I have a pair of tying scissors that I love. I guess you’d call them clippers. They have blue handles; just one finger hole at the bottom and fit in the palm of my hand.
Here’s the big question: Anyone have a suggestion as to how I sharpen the blades. I have a dremel tool and I was wondering if I could use it. I tried a regular sharpening stone but it didn’t seem to do much.
If you really love them have a professional sharpen them. Take them to a fabric store if you can’t find one any other way. Most professionals pick up from stores like that several times a week.
The angle on scissors can be a problem if you’ve never done it before. When you buy a set of Spyderco stones they have instructions for sharpening anything that cuts.
Never use a power tool to sharpen anything to care about. It will heat the blade and take away the temper.
Rusty <><
Thanks, PCRusty: Good idea. There are several shops around here. I just thought maybe it was something I could attmpt myself.
What brand are they, some of those have replacement blades available.
Eric
I could buy replacement blades, true. I’m at work and I can’t even remember the brand name right now. When I bought the scissors I also bought an extra pair of blades, but they got dull from sitting around so long. since I made this post earlier, I found a guy that will sharpen the blades for $4.50. I think I paid about $15 for the scissors so they seems good to me.
I second the professional help comment. I have a friend who can take a knife that you can use to shave and turn it into a butter knife on a whett stone in a matter of seconds. I don’t know how many times I’ve been asked to sharpen his knives and the amount of time it’s taken me to get the proper angle back on the edge. I finally asked him to give me his sharpening stone and banned him from ever trying again 
. We’re both happier now.
Scissors are even more critical because you have essentially two cutting edges with vastly different angles that have to meet. If it’s an old pair and are basically junk and you want to experiment, go for it. If’ they’re nice and something you value, pay the few dollars and have someone do it for you.
Also, NEVER use a dremmel or any power grinder on any edged tool.
Jeff
Thanks, Jeff: I’ve been all over the internet and I can’t even find the scissors I own or a pair like them. I know I’ve seen them somewhere, but I can’t remember where. They’re similar to A. K. Best’s. Like he suggested I drilled a small hole and glued a small darning needle into the scissors to use as a bodkin and a hand whip finish tool. It works great and I never have to lay them down as I’m finishing a fly. I must be getting old because I can’t remember the brand. :? Maybe somebody can help out with the name?
I’m surprised! I just found a pair called Finishing Scissors made by Dr. Slick. Never knew they made 'em.
Al Beatty, BT’s fly fishing products (FAOL Sponsor) has the scisors and blades (weiss brand) the scisors are 15.25 and the blades are $8.00
Thanks, Eric: I’d rather get them from a sponsor of FAOL.
Last chance, Your welcome.
Not just a sponsor but a real nice people who drove across the state to do a tying demonstration at last years Idaho fishin.
I need to put in an order with them/
Eric
A few tips on sharpening scissors.
Unless you have a nick or a burr on the flat part of the blade, never touch it with a whet stone.
Scissors cut at the point where the two angled top faces meet. If you sharpen on the flat part of the blade, you will end up with these faces not meeting and the scissors won’t cut.
Peaks and valleys are less significant on the top,or cutting, faces. Think serrated scissors for a drastic version of this.
As you sharpen, try to keep the stone flat to the whole face of the cutting edge. Be sure to sharpen as far back as the opposing blade will allow. You may not be able to sharpen all the way back to the crotch of the blades, so be prepared to change the way you use the scissors if you use that part of the blades frequently.
Also, use a fine stone (Hard Arkansas or flat ceramic) to get a smoother edge. Never use a coarse stone on scissors. If they’re that bad, buy a new pair and use the old ones for cutting ribbing.
If you feel you must use that new Dremmel tool to sharpen an edge, use many, many, many light passes, and never let the grinder stay in one place. You would do better mounting the Dremmel, and moving the scissors across it, not allowing any more pressure than the weight of the blade. If anything starts glowing or turning blue, they’re toast. Heat will take the temper out of the blade, causing the edge to roll when you try to cut with it.
With a little practice, you can save quite a bit on scissors, but practice on that old pair in the kitchen drawer, first. When you can get them to cut yarn without making a mess, then you’re ready!
Kirk
Sorry to say, they will not make the Idaho Fish-In this year due to some health issues within their family. They are both fine and working hard as ever however. We all will miss them.
Hi Folks,
I have what I think is a great source for locating professionals who do sharpening. Your local hospital surgical units have many instruments which are routinely sent to be sharpened. They can steer you to the individual who does this for a living.
I, for one, would like to hear more about the darning needle?bodkin?whip finish arrangement. I?ve had a pair of Clips for some time, but that?s the first I?ve heard about AK drilling holes in them
Much Obliged
? smc ?
Here’s a not so great photo but should suffice…also described at length in his book…of which I think this is a copy…
I’ve got a book of household tips, that recommends cutting three or four thicknesses of aluminum foil a few times, as a way to restore a sharp cutting edge on scissors. Anybody tried it? I’m too timid to try it on my good scissors.
Since aluminum is much softer than the tool steel used in scissors I find it very hard to believe that is could be used to sharpen scissors. I use a diamond impregnated honing stone. I won’t use my good tying scissors on paper, no way I would cut aluminum with them. Might bend the very fine tips.
Sounds right. Why would you cut foil, if you wouldn’t even cut fine ribbing wire with your good scissors.