I just learned of Kai products from posts this morning on the board.

Do you own one or more Kai products...if so, which one(s) and why do you appreciate them?

Here is the Kai product page:

http://www.kaiscissors.com/category.php?category_id=50

There are lots of items on this page and include what they consider standard, professional and specialty scissors.

Have you been able to purchase locally or did you need to send for these? I see that Amazon carries various Kai products.

I own Gingher scissors, snips and large appliqué scissors.
But more so than these, I appreciate my Heritage 6.5" Spring-Loaded Rag Quilting Snips and VP13
Hand embroidery 4 inch curved scissors. I've found those two especially versatile and I grap them most frquently.

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTuXaz9411ntqi4TT4O65lbOY5t0Hx6V3so-TGJjN9LXj_TPUx_

http://www.heritagecutlery.com/images/VP403LRC-TP.jpg

My Gingher snips are these...and I don't value them much:
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSqZIqfvqxeKSrbwyH5DohNxQcaVWVD2wxSstdGnStJH U1cN7jVHQ

These are the Gingher appliqué scissor that I have:
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT0czobIcoN3m94vWIMz4mbbt31UmYLUIeSq3AYIGkiQ GJgdqNW

If you had it to do over again, what would you purchase? I'd like something longer and even more ergonomically friendly than my 8 inch dressmaker shears, that's for sure!
:thumbup:

I have a pair of dressmaker shears which I love for that style of cutting. ONce my smaller gingers wear out, I plan on getting some of the smaller Kai's. A few years ago a comparison was done between Gingher, Kai and a few other well known brands for size scissors that quilters use, and Kai was the winner. The comparison was done by the magazine Mark Lipinski started (and for which he no longer works).

I have a pair of Kai scissors, and they are and always have been
my favorites. They have been protected (hidden) from large, busy hands and are still sharper than any others I have. I got them at a traveling sewing class, which turned out to be a rather expensive new way of making your own patterns. Turned out to be worth it in the end, even though I didn't tell DH how much everything cost!! I think I got them in the 1980s.

I have a small pair of Kai scissors that I use for trimming the jump threads from embroidery.
Excellent....
Bought at the quilt show last year....

I have got Kai rotary cutters in various sizes. I prefer them because the blade is only protruding whilst you have pressure (i.e. when you are actually pushing down on it to cut fabric). It then retracts so that you don't have to remember to pull the blade into a safe position. The first one I bought was in about 1983 and it is still going strongly.

I have the small straight Kai scissors... I got them for needle turn appliqué and find myself reaching for them instead of my ginghers all the time

Hi Mary,

Yes, Kai Scissors are the most ergonomically designed scissors and shears available on market place today. I know this first hand because they are the most popular scissor that I personally sell to the textile industry comprised of drapery workrooms, upholsters, sailmakers, awning fabricators and marine canvas fabricatiors. Most people are unaware that KAI also is the manufacturer of Shun Knives and Cutlery. When you have opportunity, you can see large assortment of their products on my website.

Michael

I have the rotary cutters and like them for the same reasons that jiitkaau stated. I am not sure they make these exact kind anymore....the ones that open and close automatically.

Peggy,

Yes, they still make them, and they have actually improved them with the new blue handled models. Believe it or not, they are more comfortable to use and just as safe as the original models. You can see pictures of them on my website. Just look under rotary cutters on the buy scissors and tools tab.

Michael

I love Ginghers but did buy my first of Kai scissors at the Round Bobbin last Friday. I do a lot of McKenna Ryan patterns and cutting skills are essential but having the right pair of scissors is the most important tool to achieving success with her patterns. I used them to cut out a few horses and they were wonderful to use. I wouldn't trade my Ginghers for anything but these smaller Kai's are great for the intricate cutting needed for what I am doing. I also bought a Martelli cutter, well worth the $20 I spent and it also is easy on the hands/wrist, too.

Diane,

The Martinelli cutter has a good ergonomic design, but be very careful with it. Please make sure that blade guard is closed after every cut. I would not recommend that children or a novice use this cutter.

Michael

Diane,

If you think the KAI small scissors are nice. Check out the KAI 7000 Professional Series. They are expensive, but they are the sharpest and most comfortable scissor ever designed. I am confident that you will put your old Ginghers out to pasture.

Michael

Our charity group has a Kai for cutting fabric that has the Fons and Porter logo on it. I always claim it and it is wonderful. We have used it for several years and it is still nice and sharp and requires less hand pressure to cut.

Hi Sweetana3,

Yes, KAI scissors stay sharp for a very long time. A simple sharpness scissor test is this, and it works with any brand of scissors. Don't hold the fabric that you are cutting. If the fabric starts to move forward while cutting, it's time to sharpen your scissors.

I give a coupon good for one free sharpening with every scissor that I sell in my online store, and sometimes it takes 3 years for my non-manufacturing customers to use it.

Michael

Hi Ramona,

Only shows you how long a well made pair of KAI Scissors lasts.




Michael

kai scissors changed my life!
i used to have ginghers -

Trigger,

I'm glad that you're enjoying them. I hear that same compliment about KAI Scissors very often. There's a very high-end drapery workroom in Boston. The cutter there thought that he was going to give up his job about ten years ago due to hand pain from cutting drapery fabrics and lining all day long. Someone told him about KAi Scissors, he purchased a pair and his hand pain went away never to return.

Michael

I absolutely love my Kai micro tip scissors and also have a bit larger pair. There is nothing short of cutting long lengths of fabrics that the Kai's that I have won't do. I need to purchase the longer ones one of these days. I have all the Gingers I believe ever made and absolutely love the Kai. I use my micro tip ones for everything small including applique, removing stitches and jump stitches etc. There is nothing near those in my opinion. I have the Ginger applique ones and never use them anymore.

Hi Quiltmaker,

I'm glad that you're really happy with them. Most people think that it's just another brand of scissors until they actually try them, and then they are amazed how well they actually cut. KAI also has a very popular and expensive line of professional hair dressing shears, and they own and manufacture Shun Knives, probably the best cutlery available, which are sold almost exclusively by William Sonoma. Which model numbers of their scissors do you find most useful?

Michael

Hi Olmphoto2,

There are a number of other very competitive sources on the web for Kai scissors besides the one site that you mentioned. There might be one or two offering a quilter's promotion for Kai Scissors.

Michael