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Sharpening Scissors
Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2018 9:17 pm
by Steve Warden
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.
Re: Sharpening Scissors
Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2018 10:25 pm
by jerryd6818
For scissors and kitchen knives, I use the Work Sharp. Works great, just not for pocket knives.
Re: Sharpening Scissors
Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2018 11:56 am
by Steve Warden
Thanks Jerry.
Anything out there maybe a bit cheaper? I don't mind something manual.
Re: Sharpening Scissors
Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2018 12:06 pm
by FRJ
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.
Re: Sharpening Scissors
Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2018 3:39 pm
by rarefish383
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.
Re: Sharpening Scissors
Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2018 3:48 pm
by Steve Warden
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.
Yup. That's why I knew my Lansky Turn Box wouldn't work.
Great reminder!
Re: Sharpening Scissors
Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2018 4:50 pm
by bestgear
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.
Re: Sharpening Scissors
Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2018 5:25 pm
by tongueriver
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.
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.
Re: Sharpening Scissors
Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2018 6:33 pm
by Steve Warden
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.
Already did.
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.
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.
Re: Sharpening Scissors
Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2018 6:57 pm
by bestgear
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.
Re: Sharpening Scissors
Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2018 8:21 pm
by OLDE CUTLER
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.
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.
Re: Sharpening Scissors
Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2018 8:33 pm
by bestgear
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.
OC - What does your wife pay to have her finest scissors sharpened?
Re: Sharpening Scissors
Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2018 8:55 pm
by OLDE CUTLER
bestgear wrote: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.
OC - What does your wife pay to have her finest scissors sharpened?
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.
Re: Sharpening Scissors
Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2018 3:06 pm
by OLDE CUTLER
bestgear wrote: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.
OC - What does your wife pay to have her finest scissors sharpened?
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.
Re: Sharpening Scissors
Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2018 12:26 am
by mrwatch
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.
Re: Sharpening Scissors
Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2018 11:35 am
by rarefish383
OLDE CUTLER wrote: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.
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.
IMG_2137.JPG
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.
Re: Sharpening Scissors
Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2020 2:44 pm
by FRJ
EDIT: Post erased; I thought I was posting to another thread.