Sharpening Scissors
- Steve Warden
- Posts: 6322
- Joined: Wed May 27, 2015 4:18 pm
- Location: Cherry Hill, NJ
Sharpening Scissors
So my wife is ecstatic that she finally has sharp kitchen knives.
I'm not so hot on the stones so I purchased a Lansky Turn Box 2D2C, primarily for my pockets knives, but I'm fairly handy in the kitchen, myself, and I appreciate a sharp knife there, as well.
So she asks me to sharpen her Fiskars fabric scissors. "I'll ask the guys on AAPK," says I.
So here I am. How do you sharpen scissors?
And remember, I'm no good with stones.
I'm not so hot on the stones so I purchased a Lansky Turn Box 2D2C, primarily for my pockets knives, but I'm fairly handy in the kitchen, myself, and I appreciate a sharp knife there, as well.
So she asks me to sharpen her Fiskars fabric scissors. "I'll ask the guys on AAPK," says I.
So here I am. How do you sharpen scissors?
And remember, I'm no good with stones.
Take care and God bless,
Steve
TSgt USAF, Retired
1980-2000
But any knife is better than no knife! ~ Mumbleypeg (aka Ken)
Steve
TSgt USAF, Retired
1980-2000
But any knife is better than no knife! ~ Mumbleypeg (aka Ken)
- jerryd6818
- Gold Tier
- Posts: 39177
- Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2009 5:23 am
- Location: The middle of the top of a bastion of Liberalism.
Re: Sharpening Scissors
For scissors and kitchen knives, I use the Work Sharp. Works great, just not for pocket knives.
Forged on the anvil of discipline.
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.
This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.
"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.
This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.
"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
- Steve Warden
- Posts: 6322
- Joined: Wed May 27, 2015 4:18 pm
- Location: Cherry Hill, NJ
Re: Sharpening Scissors
Thanks Jerry.
Anything out there maybe a bit cheaper? I don't mind something manual.
Anything out there maybe a bit cheaper? I don't mind something manual.
Take care and God bless,
Steve
TSgt USAF, Retired
1980-2000
But any knife is better than no knife! ~ Mumbleypeg (aka Ken)
Steve
TSgt USAF, Retired
1980-2000
But any knife is better than no knife! ~ Mumbleypeg (aka Ken)
Re: Sharpening Scissors
Steve, just a suggestion. If you can take the blades of the scissors apart that's good, if you can't, put scissors in a vice lightly with cutting edge up and determine the edge angle and put a stone to the edge. You have good visuals and control that way.
Lots of light and a visor lens are a big help. Also, in your case a practice pair can be life saving.
Lots of light and a visor lens are a big help. Also, in your case a practice pair can be life saving.
Joe
-
- Posts: 198
- Joined: Fri Jun 23, 2017 10:40 pm
Re: Sharpening Scissors
Just remember you only sharpen one side on the scissors, they are a single bevel tool. I've seen folks try to sharpen scissors and hedge clippers like a knife or ax, on both sides, and ruin them, Joe.
- Steve Warden
- Posts: 6322
- Joined: Wed May 27, 2015 4:18 pm
- Location: Cherry Hill, NJ
Re: Sharpening Scissors
Yup. That's why I knew my Lansky Turn Box wouldn't work.rarefish383 wrote:Just remember you only sharpen one side on the scissors, they are a single bevel tool. I've seen folks try to sharpen scissors and hedge clippers like a knife or ax, on both sides, and ruin them, Joe.
Great reminder!
Take care and God bless,
Steve
TSgt USAF, Retired
1980-2000
But any knife is better than no knife! ~ Mumbleypeg (aka Ken)
Steve
TSgt USAF, Retired
1980-2000
But any knife is better than no knife! ~ Mumbleypeg (aka Ken)
Re: Sharpening Scissors
I've heard of people using sandpaper, steel wool and aluminum foil to sharpen scissors by simply using the scissors to cut those materials. Google it and you'll see what I'm talking about.
Tom
AAPK Administrator
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
AAPK Administrator
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
- tongueriver
- Posts: 6840
- Joined: Tue Sep 16, 2008 8:01 pm
Re: Sharpening Scissors
I might be missing something here (not unusual), but I think that is how they got dull in the first place; removing metal from the wrong side of the blade, I think.bestgear wrote:I've heard of people using sandpaper, steel wool and aluminum foil to sharpen scissors by simply using the scissors to cut those materials. Google it and you'll see what I'm talking about.
- Steve Warden
- Posts: 6322
- Joined: Wed May 27, 2015 4:18 pm
- Location: Cherry Hill, NJ
Re: Sharpening Scissors
Already did.bestgear wrote:I've heard of people using sandpaper, steel wool and aluminum foil to sharpen scissors by simply using the scissors to cut those materials. Google it and you'll see what I'm talking about.
