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kangsterizer t1_iunr0p8 wrote

IMO the real "BIFL" part of scissors is .. having a diamond sharpening stone and using it. I see people throwing away scissors when they no longer cut, but most scissors we buy pretty much last for life and sharpening them is much easier than a knife (you just need to grind one side of each blade)

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ElijahLynn t1_iunt9m1 wrote

Truth. Imma get one of these pairs of scissors (not the OP though, but some in the comments) and use by BIFL Edge Pro Sharpener on them for true BIFL scissors!

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kangsterizer t1_iunzrv7 wrote

haha yeah :)

To be fair, I do have an edge pro and i don't use that on scissors, i only use it to restore completely destroyed edges or reprofile knifes. for scissors i find the stone much easier and faster (also to touch up knifes but i'd understand if someone doesn't wanna go through that process - scissors on the other hand are really simple).

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If that inspires you my favorite diamond stones are the ones from spyderco (you really just need this one https://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Bench-Sharpener-Storage-Medium/dp/B0012QUE7U - though it definitely goes on sale for less) but for all around stuff you can't beat the workbench field one (https://www.amazon.com/Work-Sharp-Guided-Field-Sharpener/dp/B009YKHZ96) as its more versatile for the price, its just smaller which is a bit annoying for scissors.

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Theres a million YT videos on how to sharpen scissors but the TLDR is just grind the side of the blade with an angle like 10-15 times on that stone, flat, and that's it. they dont even need to be deburred for most intents and purposes (though you can, if you want, of course)

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ElijahLynn t1_iuobtvy wrote

That is good to know, I was thinking of getting the scissors attachment for the edge pro but if I don't have to do both sides, then maybe one of the edge pro stones would be plenty fine too.

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kangsterizer t1_iup3i5w wrote

to be honest you can get away with just using one of the edge pro stones directly on a flat surface but like the worksharp bench/field thingie its pretty small so i find the larger stones more convenient.

if you want the scissors to be razor sharp you can always use the attachment and so on, but scissors don't really need to be razor sharp to cut extremely well

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afvcommander t1_iuqey4c wrote

Depends of design of scissors. If they have thick blades and self sharpening design it really isn't needed. I have 4 pairs older than 20 years, never sharpened and all cut everyday stuff without any problems, paper, fabric etc.

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kangsterizer t1_iusm6dl wrote

i must have been using the "self sharpening" ones wrong for decades because they always eventually end up dull.. if you think about how its designed its logical - its better, yes, but magical, no.

I think these last a while for the typical household mind you, and so do the average knife - but if you use them daily they go bad within a few month, then you sharpen them and they're good for a few month again. cutting some materials like aluminum will actually help keeping them sharp enough, too (but fabric nope)

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afvcommander t1_iuthdsb wrote

When talking about BIFL, I think it is reasonably to talk about normal household use. There really is not anything BIFL for professional use unless we are talking items like crowbar.

I still think that normal user does not need to learn scissor sharpening if they just buy OK pair like made in finland series fiskars.

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kangsterizer t1_iuu0bzk wrote

BIFL are items we don't use, got it!

Jokes apart, I don't think any pair of scissors will last an actual lifetime (50-80 years) without sharpening unless you really use them only once a year. Basically, I think you're wrong, and that's OK, disagreeing is a thing.

With that said as well, there's plenty of things I personally thought lasted a long time (years and years) until I realized that indeed, people using them every other day or so would have them last a year or two. Scissors are definitely like that. For the record I only have fiscars myself (great mix of value, features, durability) and sharpen them +- once a year, sometimes maybe twice and use them maybe 2-3x a week for household tasks and thus they will last me probably forever (its been 20 years already) - but I figure many use them more like 2-3x a year.

I also have a pair of "shears" (as in medical shears), these don't need sharpening as often though I like to keep them sharp because they'll cut anything even when dull but its just a lot easier when they're really sharp (these cut fabric like jeans and stuff obviously).

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