How to Sharpen Scissors

Having trouble cutting through plastic with your kitchen scissors? Does cloth simply 'fold over' when you try to cut it? Don't buy new scissors, sharpen them yourself. This will make using the scissors an easier and safer process.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Scissors
• Metal File

1. Clean the scissor blades with a light solvent such as paint thinner or goof-off and a paper towel. Lots of tape gunk and adhesive tends to accumulate on the blades. You want to get all this off before you sharpen the scissors.

2. Open your scissors and hold them against your body with one hand. Keep the pointed ends of the scissors away from you.

3. Take the metal file in your other hand and slowly push it along the cutting edge of the scissors at about a ten degree angle while applying light pressure. The file blade should be ALMOST flat on the scissor blade, but not quite. Push AWAY from you applying light pressure.

4. Stop pushing the file when you reach the pointed end of the blade, lift the file up and return it to the wide end of the blade and file again. Repeat this 20-30 times.

5. 

   Flip the scissors over and repeat the process for the other blade. Try the scissors out when you have completed the process. If they aren't sharp enough repeat the entire sharpening process.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also put a couple of drops of lightweight oil on the scissor blade to aid in filing smoothly.
• Like Ma said, don't run with the scissors!

Resources

• File Set
• Kitchen Shears

[sherryeam]

on 4/25/2009 I'm not sure if I'm brave enough to sharpen my own scissors like this. It is great to know the angles of the scissors and everything. Thanks great article!