The reason I ask is because I was on Amazon looking at Kai Scissors. Scissors that I'd looked at on Wawak before scoping out the cheapest price point on Amazon. I realized then that when my scissors are dull...I just buy more. SERIOUSLY. And the really whack part of this is that I bought one of those scissor sharpeners and used it about three times.
Now I don't throw my duller scissors out. They migrate. I use them to cut out wrapping paper, or put them in that kitchen catch all drawer, or in the craft box the grandkids use when they come over. I even keep a pair for just paper cutting in the sewing cave. I know I should be having them sharpened but honestly since I don't go to the craft store, I have no idea where else I can get them sharpened...y'know besides that scissor sharpener I own. Which has been discontinued...mmmmmm.
Anyway, I love the Kai Scissors depicted above and I really WANT another pair...especially since they're just $14.39 for a pair from Amazon...when they're $22 at Wawak. As I sit here debating whether I need a new pair or should just try sharpening the old pair, I thought I would ask y'all.
So, do you have your scissors sharpened? And if so, where? Finally does it cost more than the $14.39 it's gonna cost me to buy a new pair of Kai Scissors. Talk back to me because inquiring minds and all that...
...as always more later!
Yes, I do sharpen my scissors but only the ones that I purchased originally for $75 or more. I send it to a local outfit and they charge by the length of the scissors. They charge about $15 (this is in the Seattle area) and take 2 weeks to do it. For my cheaper scissors like Kai, I just buy brand new.
ReplyDeleteI have two pair of those Kai scissors, bought in... 2015 & 2018 (and a pair bought in 2017 that got borrowed & ruined.) Both pair are still in lovely shape. (Plus 2 pair of detail scissors)
ReplyDeleteI also have two pair of Ginghers that I did, once, sent off for sharpening. (And 2 pair of tailor points). It took 8 weeks for them to get back to me. Which, if I recall correctly, is why I bought the first pair of Kai. I hardly use the Ginghers anymore; the Kais are more comfortable.
Locally, fabric scissor sharpening is only available on a single day a month, at an inconvenient time, or I need to take them over to my sewing machine shop.
But there’s a hack: ask your hairdresser. That’s the best reference I’ve ever gotten. The sharpener I use will pick up all of my kitchen knives & the scissors I want sharpened, and return them, usually within 3 days. He even leaves me loaner knives, and doesn’t cluck at me over my decidedly inexpensive knife choices or try to upsell me.
OTOH: Both of my Kais are still in fabric cutting condition and those, he’s never sharpened. No loss of edge, and I can’t tell them apart. So... I do endorse the Kais.
I have fingers and use them. I used to take them to a sewing shop and she would send a bunch to ginger to be sharpened. However, she retired so I talk to the fellow who sharpens the shears for the dog groomer. I don't have enough personal hair to have a hairdresser else is probably my check there. I've had man's before and personally found them less than I like in a scissor. Your choice. Sounds like a good price at amazon.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I once watched a murder mystery where the detective asked the suspect why she had scissors (the murder weapon) in her living room. My husband and I laughed and laughed... I guess you could say that we have lots of scissors everywhere - in every room of the house, garage, tote bag and glove compartment. You can never have too many scissors! (Sharpen the good ones.)
ReplyDeleteI took my sharpest sewing sheers to bed with me and kept them on the headboard for proteciton while my husband was away for a week. :)
DeleteI have my scissors sharpened at my dealership. But I'm also in the process of switching out my Ginghers for Kai scissors. They are razor sharp and so lightweight! When there are sewing expos in town and Kai or Famore is there, I bring my scissors to be sharpened there.
ReplyDeleteyes, especially my favorite pinking shears. we have an independent sewing machine store and the owner keeps the machine available. i drop them off and 2-3 days later pick them up.--anne
ReplyDeleteIn the UK it costs £2 to get my scissors sharpened and I usually wait for around 5 mins. I go to a shop that does key cutting and shoe repairs. I suspect that many people don't know about the scissor sharpening sevice, but it's definitely worth it
ReplyDeleteI think if you're only sharpening one pair, not worth it. I sent about six different ones to a sharpener out of state, including pinking shears. I don't use pinking shears often but have had them for probably 30 years so figured it was time! I also had a couple smaller gingher's sharpened along with shears. Sent them USPS in the smallest priority box and they were returned the same way, so not super expensive. Sharpening was per pair but seemed reasonable to me. I used simplysharper.com
ReplyDeleteI was under the impression that Gingher had some sort of a sharpening service, done by mail, but I'm not certain. There's a scissor sharpening place in Chelsea, Westpfal, at 115 West 25th Street, but you'd need to drop them off and pick them off a few days later; they don't sharpen while you wait.
