Dull kitchen scissors can often be brought back to life with a knife sharpener you already own. Learning how to sharpen kitchen scissors with a knife sharpener is a simple skill that saves you money and keeps your tools working. Most homes have a manual or electric knife sharpener sitting in a drawer. You can use that same tool on your scissors in just a few minutes. This guide walks you through the process step by step. No fancy equipment needed. Just your scissors, your sharpener, and a little patience.
Why Kitchen Scissors Get Dull
Kitchen scissors take a beating. You cut chicken bones, cardboard, herbs, and plastic packaging. Over time, the blades lose their edge. The two blades also stop meeting tightly. When that happens, the scissors start to fold paper instead of cutting it.
Most people toss dull scissors or buy new ones. That is a waste. A knife sharpener can restore the edge on most kitchen scissors. You just need to know which part of the blade to sharpen.
How To Sharpen Kitchen Scissors With A Knife Sharpener
This is the core method. Follow these steps in order. Work slowly and check your progress as you go.
Step 1: Clean And Inspect Your Scissors
Wipe the blades with a damp cloth. Remove any food residue or sticky tape glue. Dry them well. Then look at the edge under a bright light.
- Check for nicks or chips along the blade
- Look for rust spots near the pivot screw
- Test the action by opening and closing the scissors
If the blades wobble, tighten the pivot screw first. A loose screw makes sharpening pointless. The blades wont meet correctly no matter how sharp they are.
Step 2: Identify The Beveled Edge
Kitchen scissors have a beveled edge on one side of each blade. The other side is flat. You only sharpen the beveled side. This is the most important rule.
Run your finger along the blade edge. You will feel a slight angle on one side. That angled side is the one you sharpen. Sharpening the flat side will ruin the scissors.
Step 3: Choose The Right Slot On Your Sharpener
Most manual knife sharpeners have two or three slots. They usually include coarse, medium, and fine. For scissors, start with the medium slot. Only use the coarse slot if your scissors are very dull or have small nicks.
- Coarse slot: removes a lot of metal, use sparingly
- Medium slot: good starting point for most scissors
- Fine slot: polishes the edge after sharpening
Electric sharpeners work too. Use the lowest speed setting. Pull the blade through slowly.
Step 4: Sharpen Each Blade Separately
Open the scissors so the blades form a V shape. Hold the scissors steady with one hand. Take the sharpener in your other hand.
- Place the beveled edge of one blade into the medium slot.
- Pull the blade through the slot in one smooth motion.
- Keep the blade angled to match the slot. Do not twist it.
- Repeat this pull stroke five to eight times.
- Flip the scissors and sharpen the other blade the same way.
Use light pressure. Let the sharpener do the work. Pressing hard removes too much metal and shortens the life of your scissors.
Step 5: Test The Edge
After a few strokes, test the scissors. Cut a piece of paper or a thin receipt. If it cuts cleanly, you are done with the medium slot. If it still folds the paper, give it a few more strokes.
Do not over sharpen. Check after every three or four strokes. You can always remove more metal, but you cannot put it back.
Step 6: Polish With The Fine Slot
Once the scissors cut paper well, move to the fine slot. Pull each beveled edge through three or four times. This step hones the edge and makes it last longer. It also smooths out any rough spots left by the medium slot.
Step 7: Clean And Oil The Scissors
Wipe the blades with a clean cloth. This removes metal shavings. Add one drop of mineral oil or sewing machine oil at the pivot screw. Open and close the scissors a few times to spread the oil. This keeps the action smooth and prevents rust.
Tips For Better Results
Small details make a big difference. Keep these points in mind.
- Sharpen at the same angle as the original bevel
- Never sharpen the flat side of the blade
- Work in a well lit area so you can see the edge
- Clean your sharpener after use to remove metal dust
- Sharpen your scissors every few months, not just when they are dull
Some kitchen scissors have serrated edges. A standard knife sharpener will not work well on those. You need a tapered diamond rod or a serrated sharpener for that type. Check your scissors before you start.
When A Knife Sharpener Wont Work
Not every pair of scissors can be saved. If the blades are bent, chipped badly, or very loose, a sharpener wont fix them. Scissors with plastic handles that flex under pressure also cause problems. The blades shift while you cut.
In those cases, replace the scissors. But for most everyday kitchen scissors, a knife sharpener does the job. It takes about five minutes. You get sharp scissors without spending a dime on new ones.
Practice on an old pair first if you are nervous. Once you get the feel for the angle and the pull stroke, it becomes second nature. Your kitchen scissors will cut through herbs, packaging, and poultry with ease again.