HOW TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF YOUR SHEARS

Be wary of sharpeners who put a beveled edge* on a convex* shear in order to make them sharper. This method of sharpening removes a great deal of material and diminishes the life of the shear. It will only work for so long. After awhile the shears start to look very thin and pointy instead of having a slightly rounded look. Shears sharpened this way are hard to restore and good sharpeners tend to shy away from repairing them in order to protect their reputations. Unless shears are extremely damaged from abuse where there is no other choice this method of sharpening will ruin the appearance of the shear often causing the blades to look uneven or wavy. Shears should never be left pointy risking the chance of jabbing yourself or the customer.

The question I am most often asked is; “Why is it my brand new shears are not cutting like they should?” Quite often the set (or bow) in the shear needs a slight adjustment and does not need sharpening at all. A skilled sharpener will check the set first before removing material.

Positive signs to look for after a fresh sharpening……

• Shears look like they did when you gave them up for sharpening.
• Points are properly rounded off and not sharp to the touch.
• Shears cut easily, open and close smoothly and feel like new.
• Edge is still rounded (Japanese style) and a line was not cut into the shear.

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Warm Regards,
Irv Hendel/ president

“ALL SHARPENING WORK CARRIES A 100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE”

*A beveled edge is a distinct 45% line cut into the shear.
*A convex or rolled edge conforms to the original design of most Japanese style shears.
* Artificially tinted shears are nearly impossible to convex without removing color or blemishing the appearance of the shear. For this reason I am not a big fan of tinted shears.
* Please note that German steel requires a more aggressive edge.