ReplyDeleteI looked up sharpening my Gingher's through them. It's cheeper buy new ones- for $35!
DeleteSandy - it's why I've taken to just replacing mine too. Add in the shipping time, waiting for sharpening and return time, I'd be down scissors. So I just buy new. It does seem like it use to be easier to get them sharpened though!
DeleteI have two pair of Ginghers - one that my mom gave me for my 16th birthday (which are over 25 years old now), and one that I won at a quilt show about 6 years ago. It costs about $7 to send them in (plus shipping) and some wait time, so I alternate when I am sending them. I could just buy new, but for sentimental purposes I like to keep them around, and they don't seem to make them like they used to. I've never used Kai scissors and am not sure how they need to be sharpened, but if I just need a quick touch up on my Ginghers, I just use a stone - and there may be someone local that could sharpen them, but I've heard too many horror stories.
ReplyDeleteI’m still a Gingher fan. I haven’t used Kai yet. I do have my sharpened...though rarely. My local Joann’s has a sharpening event ever so often and brings in a professional. It’s worth it because I have had these same handful of scissors for years and the work beautifully.
ReplyDeleteI sharpen all my scissors and my knives frequently. Myself. At home. I live in a small town so the services are not available. My dog groomer does the same thing. I've been using the Fiskar little box sharpener for years. It keeps all my scissors very sharp, is easy and especially convenient! I use a SunrisePro sharpener for my knives...I have a set of Chicago Cutley that was given to me in 1974 when I bought my first house. They are still wonderful!! I also have newer knives but I find myself using the old ones most of the time. Slicing ripe tomatoes thin is a great test and they always work! I don't have the patience to send my scissors off for weeks at a time when I can sharpen them so easily.
ReplyDeleteStadham Corp. in Baltimore has a scissor sharpener guy....and when David delivered my new industrial Juki he brought his kit and sharpened 20 pair for $20! I think he gave me a deal on the price, but I had him sharpen all of my sewing and other scissors except my two pair of Kai since they are so new. It's virtually impossible to find anyone to sharpen scissors so I'm sure that is why many just buy a new pair. Mary Jackson
ReplyDeleteI've been having my scissors sharpened at Joann's, but I'm not especially happy with the job they do. I'm left-handed, so the angle on the blades is a little different. Not sure the guy has the proper equipment or know-how for left-handed scissors. But not only are true left-handed scissors hard to find, they're expensive. I really need to find a place that does a good job sharpening left-handed scissors. :-(
ReplyDeleteI love my Kai scissors. I haven't needed to sharpen them yet because I often use my rotary cutter. I bought the Kai scissors because of Marcy at Kalakatroona.
ReplyDeleteI get my scissors sharpened locally at a knife store for $3 each while I wait.
ReplyDeleteI use Fiskars as they seem to hold their sharpness well, and then every few years I get a new pair. The older pairs are used specifically for cutting fusible interfacing. I find that interfacing is what makes scissors dull and I NEVER use my good scissors for that. I don't think paper makes scissors dull, I think it's the fusible. Which is like sandpaper or cutting plastic (which is what the little tiny dots of melting stuff are, some time of goop but not good for scissors).
ReplyDeleteI send my Kai scissors to them in Puyallup, Washington and they sharpen them for $6 each and ship them back to me within a week. I've had my first pair for 20 years now.
ReplyDeleteIf I'm sewing clothes I'm a scissors girl but cutting out a quilt it's rotary cutter all the way!
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Hey Kristi - it's nice to know your name! I LOVE your Instagram account!
