At a fly tying class, the instructor said I need thinner scissors. I was not using my normal Wal-Mart scissors which are really big. I was using a pair of regular fly tying scissors, open ended with red rubber on the loops. But he stated I needed to get thinner scissors. Then I noticed his. They were same size as mine, but looked really good. Looked like nickel plated stuff. Surely not. Just trying to explain. Looked like matte grey scissor that were very thin. Were they by Dr.Slick?
What is the best pair of scissors to use when tying flies and snipping off hairs and thread?
I bought a pair of Dr. Slick scissors a year ago and they are great. Overall length is 4-5 inches, cutting area is about an inch. They have micro serrations, and are made of titanium and have large finger loops. I’m careful with them but they aren’t even close to needing sharpening. If I remember right, they were about $35.
If you go the sewing section in Walmart they have scissors called “Westcott Titanium”. They’re about 4" long, matte gray finish, super thin and very sharp. Much thinner than my Dr. Slick. The finger loops are a little small but I think they cost only around $6.
Dr. Slick makes good scissors (I like the 4" tungesten carbide models), as does Anvil. Ultimately anything will work as long as the loops are comfortable, they are sharp and will keep an edge, and have fine enough tips to get close to your work (how close depends on size of flies you tie on average).
Jim, I have a pair of dr. slicks I’ll add to your other ordered stuff for $6.00. It was in the same batch of stuff I bought as the books and they look to be in good ahape
Just to suggest that we need two basic pairs. One with fine tips, as your instructor noted, and another for heavier cutting like clumps of deer hair.
The heavier ones should have serrated blades. Just don’t drop those with very fine points. If you do, they are history!
Gem, I have went through about a doz pair of scissors before I settled on these 5. I went nuts trying this pair and that pair. The following are what I have kept. The small arrow style Dr. Slicks are what I tie with 95% of the time. Sometimes I use the curve pair of Anvils for trimming deer hair bass bugs or some other place where I want a curved blade. I use the larger pair of Dr. Slicks as a pair of hair scissors. The Carbide tipped black pair are my go to pair. The edge will last longer. The size stays in my hand easily at all times. I would think you would want 3 pairs one day. A curved pair, a hair scissor and an arrow pair round out the collection nicely. Anything after that they become duplicates. Remember my wife ties with me and she uses the other arrow pair.
I have a wide variety of scissors. You cannot beat Dr. Slick in my opinion. They have Dr. Slick scissors at Sierra Trading Post now for a GREAT price. I bought a few. I have arrow, bent shaft, hair scissors, Iris …all from Dr. Slick. I have a pair of Anvil thinning shears. For what you need you would be happy with bent shaft or arrow…depending on the money you want to spend. I have scissors by Fiskar, and Wescott as well. Wescott can be found at Wal-Mart in the craft/sewing section here. The Wescott makes a decent scissor…and they even have a curved bladed scissor for trimming EP fibers and stuff…baitfish patterns. I just got the Anvil, and I cannot give a accurate review of them until I have put them through their paces. I also have old cruddy pairs of scissors for cutting foam, wire, and mylar etc…don’t use your good scissors to cut that with, unless you have a pair you are about to retire. The Iris scissor by Dr. Slick is very nice, but a bit long for fly tying. They are sharp, that is for sure. The arrow is probably my favorite scissor for over all use. The bent shaft is a wonderful scissor at a fantastic price, and I think you would be thrilled with it if you cannot afford the Arrow. I like to have BOTH on hand. A good pair of scissors can make a lot of difference in fly tying.
Another vote here for Dr. Slick. Like a lot
of the other people I tried other’s before
settling on them. I think there a great product
at a good price. I might still try other’s at
times but I’m not giving up my Dr. Slick’s.
I don’t like finger loops. These have long straight handles and are spring loaded. The blades are long and cut clean right out to the tip. I find I can get more control and thus more precision with a scissor that fills my hand well. Those little bitty things just don’t feel right to me.
Plus, I’m cheap, these cost $15, and I can resharpen them (bought the Fiskars sharpening tool a few years back).
Totally agree with you Buddy. I have two pair. And I use them…per your recommendation. I didn’t even have those big things that night. He would have really freaked if he saw me using them, which i do at home. They are great. I am also accustomed to using dykes, flush cutters, and wire cutters…and am quite comfortable with the long straight handles. No different than any other tool I have used in my career. So…I prefer them to looped scissors as well.
Ray Kunz is right on the money about needing two pairs pairs of scissors. Those beautiful, fine-points don’t hold up long if you are doing heavy hair cutting. I’ve always considered Dr. Slick’s products to be as good as it gets or at least as good as I need. Try the Good Doctor’s stuff, you’ll like it. 8T
Anvil all the way. I have two Dr Slick that are dull and the Anvil (same age as Dr Slick) keeps on going, sharp, ez to hold , a really good scissors. Maybe I got a bad lot of Slicks. I buy another it wll be the Anvil no doubt about it.
I also use Dr. Slicks… mainly because you can’t go wrong with the price. For six bucks they’ll last three or four years and cut everything including wire and lead, including flat lead. (assuming you use the part of the scissor near the hinge to cut the hard stuff) They are serrated and all of this stuff cuts the first time every time.
From size 16 and smaller I use a special pair of scissors and they came from singlebarbed.com. They were more expensive but worth the price since they get to the tiniest places and cut all the way to the tip. They will even cut one small filament of feather if needed. I’ve had them about a year and they have held their blade and not needed sharpening, but I would not use them on anything but feathers and thread. :tieone:
I’ve been using Dr Slick arrow points. They are sharp, have big enough finger holes and have sort of a notch I use to cut wire. For years I used Thompson Ice scissors which were like the Anvils. They were great but when I got a replacement pair, the tips weren’t ground the same as my original pair. I should take a close look at tips of the Anvils.
Somebody mentioned the Kershaw Skeeters. Great quality sharp scissors, but the finger holes are EXACTLY the wrong size for me. They are just big enough to slide over my knuckles but small enough that I have to forceably remove them.
