Who makes quality scissors

[Bruce Lancaster]

Another type that you probably would like in your kit is a set of Lineman's scissors, actually made for cutting and stripping light wire.
My wife got hold of mine and liked them so much she bought a pair or two every time she was in Home Depot and had them ready all over the house. They are a bit on the short side so are not really for general paper and cloth shearing, but they are ultra stiff and strong and have tiny serrations placed so that anything the blades grab stays right where it should til cut off. Perfect for all the stuff that gives your regular shears a fight, even up into light sheetmetal.
Readily available where they have Klein tools in the electrical area at Home Depot.
Traditional design used by linemen and electricians for many decades.
My first set came from the ground by a telephone pole...genuine feral example!

 

[american lockpicker]

I have a pair of those I forgot about them till you said that. The only thing I don't like is the inside of the blades aren't plated and prone to rusting.

 

[mtwaterguy]

Since you're using them in a shop enviroment I assume you've had them sharpened, probably even regularly sharpened. Is that true?
Even with the neccesary dressing of the blade edge I find it awesome that a tool can be used like this for so long. That says alot for the tool, proper use and care of it over it's lifetime.

Under normal conditions these scissors only need to be sharpened once a year or so. That doesn't count the occasional problem of dropping or cutting a piece of metal that damages them. You ned to find a expert sharpener also. One that really knows how to do his/her job. My oldest scissors are over 40 years old. From experience I can tell you that one sharpening can ruin a pair of scissors if not done properly.

 

[Bruce Lancaster]

Especially on the ones found at the bases of telephone poles!
By the way, linesmen are the "leakiest" mechanics on the planet; when I walk the dog, we carefully check out the ground around every pole that has a junction box on it. The number of tools I have found over the years is astounding!

 

[jeepnut24]

My mother was a seamstress and liked Fiskars.

X2, and my Mom always had two pair. The good pair she kept for the thread, fabric, etc. And the other pair that was for the thicker heaver material and thin wire, cord, etc... The good pair was always super sharp.

 

[Donna C.]

Just a little information on scissors I happen to know from decades of sewing:

Fiskars bought out Gingher some time ago. I have no idea whether this has an effect on their quality or not. A company spokesman once said that all of the steel blades are forged in Italy and the rest could be Taiwan or wherever. Mine are very old and quality.

Some people think Solingen is a brand of scissors but is actually an area in Germany in which quality scissors are made to exacting standards. Dovo is one such company. Any brand that has a Solinger stamp is quality. Unfortunately, there are knockoffs.

I don't have any Weiss **** I know they are quality. So are Wiss, American made.

Kai are excellent.

I just looked at the various scissors in the house and have a few Griffon. They are/were an American company that started in New York. I lost track of them when they relocated out of NY. I don't know if they are made now. (Need to research, which was what I was doing when your site came up!) Many American companies "made" scissors that were put together from blades forged in Germany or Italy.

I only mention these because if you can acquire old scissors at yard sales, etc. they can often be obtained at bargain prices and sharpened to original perfection. Just check to make sure they close properly all the way to the tips. I have inherited my mother and grandmother's good scissors and they work as well as they ever did.It does make a difference where you have them sharpened. I had always taken mine to a Bernina dealer who had a craftsman sharpener. One time when I didn't want to make the 3 hr. round trip, I took them to the local hardware store who very nearly ruined them.

Cutting fabric dulls scissors over time, a lot depends on the type of fabric. However, accidentally nicking a pin can mean a trip to the sharpener immediately. And, yes, cutting materials other than fabric. As one of those "mothers who would go ape" to see my boys using my sewing scissors for other use, they never admitted to it; but I could tell.

One thing you should know if buying for a gift is that every user has a different preference in scissors depending on size of hands and other factors. Some of us love rotary cutters for main cutting and use scissors for special cuts. You should probably find a way to get your wife's input if this is a surprise gift.

This is long, I know, and I haven't meant to sound overbearing. I hope something I said helps.

 

[bareass172]

I used a lot of junk in the past, finally scooped up some old Wiss at an estate sale for $1/per. Even before sharpening them the quality was apparent.

 

[rlitman]

I've got a few pairs of recently made forged steel Gingher scissors. They're just as good as the old ones. The stainless stuff is no better than Fiskars. Usable, but not so great. The Ginghers stay with my sewing materials. They've got a knife edge that is great for cutting fabric, but will wear out quickly on anything else.

I picked up a pair of truly ancient Cutco shears at a garage sale for a buck. They were awful, but I was able to get them replaced with a new set which is fantastic. I really think this is the best product Cutco makes, but the price they ask for them new is just nuts.
This is my favorite pair of shears in the kitchen, and the fact that they come apart so easily is one big reason why. As for being able to cut a penny without being damaged, BS. Mine got a nick from that, though I was able to steel it back out.

If you're looking at Fiskars, you should check out Mundial. I've got some stainless scissors from them which I like a lot more than any Fiskars or Wiss I've owned. The micro-serration really works well.

Lastly, my absolute favorite scissors are long out of production. I've got a huge pair of Compton U-Set shears in the shop that are far better than anything made today.

