I have some wonderful Gingher scissors that are beginning to dull. Has anyone had theirs professionally sharpened? I've heard that, like a knife, they will not hold an "edge" well after sharpening. Does anybody know? There is a man who comes to our local Hancock's once a month.
As you can see, I'm very protective about my toys.

I sent my pinking shear out to be sharpened. I went to Hancock's, I was very happy with the work he did.

I had mine sharpened at Hancocks about a year ago. All I can say is, DO IT! Wow, was I ever happy I did it! I think I forgot how good scissors are supposed to cut! They have held their edge well ever since.

I'm a pet groomer, so I have shears sharpened all the time. If the person doing the sharpening isn't a professional, your shears could be ruined. I've used the same company for many years and very happy with his work. Ask questions, I won't have anyone do my shears, if they do lawn mower blades too.

I have had mine sharpened and they were like brand new :D:D:D

I had my DGM's pinking sheers sharpened. They were so dull they wouldn't cut paper. They cut like a knife through butter now. They are 50 years old, and still have plenty of cutting life in them. Have them sharpened. You will be glad you did

This is a great topic. I have some good quality dull scissors that I have procrastinated on sharpening. I guess they aren't useful as is, so I might as well take the plunge. Good to hear of so many positive experiences.

I got my Fiskar's sharpened by a guy that who does it at our hardware store. Great job and came back in a sleeve it never had before!

I had my Ginghers sharpened and fixed (I dropped them on the end and it warped them) by sending them to the company. The service was free, I just had to pay postage. And they are the knife edge. With what those scissors cost, I didn't want to take the chance on just anyone doing them, and they did need to be fixed from the fall. They came back just like new.

I do know it takes a pretty big chunk of time to sharpen knives and scissors to a like new edge. The guild hired a guy to come sharpen everyone's scissors and he did each one in about 10 minutes. Most were duller then when he started. I would make sure any scissor sharpener has a good reputation and good business practice before handing over my quality knives and scissors. A good sharpening will last several years or more.

Have been pleased each time I had scissors sharpened. I sharpen my own knives, but scissors are different.

I have 9 different Gingher scissors. I send them all back to Gingher about every three years. They come back better than new. I think the current cost is about $7 a pair and they pay the postage. I have the address if anyone wants it.

i was at a quilt show this past weekend and they had a scissor sharpener guy there - $3 and i tested them and i had forgotten how good they should be!!!

I am very lucky, my DH is my scissor sharpener. I don't think he would do the pinking shears.

I use the stone from Gingher's and sharpen my scissors myself. Sharpen them often and it's no big deal. just a few swipes and they are good to go.

Google Gingher and send the scissors to them, They've been sharpening their own for years for the public.

Jan in VA

I own a small hair salon and the man that sharpens my hair shears sharpens my sewing scissors, I pay him a little more but he comes to my salon and does an excellent job. I now never have dull scissors or shears :) :) :)

DH is a knife collector. He has all the stones, Ect. I just add my scissors to his sharpening list.

One of my local fabric stores also does sharpening. I took my Ginghers in for a sharpening and wow, I was glad. It cost like $3 and it's like having a new pair of scissors again. Now, its possible that they don't hold an edge now, I don't know. It's only been a month or so. But I had let them get so dull that it was sharpen them or buy some, so sharpening was totally worth it to me.

I get most of my scissors sharpened at my LQS
Ginghers, when I used to use them, I sent back to the company for service/sharpening

Had mine sharpened through the LQS and they are sharp again.

Gingher has a sharpening stone, its a small rectangular stone and you follow the directions with the stone. I keep mine sharp using this.

I have a pair of Ginger snipping clips that need sharpening. Where do you send them to be sharpened? They are small blades and really need to be done by someone who knows what they are doing. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I tried to sharpen my good scissors with my knife stone. Bad idea. I asked them at Joanne's and they dont do it. I live 70 miles away from the city with Joanne's and Hancock's. I will definitely try the local hardware store! Thanks for the topic and great advice.

Check your local hardware store (don't know about the box hardware stores).

I've had them sharpened through the store and at a quilt show. Dropped 6 pairs off on Friday night and told him to do them when he had free time - I'd pick them up on Sunday. When I got them home, I wrote FABRIC and 2009, so I (and anyone else) would know they were for FABRIC ONLY and I had them sharpened in 2009.

They're wonderful when their sharp!

A few years ago I bought a sharpening wheel on ebay. It has a water resevoir and the wheel is slightly damp when turning. I sharpen all my own scissors and knives on it. Won't let my DH do it, he is too impatient. But I do them slow and they turn out terrific, just like brand new.

when you pay good money for good shears it only makes sense to keep them sharpened and in good working order, so they last a life time. just like a really good butchers knife, with time and use they can dull.there is no reason to not take care of them and have them sharpened, if you don't they just become...disposable...and i spent way too much money on mine to throw them out when they get dull.
as for the once you do it....
well, doesn't that make sense? after you have them sharpened, if you use them...they will at some point dull again...it is the nature of the beast. if you do not sharpen them they loose their usefulness, if you do, then yes you may have to again some day...it's not like you sharpen them once and then they are always dull, or you sharpen them once and never have to again. it is relative to how much you use them and for what.

Ok silly question...I have only 1 expensive pair of scissors, lots of not so expensive pairs, am I going to be shamed if I ask a professional to sharpen the less expensive scissors?
dee - the frugal sewer

I have a titanium scissors that is guranteed to stay sharp or your money back or replacement. so far haven't had problems. I realy love the scissors.

The bigger quilting shops often have someone scheduled to come in to sharpen scissors on a regular basis. I suggest you call a shop in your area. All but one time I was very pleased with this service.

If you want to use them a little longer before having them sharpened just cut tinfoil with them I have done it several times it also works in your garden scissors

I have a pair of poultry scissors that I use so much.A friend gave them to me when she worked at the chicken plant in Wv.They sure do need sharpened.I saw where JoAnns sometimes has someone there that does them.Might have to check them out .

I had seen some youtube videos using sandpaper and aluminum foil to sharpen them. Tried these out and didn't have much luck. While in Hobby Lobby I found a Fiskars scissor sharpener for about $5.00 minus my 40% off coupon. It really works great. My scissors are like new! It's a neat little gadget. Here's a picture:http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/...rpener-568170/

Send back to Ghinger. They have a fast turn around. Scissors are different in that these have a knife edge, unlike other scissors. If a sharpener isn't used to sharpening them, you will not be happy with the results.

I have a combo knife and scissors sharpener that came from Lowe's for $8.99 its sharpening stones are like the ones pictured from Hobby Lobby but it is much larger and heavy duty with a handle, Works Great!

I use that one, too. It makes a big difference.

I wouldn't be ashamed. After all, whether they are expensive or not, they still need to be sharp. The less expensive just may not hold an edge like the good one.

Would you mind sharing the address, etc. for sending scissors to Gingher or a phone number?

Thanks much!!!
Dawn

Thanks for the heads up! I would have never thought to send them to the company! Guess that's why I'm here (a lot).

NO, don't be ashamed. Some scissors just "fit" well in our hands. Different hands need different scissors.

The thing to remember when sharpening scissors is the fact that dull scissors are no good for anything. Also, try to get them to somone who you can be a regular customer. You will be better take care of that way. One of my scissors had ridges in them, kind of like serrated edge, but smaller for scissors and the LQS told me that if they sharpened them, I would lose that type edge. Well, they had a nick in them and were not any good to me as they were, so I told him to go ahead. Boy was I pleased.