On a woodworker's web site, I noticed that they said you could sharpen a pair of scissors by using them to cut up some fine-grit sandpaper. What do you think about this?

i would have thought it would blunt them, not sharpen them.

It actually works <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> Scissors are two surfaces that sheer the material between them. One face is actually a single bevel cutting knife while the other acts as a guide to align the material and cutting edge. The sandpaper is in effect lapping the scissors.

So does it matter which side you sharpen? How can you tell?

<img src="images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> I have avoided scisors up to this point for survival because I didn't know how to sharpen them. <img src="images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

As Chris said, it works; I've done it to bring some bought-cheap-at-a-garage-sale scissors back to a working edge.

One of the lesser known features of Spyderco's Sharpmaker is the ability to sharpen scissors, using the mounting hole in the end of the base. It, too, works.

David

APPARENTLY, the scissors on the leatherman micra are 'self-sharpening'. squeeze them about 20 times and they are ready agaiin. I dont undertand how it works though. nor how cutting sandpaper sharpens them while cutting normal paper bluntens them.

If the micra does actually self-sharpen, that would be quite an asset in a survival situation.

There are a few different scissor blade geometries as there are knife edges. Commonly one side will act as an 'anvil' ( look for a very steep chisel grind) and the other does the cutting ( a chisel cut monofacial edge.) In actual use both will wear and require truing things up. Fine sandstone is abrading the edges. Paper is wearing the blades dull. Why? Think what paper is made of and what cutting up our survival fuzzsticks, shelter poles, grizzly bear spears and coconuts does to the knife we chose after reading the measured, unemotional knife discussions at ETS <img src="images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />.

Hmm. I carry one every day, and I wasn't aware of that. Of course, it hasn't dulled at all either, as far as I can tell. <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Interesting, so what do folks use to keep blades "tuned up" between sharpenings? I was thinking some semi-abrasive polishing cloth or something. Sometimes my EDC blade gets gunked up with packing tape residue or other adhesive. What's the best way to clean this stuff off, WD-40?

Gear Freak:

I use whatever soap or solvent works to remove the gunk. WD40 is great. Lighter fluid works well, too. I've also used alcohol and whatever is in antibacterial wipes.

I sharpen my blades with a jig -- either Lansky or EdgePro as I can't keep a constant angle working by hand alone.

Between jig sharpenings, I steel frequently using a smooth, 12-inch professional steel. When steeling fails to restore a workable edge, I use various ceramic rods.

I carry a 6-inch Spyderco ceramic file with me for touch-ups away from home. I have a small piece of 320 grit emery paper in my PSK.

That's the sum total of my sharpening mojo. (That and using various substitutes -- chromed screwdriver shaft for a steel, edge of a car window for a ceramic rod.)

Bear