sharpening scissors with....

[Normand]

....aluminum foil. has anyone tried this?

www.metacafe.com/watch/932701/sharpen_scissors_with_aluminum_foil

[Wes]

doesn't get em very sharp. sort of removes the rough edges. i'd liked to have seen the scissors cut paper before sharpenening.

[bjames]

doesn't get em very sharp. sort of removes the rough edges. i'd liked to have seen the scissors cut paper before sharpenening.

well that is because you did not take it one or two strokes beyond. try it again, it works'

[Normand]

doesn't get em very sharp. sort of removes the rough edges. i'd liked to have seen the scissors cut paper before sharpenening.

thats how i saw it.

if you look at a scissor blade, its not even the side of the blade that has the edge to be sharpened. so i think its only removing burrs or rough edges.

[NJTroutbum]

Removing burrs form the back side of a razor edge will sharpen an edge. But only if applied lightly. It's the same affect as stropping with leather.

[David Parker]

By the way, just where would one send a pair of fly tying scissors to get sharpened? I have 4 pair at the moment all in good shape, but the pair I use the most is getting to the state of resharpening and I uncertain which is the best route. For me in my rural location, it might be cheaper just to purchase a new pair rather than pay the cost of postage.

[brhoff]

Normand, sorry to say, in my opinion there is no "quick" sharpening method that will work.

Again, in my opinion sharpening a blade by cutting a metal really doesn't smooth the rough edges at all...it actually creates a "microscopic" serated edge that will cut a little smoother for the moment but those "micro serations" will bend and break down quickly.

To the person asking about scissor sharpening...ask your closest barber/hairstylist...often times services will come to their location and tune things up, perhaps they will let you know when.

Once again, all opinion..but from a guy that has spent many, many years with culinary knives in my hands...keepin' them sharp has NO short cuts. Plenty of gimmicks but no short cuts.

[Host Ray]

David, bring them to your barber, he will have a service that comes around every 2 or 3 weeks.

[brhoff]

One more thing:

http://www.heimerdingercutlery.com/

This place is in Louisvelle, KY and they sharpen any blade like a laser...call and ask them about mail in service...they are great people.

[eaustin]

Normand, I've never really been able to successfully sharpen scissors until I got Dr. Slick's Razor scissors, made of stainless steel. I'm on year two now of the same pair, and I've never been able to get more than a year out of any of the others. For what that's worth. I use a sharpening stone and they come out great. I'm a real fan of these, but there are probably others out there that take to sharpening well too. For me it was more about the scissors than anything else, and I bought the first pair of these because they made a claim specifically that they could be sharpened.
Eric