DeleteGingher has a sharpening service but only for Gingher. I have sent off a pair to them to have resharpened and was pleased with what came back. I have another pair of Ginghers right now that needs service but have been dragging my feet as I have a pair of Kai shears that I love, love, love. These are my "cutting out" scissors and I have a pair of Gingher snips for detail work. There is a sharpening service in New York City called Westphal Henry and Company. Their number is (212) 563-5990. I found them on the web after someone (probably on Stitcher's Guild) mentioned them. The info is posted above my computer for when I get around to it to send in the pair that needs service. Long way to say, yes I sharpen my scissors.
ReplyDeleteTheresa in Tucson
Oh, Carolyn, as much as you sew you should have the very best and I recommend Kai professional shears. They run about $60 and are so worth the money. I'm picky and send my scissors to the manufacturer for sharpening. Ginghers used to be my fav and I remember they charged $7.50 for sharpening which included the service and mailing. I haven't had to have my Kai's sharpened yet but expect it will run about the same cost. To me this hassle is worthwhile but understand if you don't do it. At any rate you definitely should have the very best scissors which, IMHO, are Kai. Karen
ReplyDeleteKaren - I own 2 pair of Kai and someone else recommended the Kai professional shears also. So I will track them down and ask for them for Christmas! *LOL* The two pair of Kai I own even at the more inexpensive end are far and away cut so much better than my Ginghers but I do like owning both the lightweight and duckbill scissors.
DeletePeggy Sagers (Silhouette Patterns) sells the professional version of Kai Scissors and frequently has sales on them. Your Christmas elves could also get the professional shears from Amazon.
DeleteI have my all metal scissors and pinking shears, brands like Wiss & Gingher that are 20-30 years old, sharpened for about $5.00 per pair either at Sewing Expo's (scissor vendor) or Sewing Retreats (local guy who sharpens scissors and knives). I have some serrated blade Kai's which are still new and sharp. These will definitely go back to Kai for sharpening. I also buy cheepo plastic handled scissors sets from JoAnn's when they are on sale. These I throw away when they get dull.
ReplyDeleteI have my grandmother's million year old scissors, which still have a good edge, and the Fiskars I bought myself when I was 17. Other than that, I just replace scissors, and move the dull ones to where everyone else can use them without dulling up my good ones. I will take note of the "Don't cut interfacing!" tip above, though. As for sharpening, I don't even know where I could get it done locally; I suppose I'd have to go to the sewing center where they service my machines and ask.
ReplyDeletei take mine to our local hairdressing school. There's a guy who picks up the scissors once a week from them, sharpens them, and brings them back the following week when he picks up the next batch. No shipping costs.
ReplyDeleteThere are places at the local mall too. Try kitchen stores that sell quality knives.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn, after years of owning some great scissors and not being able to find a sharpener any more, a friend who is an avid hunter put me on to something. It seems hunters and fishermen need really sharp knives in their hobbies like we need scissors in ours. There are places called Tackle Shops/Shacks or Gun Shops that sell these needed knives but also provide the sharpening service for them. My friend told me they sharpen anything, from construction augers to hunting knives to sewing scissors. I brought in my first pair: my 20 year old useless and dull pinking shears. I figured if he could make them sharp again, he would have my business for life. I got those pinkers back sharper than they ever were when new or any other time, all for seven dollars. Like many things "male", the male version is cheaper than the female,ie, laundry. He has now sharpened all my scissors, including my pelican bills which came out great. So if you are not intimidated by moose heads and bear heads hanging on the walls, go to your local gun shop and get your scissors sharpened by a pro and for less than they charge in sewing stores when they used to offer that service. It's kind of fun, too.
ReplyDeleteGreat Idea. I had mine sharpened at the same time as the kitchen knives. Once. The next time I called to see what day to drop them off, the man who did the sharpening didn't do it any more. I, too, have taken them to Joann's, but here in Albany, NY, the sharpening is done by the sewing machine vendor. Because their other store is in Poughkeepsie or Kingston, it takes about a week. They were sharpened just fine. The gourmet cookware store has a grinder that the employees sharpen knives on. I wouldn't trust them with sewing shears because our shears are not beveled on each side like a knife is. I'd worry they'd do it wrong.
DeleteWhen my husband goes to the Sportsmen's Show each year, he always takes our kitchen knives and any scissors I have that need sharpening. He is a fisherman and needs sharp knives to cut bait and for making lures.
