How to Sharpen Scissors by Cutting Through Sandpaper

A dull pair of scissors can be exceedingly frustrating, especially when you need them for cutting something intricate or important. Before replacing your dull scissors, you should consider trying to sharpen them to extend their useful life. With a simple sheet of fine-grit sandpaper, you can effectively restore the sharp edges of your scissors. The process is no more complicated than simply cutting through sandpaper.

Things You'll Need

• Fine-grit sandpaper
• Dull scissors
• Soft cloth

Instructions

1. Find a small sheet of fine-grit sandpaper. It does not have to be new or particularly large to sharpen scissors. Fine-grit sandpaper generally has a score of between 100 and 180.

2. Open the scissors as wide as possible and position the blades on the edge of the sandpaper.

3. Cut through the sandpaper completely, using the entire blade area of the scissors from the base of the blades to the tips of the blades.

4. Repeat steps two and three several times to sharpen the scissors completely.

5. Wipe the blades with a soft cloth to remove any sandpaper dust from the scissor blades when you are finished sharpening the scissors.

6. Cut the sandpaper as often as necessary to keep your scissors adequately sharp for every cutting task.

References

• Reader's Digest: Uses for Sandpaper