Scissors Sharpening?
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What type? I used to do this work in a past life, I might be able to help you with some info.
I do but there was a time when I did more scissors than knives so it feels like scissor sharpening was in another lifetime.
goodchef1, thanks for the video link!
Just general household use, really. I find the smaller scissors usually don't cut well so I usually prefer bigger scissors like sewing shears etc. HERE is a picture of some of the various ones laying around the house that I use often.What type? I used to do this work in a past life, I might be able to help you with some info.
These are the easiest to sharpen, pretty straight forward.
On this page you can get an idea of how to sharpen on a stone. basic picture of it anyway. The only problem is when the shears won't open enough to allow for this and then you need a slip stone or something small enough to get in between the partially closed blades, this is actually the one time when EdgePro stones are useful.
On de-burring I prefer to cut into a paper towel while mashing the burrs off, it provides a safer way than running the new edges against one another directly as this can easily make edge gouges where the blades will always catch. Using the paper towel is like a cushion or safety barrier between the blades. Cut the paper towel 2 to 3 times to clear all burrs.
Tension is the true key to how scissors/shears work. You can have sharp edges and often the shears will fold material and cut nothing. You need to set the tension to get a proper cut. This is done primarily by adjusting the screw (or rivet) that holds the blades together. Add some lube first and clean the inside of the blades (lubing allows for added screw tension to be applied). The correct tension is when one blade (free falling) stops 1/2"-1" from the opposite blades' tip. You often need to make the screw tight enough to get the blade tension correct but then find that the blades are too tight for comfortable operation, you now wiggle the blades apart from one another using the handles, this shows the play in the screw often making the set just right or too loose requiring you re-adjust. *Note - If the screw won't budge - don't force it or it'll likely break.
If you have a rivet (vs screw) you can loosen and tighten tension by tapping on one side of the rivet or the other. Use a small anvil or piece of steel to tap against.
That's the short and skinny version.
Dave
On this page you can get an idea of how to sharpen on a stone. basic picture of it anyway. The only problem is when the shears won't open enough to allow for this and then you need a slip stone or something small enough to get in between the partially closed blades, this is actually the one time when EdgePro stones are useful.
On de-burring I prefer to cut into a paper towel while mashing the burrs off, it provides a safer way than running the new edges against one another directly as this can easily make edge gouges where the blades will always catch. Using the paper towel is like a cushion or safety barrier between the blades. Cut the paper towel 2 to 3 times to clear all burrs.
Tension is the true key to how scissors/shears work. You can have sharp edges and often the shears will fold material and cut nothing. You need to set the tension to get a proper cut. This is done primarily by adjusting the screw (or rivet) that holds the blades together. Add some lube first and clean the inside of the blades (lubing allows for added screw tension to be applied). The correct tension is when one blade (free falling) stops 1/2"-1" from the opposite blades' tip. You often need to make the screw tight enough to get the blade tension correct but then find that the blades are too tight for comfortable operation, you now wiggle the blades apart from one another using the handles, this shows the play in the screw often making the set just right or too loose requiring you re-adjust. *Note - If the screw won't budge - don't force it or it'll likely break.
If you have a rivet (vs screw) you can loosen and tighten tension by tapping on one side of the rivet or the other. Use a small anvil or piece of steel to tap against.
That's the short and skinny version.
Dave
Thanks for the help, those bonsai shears look really sharp. I guess the typical western style shears would be closer in shape to what is being sharpened in the YouTube video that was linked to. This should be very helpful!
