What Materials Are Used to Make Scissors?

Whether you sew, embroider, knit, or do paper crafts, having a good pair of scissors is important. While scissor blades may be straight or curved and come in a wide range of sizes, they start with the same materials. Most scissors are made of steel, which may be plated with nickel or chromium to prevent rusting. Stainless steel adds chromium to the metal, which makes the scissors lighter as well as preventing rust.

Plastic handles may be used to make the scissors more comfortable to use. Molten plastic is forced into a mold that includes a slot for the scissor blades and allowed to cool. The scissor blades are created separately and attached to the handles with a strong adhesive. Plastic scissors for children or plastic paper scissors are created the same way out of larger sections of plastic.

The earliest known scissors were made from bronze 3,000 or 4,000 years ago. While scissors can be made from many metals, those found in stores today are typically made from steel. Scissors crafted from other materials such as titanium or aluminum are usually for industrial use, such as cutting magnetic tape or explosive materials.