How To Sharpen Scissors Effectively

From fabric scissors and kitchen shears to the plastic-handled snips stuffed in a junk drawer, scissors are often the best way to make quick work of cutting tasks around the house. But dull scissors take longer to get the job done, can damage the material being cut and create a safety hazard as you use excessive force with each snip.

I’ve been sharpening my knives and tools for decades, including many scissors and shears. I’ve got plenty of hands-on experience, but I also wanted to consult with a true master of the art. That’s why I sat down with Bill Howard to talk about the fine art of sharpening scissors.

About the Expert

Bill Howard has been sharpening blades professionally for 11 years. As a sushi chef in a James Beard award-winning restaurant, he learned the importance of maintaining a sharp blade. Eventually, he taught new hires in the art of sharpening. In 2019 he founded Old Knives’ Tale, a professional sharpening service for almost anything that takes an edge.

Scissor Sharpening Tips From a Pro

The good news is that sharpening scissors is definitely a DIYable project, as long as you’re willing to learn the right technique.

“At the end of the day,” says Howard, “you can make anything sharp if you work on it enough. You just have to focus on the consistency of it.”

Scissor sharpening isn’t quite as straightforward as cleaning up the edge of a buck knife. You’ll need to examine the existing angle of the scissors’ edge, as well as their slight concave curve.

“Really dial in on the correct angles,” Howard urges, “and make sure you’re not over-sharpening in a specific spot.”

Like most other skills, it’s all about practice.

“Scissors are tricky,” Howard says, “but they’re not that bad, once you understand what you’re looking for and get that muscle memory.”

Below are basic DIY instructions for the three most common ways to sharpen scissors. The core steps are largely the same in each: secure the workspace, identify the edge, sharpen the edge and deburr (remove any sharp edges, aka burrs, left behind) the backside. The only thing that changes is how the scissors come into contact with the sharpening stone.

You can refine your process as much as you like. A pro like Howard adds additional steps, polishing the edge with a higher grit stone and adjusting the tension on the scissors to the perfect balance of cutting precision and ease of use.

Method 1: Using a Bench Whetstone

Howard finds that this method works best for scissor sharpening. “There’s a tactile feel to using stones,” he says, “once you get comfortable with using them you can feel when you have the right angle.”

A bench stone works best when you can disassemble the scissors so that the other arm doesn’t strike the work surface. If they can’t be disassembled, Howard suggests finding more space by setting the whetstone (a stone used for sharpening edge tools) on edge or placing it on a brick.

Tools and Materials Needed

• Whetstone
• Household oil (Such as 3-in-1 oil)

Steps

1. Disassemble the scissors (optional).
2. Secure the whetstone on the workspace. Use a towel or other cushion if you are working on a surface you could damage.
3. Apply oil to the whetstone. This will prevent metal fragments from clogging the surface.
4. Clean any residue off the scissors.
5. Identify the edge of the scissors. Remember that some scissors have different angles on each half.
6. Stroke the scissor blade away from you, maintaining the edge angle. Be sure to get the full length of the edge across the whetstone.
7. Deburr the back side of the scissors.
8. Repeat on the other side.

Pros and Cons

• Pro: Excellent control of the edge.
• Con: Can be difficult to use this method on scissors that aren’t disassembled.

Method 2: Using a Vise

Instead of moving the scissors across the whetstone, this method moves the whetstone over the scissors. This is a good choice for scissors that can’t be disassembled or if your workspace won’t allow for easy use of a bench whetstone.

Tools and Materials

• Bench vise
• Whetstone

Steps:

1. Disassemble the scissors (optional).
2. Clean the scissors, removing any residue.
3. Secure the scissors in the vise. Use a towel or other cushion to prevent scuffing the metal surface.
4. Identify the edge of the scissors. Position the scissors in the vise so that the full edge will be accessible.
5. Stroke the whetstone across the scissors, following the edge angle.
6. Deburr the back side of the scissors.
7. Repeat on the other side.

Pros and Cons

• Pro: Good for scissors that don’t disassemble.
• Pro: Good choice if you have a smaller whetstone.
• Con: Control of the edge angle is more difficult than with a bench stone.

Method 3: Using a Grinder or Sander

While you can free-hand grind some tools, the precision edges of scissors makes achieving a uniform angle difficult. For most people, a sharpening jig is strongly recommended.

Tools and Materials

• Bench grinder or sander
• Sharpening jig

Steps:

1. Disassemble the scissors (optional).
2. Clean the scissors to remove any residue.
3. Secure the scissors in the jig.
4. Identify the edge profile of the scissors. Remember that some scissors have different angles on each half.
5. Using the jig, run the scissors across the grinder. Be sure to sharpen the full length of the edge.
6. Deburr the back side of the scissors.
7. Repeat on the other side.

Pros and Cons

Pro: Very fast.

Pro: A good choice for damaged blades that need aggressive metal removal.

Con: If you get the angle wrong or get too aggressive with the grinder, you can end up with scissors that are more dull than when you began.

When To Replace Scissors

Scissors can have a surprisingly long service life. Howard says that even scissors that pick up a chip may have years of service left, so long as you don’t need it for precision cutting.

I typically downgrade my household scissors from kitchen use to workshop to yard work. In my experience, inexpensive plastic-handled household scissors are more likely to get tossed because the handles snap before the blades wear out.

FAQ

How often should you sharpen scissors?

It depends on usage. You may get away with only an occasional honing every few months. To test the edge, Howard recommends slowly cutting a single ply of toilet paper. If the scissors are cut cleanly, that’s sharp enough for typical household use. When you start to notice the scissors not cutting as well, it’s time to sharpen them.

What dulls scissors?

The more demanding the material being cut, the faster the scissors will go dull. Howard points out that kitchen shears are often used to cut through shells and other things that can damage the edge.

How do you keep your scissors sharp for as long as possible?

Two tips here. First, don’t cut things that are not meant to be cut. Second, if you want to keep the scissors sharp without breaking out a whetstone, use a honing rod to maintain the edge.

Does cutting tinfoil sharpen scissors?

No. This might have some minor honing effect, or serve to remove gunk build-up on the blades, but if done incorrectly it could end up dulling the blades.

How much does it cost to have scissors sharpened?

This varies, but you can expect to pay $10 to $20 for basic household scissor sharpening. Specialty items, such as barber’s scissors, typically run a little higher. Sharpening pros, such as Howard’s Old Knives’ Tale, offer mail-in sharpening. For these services the exact price will depend on shipping costs, so reach out for details.

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