Q&A for How to Sharpen Scissors

Yes, but good hair scissors should be taken to a professional.

Yes, it does.

A Mason jar is simply a wide-mouthed jar used for canning foods. It gets its name from John L. Mason, who patented his version of the jar in the mid 1850s. The term may or may not be capitalized. It's just shorthand and any type of wide-mouthed jar can be substituted for this jar if you don't have access to the Mason variety.

Yes, fabric scissors are meant to be kept very sharp to get a clean cut on the fabric you are working on.

They can damage your scissors if you do them incorrectly. If you are concerned about this, you can purchase a special kit meant for sharpening scissors. You can also take them to a professional, who will safely sharpen your scissors for you.

Generally speaking, yes. However, the mason jar method may not work because the scissors might not fit around the jar.

The file would be a substitute for a whetstone, but would likely be too coarse a cut to work well. You can get fine-grit whetstones easily enough, and one will also be good for kitchen knives.

They have a bow. This is why a professional needs to sharpen them. They will use a rocking motion while grinding the scissors on stone.

You should always have a professional sharpen your haircutting shears, as they're sharpened at a specific angle to be able to cut through hair.

Yes, I have. But unless you have or make a jig to hold them,, or can maintain an exact angle by hand, be very careful, because grinders work very fast!

Sand paper is usually more coarse to remove material, and polishing paper is finer to leave a smooth finish. I would recommend watching a YouTube video on how to sharpen your scissors with a stone or file, or use the sandpaper in a similar way instead of cutting them. The methods shown here, from my experience as a professional sharpener, would just round the edges of the scissors and make them dull.

Yes, if you do not follow the instructions - especially the method of hand grinding. Keep the angle around 20 degrees and grind the correct side.

You could find one at a barbershop supply store, a hair supply store or online.

Yes. I have used both foil and sandpaper over the years to sharpen mine.

If you were to hone the edges of one by using the other as a honing surface, it might give you a short term solution, but if your scissors are blunt, I suggest sharpening them with a stone or sending them to a professional.

I work with linen, cotton, polyester, rayon, leather and fur. I use two different pairs of scissors for cutting these fabrics: a heavy-duty pair for the heavier fabrics and a long, slender lightweight pair for lighter and more delicate fabrics. I also have a very dainty pair of extremely sharp embroidery scissors. I use the same method for all my scissors, the aluminum foil method described here. I will occasionally use a stainless steel needle to sharpen my delicate scissors. Both methods work well.

That depends how often you use them. If you use them often, sharpen them at least once a week. If you pack them in the drawer and forget about them, then once or twice every 4-5 months should suffice.

Yes, and this is why people tell you not to run with scissors and to hold them by the blade. You could bump into people and accidentally stab someone with scissors.

Nail files are much finer. It is recommended that you use a coarser sharpener for duller scissors.

Yes, you can. You can also use a honing rod if you have one.

Sharpen both blades on the white sharpening stone making sure to get to the top and bottom of the V. Remove the burr by spreading the blades to close and pinching them while opening the blades up. Test the scissors and if they cut, stop sharpening. If they don't cut, then polish one blade and test the scissors.