Four Saw File Strokes to Sharp Scissors (Video)

Scissors may seem off topic but too many cheapos is causing good pairs to be trashed. Perhaps well-worn and dull ones will take more than four strokes with a saw file, but one good saw file will sharpen fifty pairs, and you can buy old scissors for almost nothing. Scissors for me are not off topic, they are part of my daily kit as I am sure they are for some of you. High carbon scissors take and keep a very keen edge and a good pair will last a lifetime.

A few weeks ago I blogged on scissors and the excesses of an industrial world. It was a short entry but worth the effort because I had bought five pairs of flea-market scissors, good ones, made in Sheffield, for £2.50. That’s about the price you pay for a pack of three from most stores these days. This week we filmed how to sharpen scissors at home or in the workshop, to at least regain some control of sharpening our own instead of buying into the throwaway market consumerism and economy breeds. Here is my version of non-machine sharpening scissors and shears for one of our freebies on YouTube. The reality is that anyone can do this and when someone shows you you do feel empowered to at least try. With a saw file, you, as a woodworker, most likely already have a saw file for sharpening your saws. Any single-cut flat file with a fine cut will work though, and you can sharpen any pair of scissors in under about one minute. To me, that’s empowerment and that’s power tool woodworking and sharpening at its zenith.

Those in pursuit of hand skills will enjoy this one I think. It’s the first video apprentice John Winter has filmed and edited for us.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rVt6ZLB9Wg