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  • Sharpening scissors - easiest way?

    From Chris Green@21:1/5 to All on Sat Dec 21 09:39:54 2024
    We have quite a few pairs of scissors that could do with sharpening,
    or throwing away.

    I've done a quick search and there are *lots* of ways of doing it,
    basically all the same, grinding gently along the bevelled edge to
    make the cutting edge sharper. Then, maybe, removing any burrs.

    I have (probably, not used for a long time) a whet stone, I have a
    (pseudo) dremel, I have lots of sheets of various grades of sandpaper,
    I probably have other possibles as well (e.g. a useless chain saw
    chain sharpener, doing it by hand is much easier!).

    So, what is going to be easiest for a moderately ham-fisted DIYer? I
    *can* sharpen chainsaw chains, but not incredibly well, I am not
    totally incompetant but I'm not up to putting a perfect edge on a
    chisel.

    ... or should we just throw the blunt scissors away?

    --
    Chris Green
    ·

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  • From Joe@21:1/5 to Chris Green on Sat Dec 21 10:51:05 2024
    On Sat, 21 Dec 2024 09:39:54 +0000
    Chris Green <cl@isbd.net> wrote:

    We have quite a few pairs of scissors that could do with sharpening,
    or throwing away.

    I've done a quick search and there are *lots* of ways of doing it,
    basically all the same, grinding gently along the bevelled edge to
    make the cutting edge sharper. Then, maybe, removing any burrs.

    I have (probably, not used for a long time) a whet stone, I have a
    (pseudo) dremel, I have lots of sheets of various grades of sandpaper,
    I probably have other possibles as well (e.g. a useless chain saw
    chain sharpener, doing it by hand is much easier!).

    So, what is going to be easiest for a moderately ham-fisted DIYer? I
    *can* sharpen chainsaw chains, but not incredibly well, I am not
    totally incompetant but I'm not up to putting a perfect edge on a
    chisel.

    ... or should we just throw the blunt scissors away?


    If the scissors are even slightly loose, hammer the rivet a bit tighter
    or on expensive scissors, tighten the screw. That may be enough to make
    some pairs usable again.

    I'd use a stone, or now, a diamond dust sharpening block. The tricky
    bit, of course, is maintaining the angle. I have a gadget for holding
    chisels and plane blades correctly, but not scissors.

    --
    Joe

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  • From Theo@21:1/5 to Chris Green on Sat Dec 21 11:24:21 2024
    Chris Green <cl@isbd.net> wrote:
    We have quite a few pairs of scissors that could do with sharpening,
    or throwing away.

    I've done a quick search and there are *lots* of ways of doing it,
    basically all the same, grinding gently along the bevelled edge to
    make the cutting edge sharper. Then, maybe, removing any burrs.

    I have (probably, not used for a long time) a whet stone, I have a
    (pseudo) dremel, I have lots of sheets of various grades of sandpaper,
    I probably have other possibles as well (e.g. a useless chain saw
    chain sharpener, doing it by hand is much easier!).

    So, what is going to be easiest for a moderately ham-fisted DIYer? I
    *can* sharpen chainsaw chains, but not incredibly well, I am not
    totally incompetant but I'm not up to putting a perfect edge on a
    chisel.

    ... or should we just throw the blunt scissors away?

    If you don't mind buying a widget for a few quid, there are things like this which are simple to use: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fiskars-Universal-Sharpener-Left-handed-grinding/dp/B0002JT0PK

    (the link says left handed, but the orange one is universal)

    However if the bevel doesn't match then you'd probably need to use a
    different tool.

    Theo

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  • From Chris Green@21:1/5 to Theo on Sat Dec 21 14:25:49 2024
    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
    Chris Green <cl@isbd.net> wrote:
    We have quite a few pairs of scissors that could do with sharpening,
    or throwing away.

    I've done a quick search and there are *lots* of ways of doing it, basically all the same, grinding gently along the bevelled edge to
    make the cutting edge sharper. Then, maybe, removing any burrs.

    I have (probably, not used for a long time) a whet stone, I have a
    (pseudo) dremel, I have lots of sheets of various grades of sandpaper,
    I probably have other possibles as well (e.g. a useless chain saw
    chain sharpener, doing it by hand is much easier!).

