Jeanette Isabelle,

I think we miscommunicated a round back. I am not saying you or anyone needs to know how to sharpen a blade. I am saying that if you have and use tools you need to recognize that stuff happens to tools and you need to know your personal "what next". In todays world, pitch and replace is a very valid and even economical strategy, just look at the loss of repair shops in the USA in general over the last 50 yrs.

If you choose a use and dispose strategy, your plans may need to include additional backups or at least a good way to rapidly replace the damaged items. Of course mend/sharpen/repair isn't a guarantee either since the tools needed for the repair must be at hand when the "unforeseen" happens.

My personal example is utility knife blades - there is no way I would try to rehabilitate them. For me these are cheap disposable items and I keep a pretty decent supply on hand so I have them when I need them. A good friend "recycles" his blades by resharpening them between tasks.

There is seldom one right answer - just what works for an individual.

- Eric