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General Scissors

 

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Scissor parts

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Sectional view of the cutting blade

Scissors are sharpened according to the angles shown below.


Unless the scissors need to have a really honed edge, honing is not recommended for scissors. Stop after the sharpening step (but with a high grit level - 1,000 or so).


Some scissors have differing angles for the Thumb Blade (shown in red) vs. the Fingers Blade (shown in blue). In those cases, separate angles are shown in the table below.

I believe more in the scissors than I do in the pencil.

Truman Capote

General Guidelines

Type

βThumb βFingers

Notes

General Scissors 60°  
Bandage scissors 70°  
Cast iron paper scissors 65° - 85°  
Children’s safety scissors 90°  
Cuticle scissors 60° - 65°  
Nail scissors 60° - 65°  

Notes & Comments

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SC-60 scissors jig


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SVX-150 scissors jig

The Tormek SC-60 Scissors jig is the best to use for these. The Tormek SVX-150 Scissors jig will also work well.


Grindstone Rotation

When sharpening scissors, use the vertical position with the grindstone rotating towards the blade. This keeps the SC-60 or SVX-150 properly aligned to the grindstone. (If you use the horizontal position, the grindstone will pull the scissors away from the jig.)

However, if you are sharpening left-handed scissors and they cannot be disassembled into the two pieces, you will need to sharpen from the horizontal position as the piece not being sharpened would interfere with the process otherwise (it would hit the Tormek machine).


Diamond Grinding Wheels

Use of diamond wheels is not recommended. The sharpness of the angle for sharpening can damage the wheel. (And the SG grindstone works quite well.)


Salon or Barber Scissors

When sharpening salon or barber scissors, the Tormek is not recommended. Instead, use a specialized tool like the Hira-To Flat Hone Sharpening Machine. If you do choose to sharpen these scissors on the Tormek, be sure to use the SJ Japanese Waterstone.


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