 

[pendragon1998]

I don't understand why, on a forum full of DIY guys, there is talk of sending out your scissors to 'a sharpener.' Who has time for that? Learn to sharpen them yourself.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/4rVt6ZLB9Wg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[woody 73]

Pendragon in defense of the op for her 1st post she picked a 5 year old post and she is not a DIY but rather a seamstress. But yes I see your point most of us could sharpen them on the GJ.

 

[Monte]

www.kretzerusa.com

 

[Cope]

wiss makes good ones, also.

I haven't seen quality Wiss in years, do you have a link?

 

[bob15]

American made, including for lefties:

https://www.usab2c.com/category/scissors_made_in_usa

and their website

http://store.webstorepackage.com/wolff/virtualWeb/?sc_id=784EE929A43C482884A844F7351046D5&redirect=http://www.wolffind.com/7DD3D054ED7E446B85FC1E341B3FCFD4.asp?ccb_key%3DA29C63A91C1B4F5AA72A1B188A8CB8A8

 

[Hpozzuoli]

I have probably 5k worth of Cutco knives for the kitchen. One of the sets we got had scissors. These scissors cut pennies in half and just about anything else you stick in the jaws. They come apart for cleaning which is awsome. I would call them general purpose.

Made in USA of course.

 

[MarkG]

Fiskers work great for me. I don't need anything better.

 

[01blackl]

I also use Cutco.

 

[Greatbear]

I like Mundial scissors and shears. For smaller sizes look for the 7 or 8 inch dressmaker's shears, they are forged, adjustable, and most models have a tensioned hinge that keep the blades in tight contact, along with a cambered blade that keeps the tension constant all the way to the tip. I have a big 12 inch patternmaker shear that works beautifully for light fabric all the way to heavy construction paper, cardboard and heavy upholstery materials. They are heavy and precise. For small snips it's tough to beat the Klein lineman's scissors, they are sharp, smooth and sturdy forged steel. Don't waste money on no-name, plastic handled scissors with flat stamped blades. Many of these fail at cutting paper smoothly, and don't work well at the tips at all. The thin metal blades can't keep tension and the material folds over the blade instead of shearing.

Also, a lot of the scissors/shears with plastic handles have very little metal beyond the pivot, once near the handles the metal is practically nonexistent in some light duty scissors and the handles will often break off of the blades if used on heavier materials.

Lastly, look for scissors that have an adjustable pivot. Many cheap ones use a rivet or even a plastic button arrangement here that can't be adjusted, and it won't take much use for some of these to loosen and cause problems. Better quality scissors have a screw and locknut arrangement, high end models will often have a brass bushing along with a Belleville spring or other device to maintain a constant tension on the blades in heavy use. A little drop of oil every once in a while will keep good scissors working for decades. I still have a couple of my mother's sewing scissors, made in Germany, that are older (and in better shape) than me.

 

[Bighead38]

I string a lot of lacrosse sticks and these are the ones I've used for years to cut leather, string and mesh. I also use them for cutting nylon straps for helmet and equipment repairs.

http://www.olfa.com/ScissorsList.aspx?C=53

Best sport in the world.

 

[kctyphoon]

$20 (offset)

 

[kctyphoon]

$14 (straight)

and both milwaukee's are full tang(?) if you can call a scissor that.. the composite is over the full metal handles..

full demo:

 

[kctyphoon]

Another type that you probably would like in your kit is a set of Lineman's scissors, actually made for cutting and stripping light wire.
My wife got hold of mine and liked them so much she bought a pair or two every time she was in Home Depot and had them ready all over the house. They are a bit on the short side so are not really for general paper and cloth shearing, but they are ultra stiff and strong and have tiny serrations placed so that anything the blades grab stays right where it should til cut off. Perfect for all the stuff that gives your regular shears a fight, even up into light sheetmetal.
Readily available where they have Klein tools in the electrical area at Home Depot.
Traditional design used by linemen and electricians for many decades.
My first set came from the ground by a telephone pole...genuine feral example!

you must call them shears, or hell will freeze over.. only thing with those is they are not meant to be held in your thumb.. its middle finger in the bottom hole, and palm over the top handles..
even without that plastic thing, but most new ones have them.. these are from jameson.

 

[kctyphoon]

Fiber shears..

 

[Jure]

subscribed

 

[404]

Best are old USA made thrift store or yard sale finds, resharpen at home.

Drawing below is viewing from the tip of the scissors like you are going to stab yourself in the eye, a cut away view. The inside surfaces of the blades are hollowed out, so they only touch each other along the corner as the cut proceeds.

The ONLY place to remove material is on edges marked by the black line.

Be sure to maintain the original angle, it is easy to get carried way unless one pays close attention.

Remove material on the black line surface until no light reflects from the corner where the black line surface meets the curved surface, AND, any worn strip or mark on the hollowed out surface is ***completely*** removed, whatever that takes.

Remove the material in the down hill direction, that way no burr forms on the cutting edge. I use a low speed water cooled wheel, but a diamond stone would work just slower. Put dish soap and water on the diamond stone to prevent clogging the stone.

After sharpening wash off the soap and grit, dry, oil to prevent rust.

I have done this on tin snips, scissors, compound tin snips after dis assembly, hedge loppers, etc.

Right handed vs left handed scissors mirror the image left to right.

Practice on your worst ones first. We all sharpen pencils, why not drill bits and scissors?

 

[shockwave]

Believe it or not go to Sally's beauty supply and pick up a great pair of shears most of the higher end will be Japanese made