    So, what is going to be easiest for a moderately ham-fisted DIYer? I
    *can* sharpen chainsaw chains, but not incredibly well, I am not
    totally incompetant but I'm not up to putting a perfect edge on a
    chisel.

    ... or should we just throw the blunt scissors away?

    If you don't mind buying a widget for a few quid, there are things like this which are simple to use: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fiskars-Universal-Sharpener-Left-handed-grinding/dp/B0002JT0PK

    (the link says left handed, but the orange one is universal)

    However if the bevel doesn't match then you'd probably need to use a different tool.

    Is the angle fixed on those tools then? It's not really very clear
    from the advert. I guess it is.

    --
    Chris Green
    ·

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  • From Chris Hogg@21:1/5 to Chris Green on Sat Dec 21 19:13:10 2024
    On Sat, 21 Dec 2024 14:25:49 +0000, Chris Green <cl@isbd.net> wrote:

    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
    Chris Green <cl@isbd.net> wrote:
    We have quite a few pairs of scissors that could do with sharpening,
    or throwing away.

    I've done a quick search and there are *lots* of ways of doing it,
    basically all the same, grinding gently along the bevelled edge to
    make the cutting edge sharper. Then, maybe, removing any burrs.

    I have (probably, not used for a long time) a whet stone, I have a
    (pseudo) dremel, I have lots of sheets of various grades of sandpaper,
    I probably have other possibles as well (e.g. a useless chain saw
    chain sharpener, doing it by hand is much easier!).

    So, what is going to be easiest for a moderately ham-fisted DIYer? I
    *can* sharpen chainsaw chains, but not incredibly well, I am not
    totally incompetant but I'm not up to putting a perfect edge on a
    chisel.

    ... or should we just throw the blunt scissors away?

    If you don't mind buying a widget for a few quid, there are things like this >> which are simple to use:
    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fiskars-Universal-Sharpener-Left-handed-grinding/dp/B0002JT0PK

    (the link says left handed, but the orange one is universal)

    However if the bevel doesn't match then you'd probably need to use a
    different tool.

    Is the angle fixed on those tools then? It's not really very clear
    from the advert. I guess it is.


    I have/had something very similar - can't find it now, but yes, the
    angle was fixed. Mine were made by Wilkinson. Looks like a freebie of
    some sort. Was my mother's. She sharpened her needlework scissors with
    it. I assume the 'rollers' were hardened steel.

    --

    Chris

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  • From Marland@21:1/5 to Chris Green on Sun Dec 22 08:42:32 2024
    Chris Green <cl@isbd.net> wrote:
    We have quite a few pairs of scissors that could do with sharpening,
    or throwing away.

    I've done a quick search and there are *lots* of ways of doing it,
    basically all the same, grinding gently along the bevelled edge to
    make the cutting edge sharper. Then, maybe, removing any burrs.

    I have (probably, not used for a long time) a whet stone, I have a
    (pseudo) dremel, I have lots of sheets of various grades of sandpaper,
    I probably have other possibles as well (e.g. a useless chain saw
    chain sharpener, doing it by hand is much easier!).

    So, what is going to be easiest for a moderately ham-fisted DIYer? I
    *can* sharpen chainsaw chains, but not incredibly well, I am not
    totally incompetant but I'm not up to putting a perfect edge on a
    chisel.

    ... or should we just throw the blunt scissors away?


    No one locally who offers a small tool sharpening service?

    We are fortunate enough that there are a couple around here , one who
    attends a street market once a fortnight , the other who sets up at
    various village style vegetable shows etc usually around springtime where people bring their loppers and other bladed tools along to be sharpened but will happily do kitchen articles as well.

    GH

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  • From wasbit@21:1/5 to Chris Green on Sun Dec 22 09:49:34 2024
    On 21/12/2024 14:25, Chris Green wrote:
    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
    Chris Green <cl@isbd.net> wrote:
    We have quite a few pairs of scissors that could do with sharpening,
    or throwing away.

    I've done a quick search and there are *lots* of ways of doing it,
    basically all the same, grinding gently along the bevelled edge to
    make the cutting edge sharper. Then, maybe, removing any burrs.

    I have (probably, not used for a long time) a whet stone, I have a
    (pseudo) dremel, I have lots of sheets of various grades of sandpaper,
    I probably have other possibles as well (e.g. a useless chain saw
    chain sharpener, doing it by hand is much easier!).

