Sandygirl

I only use my 40 year old Ghingers for fabric cutting. Haven't sharpened them for 30 years. Cuts like butter! Why take a chance on cutting paper with them. I buy cheap Fiskars for paper cutting. I have a rotary cutter designated specifically used for cutting paper or cardbard. Comes in handy.

sandy

Carrie in PA

Years ago i had one of those old fashioned avocado green "dial-a-matic" sharpeners. I miss that silly little thing very much, it just vanished one day. Right now i use a fiskars sharpener and it works ok on my fabric scissors that somehow always make it in with the paper cutting scissors. I've been watching thrift stores to find another one of those sharpeners but for now i ordered a new pair of scissors that i have warned the family several times will be fabric only.

It is not a myth about using scissors for one purpose and not mixing them up. When i was a kid i used my moms fancy hair cutting scissors for a craft project and the hell she went through getting them sharpened (expensive) left quite an impression on me. I've also noticed that i can't use general purpose scissors to clip coupons after my daughter has used them to cut construction paper so now we have several pairs of scissors around the house meant for specific tasks.

Sewnoma

I buy cheap scissors by the multi-pack and scatter them all around the house, so there are scissors EVERYWHERE in my house. NO reason for my DH to ever touch any of my sewing scissors! I do believe paper will dull scissors so I am strict about keeping fabric scissors separate from "every day" scissors. I believe it because my snips won't snip threads anymore now that I've used them to trim paper!

Rodney

I can sharpen knives and my wood chisels just fine. Scissors-not so much. I did find out that our local sewing store takes scissors in for sharpening. They were very reasonable too., about $3.50 a pair. They have a week turnaround so I'll be making a couple trips to get mine cleaned up.
Apparently hair cutting scissors are sharpened with a rounded bevel and it's recommended to only have them professionally sharpened. I would ask at a barber shop or salon where they get theirs sharpened.
Rodney

Ranchwife

I won't allow a piece of paper to touch my fabric scissors. I have a set of Fiskar's ergonomic scissors and absolutely love them. They stay in my craft closet out of the sight of the rest of the family so there is no chance of them being used for anything other than fabric.

notmorecraft

I learned dressmaking as a child as I had aunts that were tailoress, and I was taught to keep a pair of scissors for paper pattern cutting and separate scissors for cloth. I have always adhered to this to the extent that the scissors I leave out, , which my hubby and sons use for anything and everything are the ones I use for paper and my 'good' scissors are not easy to find, unless you know where to look. Lol.

ArchaicArcane

I guess I'm lucky, it's usually just my MegaPro screwdriver that I have to guard in my studio. DH is pretty good about my scissors. He asks which ones he can use.

K, so if I'm reading this right, in many cases, I should be able to sharpen the scissors and take care of any issues, unless the blade is nicked.

Cactus Stitchin, is there any chance your hubby nicked the blade by cutting near or through a staple or something? Paper seems like it should give before metal does...

Candace, I've been eyeballing that stone too, especially because it deals with the knife edge scissors too. I think I will order it on my next order from my supplier.

Jan in VA, It's reasonable to send scissors to them if you're in the US. For me it's $30, which is more than I paid for the scissors (got them on clearance from the supplier for $16). If I had a more expensive pair, it might be different. Thanks for the info though. They're actually not dull, and I haven't cut paper with them. I have 3 pair of scissors that came with machines that I thought could use sharpening because I don't know their histories.

Auntie V, adjustment bolt?

Carrie in PA, if I ever see one, I'll keep you in mind. I tried to find a pic of one on Google, but no luck, do you have a photo?

Rodney, thanks! I will ask around. I know there used to be shops in the malls called "House of Knifes" - their spelling, not mine! But I wonder sometimes if my scissors are worth the craftsmen, rather than the minimum wage teens I see in most shops these days.

notmorecraft - Actually, that brings up another question - what about the tissue paper in patterns? Should I have a second set for those? When I pin the pattern to the fabric, invariably I cut the tissue paper too, surely that shouldn't dull the blades...? I've also found that "girly colored" things also don't get touched. My next set of scissors (and screwdriver!) will likely be pink or purple!

quilterjody

Various clays, and/or calcium carbonate, are a component of many papers, including cardboard. They are there to make the paper stiff, to adjust the absorption of inks, to keep the paper hard when it is wet (wet strength), and as a filler (Clays are less expensive than wood fiber in many cases, depending upon the quality of the paper.) These minerals are abrasive and dull the scissor blades. (copied from the site below)

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasc...1/gen01215.htm

Jo M

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My feelings exactly!

DogHouseMom

Never knew that. I have several pairs of very good quality shears for dog grooming, and I regularly get them sharpened when I'm at a dog show. I know these are NOT sharpened with a rounded bevel. (most) Dog hair is coarser than (most) human hair ... suppose that's why.