DeleteI am still using a pair of Kai scissors (and matching thread snips) from the 1980s. I get then sharpened at McGuckins Hardware in Boulder or Gary's Sharpening service in LA. Gary's goes to farmers' markets in the LA area. I pay $4-7/pair depending on size.
ReplyDeleteI've got four pairs of scissors that are special and never cut anything other than fabric. Two pairs are Fiskers, the oldest I think I sharpened with the tool that came with it a couple of times, but they are still good enough to use without problems. The three other pairs are newish, bought in the last six months and they are really terrific, both bought off Amazon. I've never used a professional sharpener other than for my hair cutting scissors, and they could do with doing again soon.
ReplyDeleteI've got cheap scissors that came with machines, they rarely last very long and soon get relegated to paper.
I have a nice pair of Fiskars that I sharpen with a sharpener and they work fantastic. I have had to oil the screw though to make them open and shut smoothly. They are quite old. My paper cutting scissors are just dollar store brand and they seem to magically disappear...don't ask me where.
ReplyDeleteI am in a rural area and as luck would have it, a local guy in town sharpened scissors, and he did a very nice job and was not expensive. He moved away though, so now when I need sharpening I mail my scissors to a shop about 30 miles away that also sharpens farm implements and the like. Their turnaround time is mega-fast (AND they send my scissors back via courier so I didn't need to wait for the mail!). For 2 pairs of 8" Ginghers and my applique scissors, the charge was about $15.
ReplyDeleteI have my scissors sharpened. I used to send my Gingher scissors back to Gingher but then I found the name of someone else who did it cheap, but I've lost that number. A friend found a man here on LI who has a sharpening van and he sharpens any blade, knife, scissors etc. He has a minimum and together we made it easily. I had all of my scissors and knives sharpened for about $57. They are all sharper than they ever were. I have the professional KaI and I can sharpen everything for less than a new pair.
ReplyDeleteYeah the professional Kais are costly so I'm adding them to my Christmas list. I can live with my current pair of Kai scissors until then. And Amanda from Sewinintherain recommended a place in the garment district where I can get my scissors sharpened so Imma try them.
DeleteMy husband bought a grinding stone for his woodworking tools. I entrusted him with my least loved pair of scissors. The ones that went to my kid's competitions/shows in the vague hope that someone would nick them (no such luck!).
ReplyDeleteHe did a good job. Then he sharpened every knife in the house. Then, and only then, was he allowed near my much treasured scissors. They also came out well.
He's not allowed anywhere near my ice-skates!
I have multiple Kai scissors and when they needed sharpening a few years ago I sent them to Kai, and had them sharpened there and they shipped them back. They charted $15 (for at least 3 pair of scissors) I think, but there was also the price of shipping.
ReplyDeleteI have the same Kai shears that you use. They actually fit my hand better than the professional model (7000 series). I send then to Kai to be sharpened. Takes about a week and costs around $10. This was recommended to me by someone who does knife and scissor sharpening. He wouldn't touch them for two reasons: First, they are Japanese steel which is a different chemical structure from the steel most scissors are made from, which makes the sharpening process slightly different; Second, the cant (angle) of the cutting surface is different from other shears. He likened it to the difference between sharpening a pair of figure skates and hockey skates. They both have blades but they are sharpened very differently. Seeing as he does scissors for many hairdressers and knives for many restaurants, I took his advice.
ReplyDeleteI recently bought a pair of huge steel tailors sissors which are made in Scheffield England and they are a revelation . They cut so beautifully and the stroke is so long that is stops the fabric from moving around all the time as its cut . They were really expensive but I will love them forever . I have started to really hate our throwaway approach and have been sharpening scissors at our local bootmaker fro years . They are great and cheap and I feel good that I am giving him business and also helping to save the planet
ReplyDeletethey used to have a scissor sharpener guy come to the local fabric store and I used them once a year. LOved him! Now to sharpen I would have to go to local sewing machine repair place. Not getting it done so often as a result. At the fabric store there was always a small line and you could shop for fabric while the sharpening was being done. Every fabric store should do this.
ReplyDeleteI have done all of the above, But have never sharpened the Kai.
ReplyDeleteSo I guess that says it all. I keep multiples and a sharpener or just cut thru several sheets of foil. I have been lucky enough to get as gifts or bought when a shop was closing.