    So, what is going to be easiest for a moderately ham-fisted DIYer? I
    *can* sharpen chainsaw chains, but not incredibly well, I am not
    totally incompetant but I'm not up to putting a perfect edge on a
    chisel.

    ... or should we just throw the blunt scissors away?

    If you don't mind buying a widget for a few quid, there are things like this >> which are simple to use:
    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fiskars-Universal-Sharpener-Left-handed-grinding/dp/B0002JT0PK

    (the link says left handed, but the orange one is universal)

    However if the bevel doesn't match then you'd probably need to use a
    different tool.

    Is the angle fixed on those tools then? It's not really very clear
    from the advert. I guess it is.


    Yes, it's fixed.


    --
    Regards
    wasbit

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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  • From wasbit@21:1/5 to Chris Green on Sun Dec 22 09:57:21 2024
    On 21/12/2024 09:39, Chris Green wrote:
    We have quite a few pairs of scissors that could do with sharpening,
    or throwing away.

    I've done a quick search and there are *lots* of ways of doing it,
    basically all the same, grinding gently along the bevelled edge to
    make the cutting edge sharper. Then, maybe, removing any burrs.

    I have (probably, not used for a long time) a whet stone, I have a
    (pseudo) dremel, I have lots of sheets of various grades of sandpaper,
    I probably have other possibles as well (e.g. a useless chain saw
    chain sharpener, doing it by hand is much easier!).

    So, what is going to be easiest for a moderately ham-fisted DIYer? I
    *can* sharpen chainsaw chains, but not incredibly well, I am not
    totally incompetant but I'm not up to putting a perfect edge on a
    chisel.

    ... or should we just throw the blunt scissors away?


    Diamond hone. I use the Trend credit card size.
    Probably easiest if you can hold each blade in a small vice but it can
    be done freehand.
    - https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=diamond+hone&i=diy&crid=JFEJ14CHI643&sprefix=diamond+hone%2Cdiy%2C204&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

    NB: diamond hone gets better results than diamond file when searching.


    --
    Regards
    wasbit

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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  • From wasbit@21:1/5 to Chris Hogg on Sun Dec 22 09:51:59 2024
    On 21/12/2024 19:13, Chris Hogg wrote:
    On Sat, 21 Dec 2024 14:25:49 +0000, Chris Green <cl@isbd.net> wrote:

    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
    Chris Green <cl@isbd.net> wrote:
    We have quite a few pairs of scissors that could do with sharpening,
    or throwing away.

    I've done a quick search and there are *lots* of ways of doing it,
    basically all the same, grinding gently along the bevelled edge to
    make the cutting edge sharper. Then, maybe, removing any burrs.

    I have (probably, not used for a long time) a whet stone, I have a
    (pseudo) dremel, I have lots of sheets of various grades of sandpaper, >>>> I probably have other possibles as well (e.g. a useless chain saw
    chain sharpener, doing it by hand is much easier!).

    So, what is going to be easiest for a moderately ham-fisted DIYer? I
    *can* sharpen chainsaw chains, but not incredibly well, I am not
    totally incompetant but I'm not up to putting a perfect edge on a
    chisel.

    ... or should we just throw the blunt scissors away?

    If you don't mind buying a widget for a few quid, there are things like this
    which are simple to use:
    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fiskars-Universal-Sharpener-Left-handed-grinding/dp/B0002JT0PK

    (the link says left handed, but the orange one is universal)

    However if the bevel doesn't match then you'd probably need to use a
    different tool.

    Is the angle fixed on those tools then? It's not really very clear
    from the advert. I guess it is.


    I have/had something very similar - can't find it now, but yes, the
    angle was fixed. Mine were made by Wilkinson. Looks like a freebie of
    some sort. Was my mother's. She sharpened her needlework scissors with
    it. I assume the 'rollers' were hardened steel.


    Not rollers, has to be fixed otherwise it wouldn't work.


    --
    Regards
    wasbit

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  • From alan_m@21:1/5 to wasbit on Sun Dec 22 12:54:22 2024
    On 22/12/2024 09:51, wasbit wrote:


    Not rollers, has to be fixed otherwise it wouldn't work.

    Then how do those knife sharpeners that have rollers in a bath of water
    work?

    Non-fixed bars in scissor sharpener.
    https://youtu.be/OI5mizTqLuw?t=260



    --
    mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

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