I have no clue as to the "right way" to sharpen scissors. But I sharpen 
them all the time around this house. I have a medium grit diamond plate 
3" X 8" that I use. I carefully place the scissor blade on the plate at 
the already established angle and then just sharpen away until I get a 
slight burr. SWMBO is quite happy with the results. We sort of collect 
old scissors for her sewing stuff. Quality old ones seem to be better 
than the new stuff. Some of the old scissors have laminated blades much 
like old planes.

On Thursday, September 25, 2003, at 03:13  AM, John Lederer wrote:

> I have an old pair of scissors that say "C.W. Dahlgren Eskilstuna" 
> that I use in the shop.  They used to cut very well, until I used them 
> on  fiberglass.
>
> I was going to resharpen them...and realized I really don't know a 
> good method -- I have always followed my Mother's advice of cutting 
> aluminum foil to sharpen scissors, but I suspect something more is 
> needed here.
>
> What is a good method?  Is there a scary sharp equivalent for 
> scissors? Is the dulling process similar to that of a chisel or plane 
> blade, or is it different?
>
> And while I am at it.. ...why are some scissors so much better 
> than others? Some seem to keep the alignment of the two edges  
> perfectly regardless of the load, while others don't, yet casual 
> observation doesn't indicate any great difference in the method of 
> attaching the two blades.
>
> My wife cuts the family hair -- she sees it as a time when the kids 
> (and me I guess)-- can't really duck questions. I have twice bought 
> her expensive hair scissors. Both times she has reverted to an old 
> pair of German scissors, and I have to admit that they cut better than 
> the expensive new ones I bought, yet I don't understand why.
>
> Any scissors dynamics experts out there?
>
> Regards,
> John Lederer
> Oregon, Wisconsin
>
>
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