a few years back I found a little blue hand held sharpener............. it seems like it works I guess as I have used it a few times and as far as I can tell it makes a difference with dull blades.........think I only paid 10 bucks for it and for 10 bucks if I don't lose it the first year or it doesn't break it was well worth it...........I have saved on 4 sets of blades so far just by using this sharpener