Tools, Sharpening and Power Machinery - Scissors Sharpening Question

Hello Everyone:

I hope no one will think this is off-topic, but I desperately need help from some experts on scissors sharpening. To get to the point, short of buying a professional $800 machine, how can I make my scissors razor sharp?

I am a serious quilter and I use scissors constantly on fabric. I dull my scissors rapidly and have not figured out a satisfactory way to sharpen them. So I have 2 piles. The 6 or 8 pairs that are sharp (and usable) and the 3-4 pairs that are dull (and not usable). We're talking scissors that are 20-30$ a pair.

I have tried all the DIY tips that I can find: cutting aluminum foil (doesn't work), cutting sandpaper (doesn't work), a small $2 Fiskar sharpener that you draw the blades through (doesn't work), I tried a old-fashioned electric machine that rotates some kind of rough honing surface and holds your blade at a certain angle (doesn't work). I tried using a steel like I use for my knives, but maybe I wasn't doing it at the right angle (didn't work). :wall:

Can anyone help teach me how to do it or recommend a machine, say under $100 that will do it for me? :coffee:

Thanks very much,

Welcome to the DoItYourself.com forums :)

No pro, but...

All you have stated is for temporary fixes (obviously, since they didn't work). I would've said to just toss out your old ones and buy a new one, but it seems you go through a lot! You ARE a serious quilter! :thumbup:

I don't know of a particular machine but another thing you can try is to use an aluminum oxide bench stone. You should be able to find this at a hardware store. There's a coarse side and a fine side. You don't want your scissors honed smooth b/c you're cutting through fabric and not "slicing" them. You need to sharpen the scissors on the coarse side of the stone at an angle. When you're done, make sure the the blades meet each other. Tighten the screw if need be.

Hope this helps some, but be sure to check back as I'm sure others will chime in ;)

The key is usually getting the right angle. A better sharpener than the $2 one you mentioned might do - I saw an article about sharpening recently where Wusthoff had one for $30 where you draw the blade though. I use a sharpener from Spyderco with ceramic rods that are at different angles for different edges and all you have to do to get the right angle is hold the blade vertically.

ATLANTATHREAD (http://store.atlantathread.com/index.html) has a sharpener for $55. I've never tried it, but I've been ordering from them for years, and have never had any quality problems.
You might want to switch scissor brands if your's get dull so quick. I only use KAI scissors now and they're the sharpest I've ever used or on the other hand you could use cheaper scissors like Friskars and buy them from Joann's using their 40 or 50% coupon.

Here is a video:
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/852256/how_to_sharpen_a_pair_or_scissors_with_a_diamond_stone/

To get the proper angle, you could cut a piece of wood at the proper angle and clamp the scissors to it. Then draw the stone across the blades.

You could also just clamp the scissors to the table to steady them and keep the proper angle if honing by hand.