Sharpening Scissors
 

Does anyone know how to sharpen scissors at home? I have some very vintage scissors that I would love to be able to use, plus a pair of small applique scissors. Any ideas or do I need to take them in somewhere to have sharpened. Thanks in advance! Cheryl

This is what I use and I got mine at WalMart. http://www2.fiskars.com/Sewing-Quilt...r#.UnuAuDYo63s

Just don't let your husband do them, lost a good pair of Ginghers that way. :)

Re: This is what I use and I got mine at WalMart. http://www2.fiskars.com/Sewing-Quilt...r#.UnuAuDYo63s.
One note of caution, I purchased one from of the national brand fabric/craft stores and it actually ruined my nice fiskars scissors. Tossed the gadget in the garbage and purchased new scissors. Will stick with professional sharpening or purchasing new scissors in the future.

I bought a tool from a place called Tommy Tools that works great.

Many of the quilt stores in our area will sharpen scissors for a very reasonable cost.

I still have the first pair of Fiskars I purchased and have never had to have them sharpened. I purchased them in the 70's and used them to cut out all my patterns for all my clothing for years. I have purchased other Fiskars as they have been offered. I have a gray-handled pair in my current sewing room and a soft-grip pair in my quilting-to-go tool box that I use at guild. I just do not use scissors like I did at one time. The most used scissors I have are my small embroidery ones for snipping threads.

Thanks for the links to the sharpener, I never knew such a thing existed.
I may be showing my ignorance, but it says it's not for 'razor edged' scissors. What's a 'razor edged' scissors?

I'd be afraid I'd ruin them. I'd like to get my Ginghers sharpened and I just missed a notice that my quilt shop was sending Ginghers to someone who sharpens them. I know Jo Ann has someone come in periodically to sharpen scissors at the store but I don't know whether they sharpen Ginghers.

I don't know the answer, but I have a pair of scissors that have what almost appears to be a micro serrated edge. That maybe what they mean, since they are probably sharp enough to remove a finger if I am not careful. They are extra long in the blade, and make cutting out patterns a breeze. I think they have titanium blades. They were a gift from my sister.

You want to find a professional to do it. Maybe a local quilt or sewing machine store can make a referral.

Only problem is to be sure and read what not to use on it.

I don't usually have problems with sharpening as I do with people grabbing for other uses or dropping them.

i have one of these sharpeners and they really work

I bought one at walmart and is very good.

I also have the Fiskars sharpener and it does work.

NO LEFTIES NEED APPLY! The Fiskars one does not work with left-handed scissors, according to the link provided.

I have the Fiskars sharpener. It work great. I first tried it on some cheap scissors I have first. Then after it worked well on them I used it on my good scissors.

I would only take my scissors to someone , that comes highly recomended by several people. I have had 2 pairs recked for me, so no more.

Gingher company in Greensboro, NC will fix your scissors for a small charge....I'm assuming that also covers sharpening them....if mine need it, that's where they're going!

I use a piece of aluminum foil that has been folded so it is about 4 layers thick. When my scissors give me a bad time, I just cut the foil. Just make sure you do full cuts. It sharpens my scissors just fine and I don't have another gizmo laying around.

I'm going to get the Fiskars sharpener tomorrow at Joanns. Looks like it has very good reviews. I don't think I will use it for my fabric scissors though, just all the other scissors we have around the house for various purposes. I don't want to pay to have them sharpened. Will pay when necessary for my fabric scissors, though. Thanks for the recommendation.

I have a gingher knife edge-r. It is a stone with directions and I just give them to my DH and he sharpens them for me. It works just fine. It say on the package it is from W- Germany

http://www2.fiskars.com/Sewing-Quilt...r#.UnuAuDYo63s. This tool is great I got mine at Hancock Fabrics. They go on sale from time to time. It is a good investment.

would it work on Giegher snips?

The Fiskars' sharpener did a pair of scissors that must be over 70 years old. They are an old pair of sewing scissors that my mother gave me for crafts. She had them for years.

Never tried it on the Ginghers. I have a pair and don't use them. The holes in the handle are too big, the scissors wind up slipping up my fingers and I don't care for it. They have been sitting in the drawer ever since Fiskars came out with the scissors that squeeze. I have long, skinny fingers and they are doublejointed. I'll probably toss them out.

I have heard of the aluminum foil and often wondered if it worked. Thanks.

I have a pair of Fiskars Razor Scissors. They have gray handles and say Razor on the blades

These are wonderful, works great, just follow instructions.

I had one of these I took it to where I worked and sharpened every pair of scissors in the place, it worked good for general use scissors too. ( I couldn't stand it anymore- not one pair of scissors were usable!)

Board member SCISSORMAN posted a really good post about sharpening your scissors. LOTS of good information.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...s-t123282.html

Just a little quickie at home I saw somewhere recently. Stack 8 pieces of alum. foil and cut through them several times. I just used alum. foil that had been over dishes in the oven, ect. They worked better, but not like new. Didn't know there was a sharpening tool like shown in a couple of the gals' links. Mariah

Thanks for the link!

I did get the Fiskars sharpener the other day. This morning DH sharpened all the scissors in the house (except for my sewing scissors), and it worked beautifully on all but one pair which had a bad nick in it. I don't think I'll use it for my Ginghers unless, perhaps, someone reports good results. They don't need sharpening right now anyway. The ones we sharpened are not for cutting fabric, but I did test them on fabric and was very pleased.

I have sent my Ginghers back to Gingher for years. They usually come back like new; however the last time I sent 4 pair and one pair came back with the blades extremely tight and hard to use. I took them to my local quilt shop that advertised they sharpened and repaired Ginghers. They were unable to help the situation. I should have sent them back immediately to be redone but, alas, I set them aside and never got around to it.

I bought the Fiskars Scissor Sharpener also for some vintage scissors I got at an Estate Sale. Had my husband do it and they work like a charm. I'm glad I wasn't successful in finding anyone in my area that sharpens scissors as who knows how much they would have charged for the one time. Now I have something to just use over & over on my favorite scissors.

I had my favorite thread snips shapened at Joann's when they had a day their scissor man was there. Ruined them. I use the aluminum too, but not for my most expensive ones.

I have a pair of Fiskars in just about every room in the house!

I also use this kind for any of my fiskar type scissors, but have not used them on any other kind so don't know if they work on them or not. I second what toverly said as my dh has ruined several pairs of mine also on accident.

If your Fiskars need to be sharpened....did you know you can send them back to Fiskars and they will sharpen them. Contact the company first, but they used to do this for FREE! I believe they have a guarantee on them. Hugs

I messed up a pair using that sharpener thing, too. I will not use it again.