That was the typical response. The verdict is that it may seem sharper at first, but it actually begins to take off too much metal and dull the blades.tongueriver wrote:I might be missing something here (not unusual), but I think that is how they got dull in the first place; removing metal from the wrong side of the blade, I think.
Take care and God bless,
Steve
TSgt USAF, Retired
1980-2000
But any knife is better than no knife! ~ Mumbleypeg (aka Ken)
Steve
TSgt USAF, Retired
1980-2000
But any knife is better than no knife! ~ Mumbleypeg (aka Ken)
Re: Sharpening Scissors
Check with your barber to see who does his....maybe you could send yours out with his and have them professionally sharpened for probably not a lot of money.
Tom
AAPK Administrator
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
AAPK Administrator
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
- OLDE CUTLER
- Gold Tier
- Posts: 4329
- Joined: Wed Oct 11, 2017 8:11 pm
- Location: South Dakota
Re: Sharpening Scissors
The above method is more than a suggestion, this is the only way you can do it. My wife has cut hair for more than 40 years, and buys only the finest Japanese or German hair cutting scissors that cost $100-$150 each. They will last a long time and can be sharpened many many times if done correctly. If you ever cut sandpaper or steel wool, then that scissors will not be useful for cutting anything else. I use diamond stones on scissors and then hone with an ultra fine stone. There are lots of sharpening services that cater to hair cutting salons and barber shops, and most will do an excellent job. But if you can sharpen a knife, then you can sharpen a scissors.FRJ wrote:Steve, just a suggestion. If you can take the blades of the scissors apart that's good, if you can't, put scissors in a vice lightly with cutting edge up and determine the edge angle and put a stone to the edge. You have good visuals and control that way.
Lots of light and a visor lens are a big help. Also, in your case a practice pair can be life saving.
"Sometimes even the blind chicken finds corn"
Re: Sharpening Scissors
OC - What does your wife pay to have her finest scissors sharpened?OLDE CUTLER wrote:There are lots of sharpening services that cater to hair cutting salons and barber shops, and most will do an excellent job.
Tom
AAPK Administrator
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
AAPK Administrator
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
- OLDE CUTLER
- Gold Tier
- Posts: 4329
- Joined: Wed Oct 11, 2017 8:11 pm
- Location: South Dakota
Re: Sharpening Scissors
When you cut many heads of hair every day for a living, you have more than one pair to allow for one being out to be sharpened. She said that a fellow comes in to their shop and picks up scissors and sharpens them for $20. I have seen them freshly sharpened and they are like razors.bestgear wrote:OC - What does your wife pay to have her finest scissors sharpened?OLDE CUTLER wrote:There are lots of sharpening services that cater to hair cutting salons and barber shops, and most will do an excellent job.
"Sometimes even the blind chicken finds corn"
- OLDE CUTLER
- Gold Tier
- Posts: 4329
- Joined: Wed Oct 11, 2017 8:11 pm
- Location: South Dakota
Re: Sharpening Scissors
I also should have added that the ones that she uses that I have sharpened in the past are all straight blade scissors. Now days she tends to use serrated blade scissors, which require special sharpening equipment that she has professionally done, which is the $20 I quoted.bestgear wrote:OC - What does your wife pay to have her finest scissors sharpened?OLDE CUTLER wrote:There are lots of sharpening services that cater to hair cutting salons and barber shops, and most will do an excellent job.
"Sometimes even the blind chicken finds corn"
Re: Sharpening Scissors
I may have tried sand paper. but for the life of me if steel is harder than aluminum foil how does that work? over the years I have used my one inch belt sander, needle files and now diamond files.
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- Posts: 198
- Joined: Fri Jun 23, 2017 10:40 pm
Re: Sharpening Scissors
A picture is worth a thousand words. I don't know how many pair of good hedge shears I've seen ruined because someone sharpened both sides. I try to explain that's why they call them shears, they are single bevel. If you cut a double bevel on them the blades will spread apart as they close. Sorry for preaching to the choir, Joe.OLDE CUTLER wrote:The above method is more than a suggestion, this is the only way you can do it. My wife has cut hair for more than 40 years, and buys only the finest Japanese or German hair cutting scissors that cost $100-$150 each. They will last a long time and can be sharpened many many times if done correctly. If you ever cut sandpaper or steel wool, then that scissors will not be useful for cutting anything else. I use diamond stones on scissors and then hone with an ultra fine stone. There are lots of sharpening services that cater to hair cutting salons and barber shops, and most will do an excellent job. But if you can sharpen a knife, then you can sharpen a scissors.FRJ wrote:Steve, just a suggestion. If you can take the blades of the scissors apart that's good, if you can't, put scissors in a vice lightly with cutting edge up and determine the edge angle and put a stone to the edge. You have good visuals and control that way.
Lots of light and a visor lens are a big help. Also, in your case a practice pair can be life saving.
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