So, I have a growing fondness of scissors and shears. I began to realize I needed a GOOD set of scissors for paper cutting and delicate work so I picked up a set of Shozoburo scissors from Japan. Not cheap but perfect in every way.
Then I found myself picking of very old Wiss scissors and some German scissors--still sharp but in need of a little TLC. the lady I had bought them from was into clothes making for thirty years. One thing I've noticed with good scissors is that rather than riveted together at the fulcrum they have a bolt for adjustment and tear down.
Am I the only one with this perculiar taste?
You're not alone. There are two styles of bolt adjustments. The good ones use a nut that keys into the blade with the bolt, so that the pivoting action of the handles doesn't cause it to loosen. If it's missing that feature, I usually prefer the rivet to just a plain screw.
I'm quite partial to older shears with forged bodies and inlaid cutting steel edges. I was so happy when I picked up four pairs of Wiss 20's at a yard sale a couple of years ago. They restored beautifully, and work better than anything I can find in the stores today. My favorites are a pair of Compton U-Set.
I like good scissors too. The trouble for me is finding a pair that are actally left handed and not right handed scissors with left handed grips. Been thinking about a pair of the nice ones they stock at JoAnn's. The lady in the store called them the Snap-On of scissors! Not quite that much markup but I see her point.
Some of the left handed people I know, learned to use righty scissors in their left hand, so they prefer that style. I really don't understand why, since with the blades reversed, you lose sight of the cutting line.
I've picked up two pairs of these over the past few years for around $7 each (they come up from time to time really cheap, and I find them every bit as good as a Gingher):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mundial-Cla...maker-Shears-Scissors-871-8-New-/222593215210
I know that Wiss and Gingher both make forged true left handed shears. And if you like the silky feel of Japanese shears, Kai makes them too.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/KAI-8-75-Er...095025?hash=item58d6b1bef1:g:ei0AAOSwUuFW1i04
As for what's at JoAnns, I thought they stock Fiskars. They used to make a left handed offset model with red handles (instead of their trademark orange). Personally, I'm not a fan of their stuff, and since they've moved production to China, I like it even less now.
...the mystery to me is how to properly sharpen any of them. Anyone have decent tips or suggestions to properly sharpen quality scissors?
That depends on their construction.
Generally, it is safe to start with a fine knife sharpening steel. You can gently rub the cylindrical part of the steel (don't use the tapering part at the tip, because shears are hollow ground and you don't want to be messing with the hollow) along the innerside of the blades to level out any burrs. And then flat against the angle of the cutting edge. That's the best way to push back any burrs created from cutting something too hard (i.e. a point where the blades stick together as they're closed).
Modern shears stamped from sheet steel (Japanese or Fiskars) are pretty hard, so you may need to resort to a ceramic or diamond hone for sharpening.
Older Wiss shears are soft enough to be sharpened with a fine mill file.
The secret is in knowing when they need sharpening, and when they just need adjustment. If the blades are bent out of shape, they'll still fail to cut, but sharpening can just make them worse.
