Scissors are one of the most common types of home tools. This is due to the fact that they are used both for household purposes and in professional activities. But the work of the scissors will continue only as long as the cutting edges remain sharp. Dull blades will not allow you to make a normal cut even on the most malleable material. How to sharpen scissors at home, without resorting to specialists? This will be discussed below.
Sharpening preparation
The reason for unsatisfactory cutting can be not only blunt cutting edges. Loosening the central pinch bolt or rivet leads to a gap between the blades, which impairs the operation of the scissors. Such a defect must be eliminated and then the cutting ability of the tool checked again.
Also, the cause of a poor cut can be dirt on the blades remaining after processing certain materials. They can be removed using a cotton swab or a soft cloth dampened with alcohol or a technical solvent. Sometimes such layers can be invisible due to the transparency of the composition, and therefore it is recommended to wipe before sharpening in any case.
Sharpening with tools and tools
There are several ways based on popular experience, how to sharpen scissors at home. You do not need a special tool, but only simple tools at hand. Of course, there are grinding tools and machine tools, but they are mainly resorted to if necessary to restore the sharpness of the blades on professional scissors.
Smooth metal rod
This is the most affordable way to sharpen scissors at home. You will need any steel rod of small diameter with a smooth surface. It can be a gypsy needle, an awl, a screwdriver, a pin, or even a simple paper clip.
A little worse, but still possible, to use a round AA or AAA finger-type battery.
Extend the scissors so that the rod fits as close to the tie bolt as possible. After that, slightly pressing the handles, begin to reduce the blades, and move the used tool away from you towards the cutting ends. Perform these steps 10-15 times and check how paper is now cut. If the result is still unsatisfactory, repeat the operation again.
Porcelain cup
Most tea cups on the outside of the bottom have a flat abrasive surface. It can be used instead of a special whetstone.
Extend the scissors as much as possible. Attach the bevel of the blade at the top to the edge of the cup and, gently pressing on it, swipe the abrasive with moving it towards you. The movement during sharpening should occur in only one direction, otherwise you can not grind, but completely and completely ruin the tool.
Aluminum foil and sandpaper
Probably every housewife has a foil in the kitchen for baking products. Take a roll and tear a piece of it 20-30 cm long. Fold it 6-8 times in length to get a dense multilayer strip. After that, start cutting the foil along, using the entire length of the blades. After 10 cuts, check the sharpness and, if necessary, repeat the action.
Instead of foil, you can use fine-grained sandpaper. It should be folded in half so that the abrasive remains on the outside of both sides. In this case, the number of cuts for the first attempt can be halved. After finishing work, be sure to wipe the blades with a damp cloth to remove any abrasive residue.
Metal dishwashing sponge
Also present in most apartments and can be used as a tool for sharpening scissors. The principle of using a sponge is the same as with foil and sandpaper. However, the dimensions of the metal sponge that can be bought at the store are usually less than the length of the blades. Therefore, it should be stretched so that you can use the entire cutting part of the scissors.
Sharpening with a special tool
In hardware stores you can find a wide variety of devices and tools for sharpening scissors. If you decide to buy any of them, remember that the principles of operation of knife and scissor blades vary greatly.
Grinding stones
An abrasive stone or whetstone is considered the simplest tool for dressing any cutting blades. When sharpening scissors, it should be in contact only with the upper edge sharpened at a certain angle. When working, you should be extremely careful and try to keep this scissors sharpening angle set by the tool manufacturer as accurately as possible.
The movement of scissors on the stone or bar along the blade should be made only in one direction with gentle pressure. Moving back and forth is not allowed. If you unscrew the coupling bolt and disassemble the scissors, then it will be more convenient to work.
Files
A flat or triangular file with a small notch is a better tool for sharpening. The editing principles here are the same as for stone. Tool movements occur along the cutting edge and in only one direction. When fastening scissors in a vice, it’s easier and more convenient to work.
The main disadvantage of this method is the probability of uneven sharpening. Therefore, try to ensure the same force of pressing the tool with your own hands during the whole time and count the number of movements performed for each blade.
Sharpening machine
On special machines for sharpening the cutting tool, rotating abrasive wheels are installed. Processing takes place across the cutting edge at a certain angle and, if you do not have the skills of such work, then it is better to refuse mechanical sharpening so as not to spoil the scissors and not get injured.
The nuances of sharpening scissors for special purposes
As stated at the very beginning, there are a large number of variations of scissors for professional use. Editing such a tool in most cases has its own technological features.
Manicure
In order to bring the manicure scissors to perfect condition, it is necessary to provide edge sharpening at a strictly defined angle specified by the manufacturer. This is very difficult to accomplish, even if you know the magnitude of the angle. In addition, you must have certain skills in adjusting the coincidence of the cutting edges. Therefore, if you do not want to spoil the scissors, it is better to contact the master immediately.
Hairdresser's tool
The scissor blades for cutting hair should be very sharp and have perfect alignment in the plane. Otherwise, they will not cut their hair, but wrinkle and tear them, creating discomfort for a person. You can check the sharpening quality of such a tool if you cut a thin plastic film. You will immediately see a blunter section of the edge or loose fit of the blades to each other.
Experienced craftsmen use templates to precisely edit scissors. With their help, you can simultaneously check the quality of sharpening, the angle of inclination of the edge and the evenness of the surface of the blades. Therefore, not a single professional hairdresser will independently sharpen his scissors, but will immediately turn to a familiar master. Better processing is done on laser equipment.
Garden Secateurs
This tool can be easily sharpened at home. High precision processing is not required for this, as garden shears are used for rough cutting of branches and thick stems. For sharpening, you can use a grindstone or file.
Sewing or tailor
A tool for cutting fabrics should be very sharp, but it is quite possible to sharpen it yourself. However, usually such sharpening is not enough for a short time and the procedure will have to be repeated often. For work, it is best to use foil or fine-grained sandpaper, as described above for stationery scissors.
Proper scissor care in the future
Your scissors will not require sharpening and repair for a long time, if the basic conditions for proper storage and operation are observed. The special tool should be used only for its intended purpose. The cutting blades should be cleaned regularly with cleaning and disinfecting agents.
At least 2 times a year, the fastening and connecting mechanism should be lubricated with machine oil. After each use, be sure to wipe the blades with a dry, clean cloth. The professional tool should be stored in a protective cover, not to allow exposure to moisture, dust settling and pollution.