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How to Sharpen a Punch

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By Noreen Doll.

Do you need to sharpen a punch? Any kind of punch can be sharpened this way.

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I was punching holes around the edges of a Christmas card to make it into a sewing card for preschoolers.

After punching a few holes, I noticed the punch was not punching cleanly, and it was leaving raggedy looking holes.

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You can punch aluminum foil to sharpen punches. I took a piece of aluminum foil 6 or 8 inches wide and folded it up fairly small – so it was several thicknesses.

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Then I punched as many holes in it as I could.

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When I was finished, my punch cut cleanly again.

And I had a pile of shiny circles to use on a project.  Now if I can only figure out a good way to use them!

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Punching folded wax paper after punching the aluminum foil is supposed to lubricate the punch edges.  However, I found it difficult to punch the wax paper, so you may want to try this for yourself and see how it goes.

Punching soda cans sharpens punches very well, too.

Here I’ve used a soda can to sharpen a snowflake punch.

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I didn’t punch it as many times as I did the hole punch, but the can sharpened the punch nicely.

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And look at the colorful aluminum snowflake I got while sharpening the punch!

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How to Fix a Rusted Paper Punch.

Sharpen Decorative Edge Scissors.

Use an aluminum can to make a dimensional star.

Aluminum Can Dimensional Star - Crafty Journal
Use an aluminum can to make a dimensional star.

 

© Noreen Doll

Crafty Journal

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  1. I have heard you can sharpen scissors this way, too. I wonder what it is about the aluminum that sharpens? This is good information to have. Thanks for posting it.

  2. Very useful! Now…….can you tell me how to punch wool felt, the way the doll makers did in the early 1900s to the 50s? Remember the little felt bootie kits that had punched flower shapes>

    If we can send a man to the moon, think of what a woman would have discovered!

  3. I’m afraid I don’t know how they punched wool felt. But my guess is they used heavy duty machinery. Noreen

  4. Hello, Noreen!

    Thank you for the most valuable tip!
    I’ve seen your crafts a lot from I Share Crafts and I love how you always use those available in-house materials to make your crafts. Thanks for sharing them.

  6. I didn’t know this and it’s good info to have since I have two very dull punches from punching hundreds and hundreds of plastic ziplocks for a project we did when my son and his Marine Corps buddies were stationed in Iraq. I love the idea of punching out a coke can and other metal as well. I’d have never thought the punches could cut through. Thanks for the info. I’ll be pinning it so I don’t forget.
    Liz

  9. Oh, wow! that is great! I really need to sharpen my hole punch! Thanks for sharing!
    Found you at This Gal Cooks.
    Gloria

  14. I’ve tried this with scissors and it worked okay; not a huge difference. I’m glad it worked for you. Stopping by from I Should be Mopping.

  21. What a great idea! I have a number of punches that I was going to throw away because they are dull but now I will have to try your remedy and see if I can save them. One is a favorite corner punch they no longer make so this is a great tip . Thanks a million

  22. Thanks for the great tip. I had no idea! I was wondering the other day what to do about my dull punches. You have great timing! Pinning.

  26. We used foil for my wedding… But I hadn’t thought of a soda can! Great tip! Found you at Our Delightful Home’s party… Hope you have a great Tuesday!

    Danielle
    SewMuchCrafting.com

  33. Great tip! I need to sharpen my 1 & 3-hole punches. I sharpen my scissors on the edge of my great-grandmother’s butter churn! Thanks so much for sharing. Hope to see you again soon! Blessings, D

  34. A fun way to use your great-grandmother’s butter churn! I love using vintage family things. We use old aluminum knitting needles to make jump rings for jewelry.

    Noreen

  40. Hi! Visiting from Diana’s party. Thank you for this great info. I love punches and have built up quite a collection. Hated the thoght of just throwing them out once they become dull. I will use your ideas. Thanks!

  41. I had heard of punching aluminum foil to sharpen punches, but on detailed punches it would just get stuck – I will try folding it a few times and see if that works better – or I’ll try punching soda cans, love the metal snowflake you made that way.

  42. Some of the intricate edges do get stuck, but I just carefully work the snowflake out.

    Noreen

  46. Great tip, thanks. We are thinking of starting a tips and techniques section soon, and would love to share this post! xxxx

  50. Wow, this is great information! I have some dull punches and thought I should just chuck them! Now I won’t have to. I’ll be featuring this on my party highlights post this week!

  60. Hey, thats a realy great idea! I must test it, my puncher seemed to be “dead”, so maybe he will be reanimated. 🙂 (Sorry if it sounds funny, my english is schoolenglish and school was… okay too long ago).

    Bye
    Monique

  65. Saw your link at Livin the Mom Life. I’ve heard of using foil to sharpen a punch but never thought to use a soda can! I bet that is the most effective way to do it!

  67. Wow I am so glad you posted this because both my hole punch and tag punches are getting dull! I certainly never would of thought of it myself. Thanks again for sharing your creative inspiration with Sunday’s Best!

  68. I have used the aluminum foil and it does work but the coke tin might work better. I will remember that next time I get my punches out! Great idea!

  69. Hi Noreen!

    I am so happy to have discovered your website (just in time to make some cool graduation gifts like the money wallet!)!!! 🙂

    This is a GREAT tip (I’m a paper crafter and have an extensive punch collection)!!!!!! I do have a question though: how do you cut the soda can into sheets in order to punch?

    Thank you so much for sharing!

    Crafty hugs,

    Jennifer

  72. Yay! I thought I was going to have to get rid of my butterfly paper punch because it’s gotten so dull. Definitely giving this a try. P.S. I love that you turned even the products of the sharpening into something creative – you rock!

  75. It seems as though it would – it’s pretty much the same principle. But I haven’t tried it. Let me know how it goes if you try it.

  76. Thanks for sharing this tip. I use a piece of foil to sharpen my Cricut Machine blades, but I never thought of sharpening my punches! I’m going to try this on my punches later this evening when I go to my craft room. Thanks again for sharing 😊!

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