ago, I had no idea what their problem was. Until I ran out of blades and bought a new 100 pack, and it was like you were trying to cut with the safe end of the blade after 2 guide wraps. I assume the guy who started this got blades that were like that

use a scalpel, you won't have to worry about cutting yourself, much safer and sharper. readily available at most surplus stores.